Hospitality Hackathon 2026 Launched in Ethiopia to Advance AI in Tourism

Ethiopia is set to host Hospitality Hackathon 2026, a national initiative aimed at developing artificial intelligence solutions for the tourism and hospitality sector.

The program is organized by Kuriftu Resorts in partnership with ALX Ethiopia and WeVenture. It brings together young innovators, startups, university students and early-career tech professionals to build AI-powered tools focused on improving hospitality services and operations.

The hackathon will take place in two phases in Addis Ababa. The first phase is on April 4 at the Capstone ALX Tech Hub (Lideta) and the second one is on April 18 at Kuriftu African Village.

Unlike traditional hackathons, the program focuses on real-world solutions and business development. Participants will receive pre-event training on AI tools, hospitality challenges, prototyping, and startup pitching.

Teams will develop solutions in areas such as Guest experience enhancement, Operational automation, Predictive analytics and Digital service platforms and then will be judged based on innovation, AI integration, feasibility, and business value. The winning team will then receive 150,000 Ethiopian Bir, enter a three-month incubation program led by WeVenture, receiving mentorship and support to bring their ideas to market and industry exposure.

The event will also feature a fireside talk by Ethiopian tech entrepreneur Besufekad Getachew, focusing on AI and innovation in Africa.

Organizers say the initiative aims to position Ethiopia as a regional hub for hospitality technology and connect emerging talent with real industry challenges.