About the Midwest Quantum Hackathon
MidQWest is organized entirely by student organizations at leading universities across the Midwest. Our mission is to establish a dedicated quantum-focused hackathon for undergraduates in the Midwest, ultimately supporting quantum workforce development initiatives by fostering a collaborative and technically competent community.
What to expect
A weekend-long hackathon bringing together student builders from across the Midwest.
01
Challenge 'Quests'
Multiple tracks designed by student organizations and sponsors, covering quantum algorithms, error correction, quantum machine learning, and pulse programming.
02
Workshops & Crash Courses
Hands-on sessions for all experience levels. Write your first quantum circuit or dive into variational algorithms and noise mitigation.
03
Mentorship
Guidance from experienced students, researchers, and industry mentors throughout the weekend to help every team build and present something real.
04
Demos & Judging
Present to judges from academia and industry. Prizes awarded for technical depth, creativity, and real-world applicability.
Organizing chapters
The student-run chapters co-organizing MidQWest.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
SIGQuantum @ UIUC
Purdue University
Quantum Student Organization (QSO) of Purdue
University of Chicago
UChicago Quantum Society
University of Illinois Chicago
UIC Quantum Chapter
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Wisconsin Quantum Computing Club
Purdue University Northwest
QuantumLeap Club
FAQs
When is MidQWest?
November 14–15, 2026 in Chicago. Pre-register to receive venue details, schedule information, and logistics updates.
Where will it be held?
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) campus on Chicago's Near West Side — centrally located and easily accessible for universities across the Midwest.
Who can participate?
Any undergraduate or graduate student at a Midwest university. No prior quantum experience required; dedicated workshops cover key fundamentals.
Is there a cost?
No. MidQWest is 100% free for all participating students. Sponsorship funding covers meals, venue operations, and prize pools.
How are teams formed?
Register with a team or join our team-matching sessions at the event. Solo hackers are welcome.
Want your university involved?
If your school has a quantum computing student organization and you want to co-organize or bring a delegation, reach out. We are actively expanding.