Monaco Presidency backs Council of Europe Democracy Hackathon
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
The Council of Europe is calling for teams to enter its 2026 Democracy Hackathon, held under Monaco's current Presidency of the Committee of Ministers.
The Council of Europe has opened applications for its Democracy Hackathon 2026, a continent-wide technology competition focused on combating online hate speech and strengthening democratic institutions through digital innovation. The event carries particular significance this year as it falls under Monaco's Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, the organisation's principal decision-making body.
Participating teams are expected to develop practical tools and approaches that feed directly into the New Democratic Pact, a strategic framework the Council is building for the years ahead. The hackathon is designed not as a purely technical exercise but as a policy consultation in competition format, with winning ideas intended to influence real institutional direction.
Monaco assumed the rotating Presidency of the Committee of Ministers earlier this year, and the government has positioned this hackathon as one of the flagship initiatives of its term. Teams wishing to apply should check the Council of Europe's official channels for eligibility criteria and submission deadlines.