Young people sit at a table with laptops and computers at a busy event.

Coolest Projects UK

Try hands-on coding activities and see amazing tech projects at this fun, free event.

What is Coolest Projects UK?

Coolest Projects UK is a free in-person event for young tech creators in the UK only. It will be held on Saturday 16 May 2026 at the Life Centre, Bradford. Participants can share their projects with family, friends, and their coding community, get fun swag and certificates to celebrate their achievements, and try hands-on coding activities at the event. Partial bursaries are available to support the costs of attending. Entries close 1 May 2026.

A large group of young people stand on stage collecting prizes from a judge.

What can I enter?

  • Almost anything you like! Coolest Projects is a showcase for digital making, so your project must use code, computers, or digital technology in some way.
  • You can make something new or enter a project you’ve already made and are proud of. You can’t register a project you’ve submitted to Coolest Projects before, unless you’ve made significant changes to it.
  • Projects can be registered in one of seven categories.
  • We love to see ideas and works in progress - projects don’t have to be complete to be entered.
  • We won’t accept projects that depict graphic violence, harm, or use bad language. See our Community Guidelines.

Who can enter?

  • Any young person up to age 18, based in the UK only.
  • Young people can enter individually, or in teams of up to five.
  • Young people over 13 can register their own project, or an adult mentor can register for them.
  • An adult mentor must register projects for young people under 13.
  • All digital making projects are welcome, whether they're beginner, advanced, or somewhere in between.

Coolest Projects UK FAQs

What happens once I've registered?

We’ll get in touch with you by email to confirm your place. Numbers at in-person events are limited by our venue size, so we can’t guarantee that everyone who registers will get a place. Once your place is confirmed, we’ll send all the details you need for event day.

How will the judges review my project?

Judges review projects based on the criteria of Coolness, Complexity, Presentation and Communication, and Design and Usability.

Can I enter my project to the online showcase too?

Yes! You can enter the same project to both Coolest Projects online and Coolest Projects UK. We strongly encourage it! It’s a great way to share what you’ve made with the world.

What do I need to do on the day?

Come along, bring your project, and get ready to have fun! We supply a table and power socket, you bring everything you need to display your project. Young people must be accompanied to the event by an adult.

Can my friends and family come?

Yes! Family and friends can reserve a free visitor's ticket to come along to the event to view the amazing projects in the showcase. Visitor's tickets will be released a month before the event. Adult mentors who are accompanying young people don’t need to book a ticket. Due to venue size, we have a limited number of visitor tickets available.

I don't want to submit a project, can I still come?

Yes! Coolest Projects is open to the public, so if you’re curious you can drop in and see the cool projects on display, meet other makers, and take part in hands-on activities. You can book a free visitor's ticket. Visitor's tickets will be released a month before the event. Due to venue size, we have a limited number of visitor tickets available.

Project checklist

  • I am aged 18 or under.
  • I am registering my project individually, or in a team of up to five young people.
  • My project is digital, and uses code or computers in some way.
  • I have not registered this project for Coolest Projects before or I have made a big change to this project since last time.
  • I can attend the event on Saturday 17 May 2025 in Bradford.