Media Party Barcelona 2026 is officially expanding beyond its primary conference dates. Following two days of keynotes, workshops, a media fair, and more at CaixaForum on September 7 and 8, we are adding a dedicated third day for a full-day building sprint: the Media Party Hackathon on Wednesday, September 9.
Hosted at BIT Habitat Barcelona in Poblenou, Day 3 moves us from theoretical debate to practical execution. Because the hackathon takes place at a separate venue, access requires a separate registration from the main conference pass. Here is what you need to know about Day 3, why we are hosting it, and how to claim your seat.
Beyond the Prototype: What is the Media Party Hackathon?
In many technology spaces, the term “hackathon” carries a narrow stereotype of a closed-door marathon reserved strictly for programmers. At Media Party, we define it differently: as an interdisciplinary laboratory where critical thinking meets technical execution. It is where theory stops and building begins.
Media Party has always been structured around three core pillars: Discover, Learn, and Do. While the main stage allows us to explore new frameworks, Day 3 ensures those conversations translate directly into tools newsrooms can actually use. We will be building open-source prototypes focused on workflow automation, agentic journalism, synthetic-content verification, and information integrity for an AI-driven, post-search web.
A glimpse of what our last Hackathon was like at Media Party New York.
Who It’s For: Why Interdisciplinary Collaboration Matters
The most resilient newsroom tools are rarely built in technical isolation. They emerge when journalists, developers, designers, and strategists collide around a shared problem. Journalists provide the editorial rigor; designers ensure human-centric UX; developers architect the systems; and strategists find the path to long-term sustainability.
Powered by Cloudflare: Infrastructure for the Open Web
Building open-source infrastructure for a complex internet requires dependable technology. We are proud to partner with Cloudflare as our official sponsor for the hackathon sprint.
As a global leader in connectivity cloud technology, Cloudflare operates a massive network spanning over 300 cities, securing and accelerating digital platforms, newsrooms, and enterprise systems worldwide. To ensure our collective work has a lasting impact, Cloudflare is providing technical grants and resources to help top hackathon projects evolve into sustained, production-ready open-source tools.
Essential Logistics: Venue Shift and Separate Registration
To ensure a smooth experience, please note the key operational shifts between the main conference and the hackathon. While September 7–8 takes place at CaixaForum, Day 3 moves to BIT Habitat Barcelona (Edificio Ca l’Alier, Poblenou), running from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Crucially, your main conference ticket does not grant entry to the Hackathon. Be sure to register for Day 3 separately to secure your spot for the building sprint.
Claim Your Seat: Let’s Build Together
The challenges facing modern media cannot be solved through panel discussions alone; they demand active experimentation, shared codebases, and cross-border collaboration. Join us on September 9 with your laptop, your domain expertise, and your drive to shape the future of journalism.
