Join BlueQubit's quantum hackathon, run together with DuQuantum 2026 at Duke University! Most participants will compete online, and some will join in person at Duke. You'll have 24 hours to estimate what quantum circuits that are too large to simulate exactly would measure. It's a test of simulation skill, physical intuition, and smart use of AI. The competition is open to all experience levels, from quantum enthusiasts to seasoned researchers.

📅 Schedule

All times are Eastern Time (ET).

• Hacking starts: Saturday, October 24, 11:30 am ET (circuits and full challenge details are released at this time) 🚀
• Hackathon duration: 24 hours
• Hacking ends: Sunday, October 25, 11:30 am ET (final submissions due)

DuQuantum in-person participants: check-in opens at 9:00 am ET on Saturday at the Wilkinson Building, and the closing ceremony ends at 4:30 pm ET on Sunday.

🎯 The Challenge

Can you estimate what a quantum computer would measure, without the quantum computer?

You'll get a set of hidden quantum circuits (around 10). For each one, your job is to estimate a handful of observable expectation values, about 50 numbers in total. You never see the graded circuits themselves. You run simulations on them through BlueQubit by circuit ID, and you can choose the method and how much compute to spend. You'll also get one or two sample circuits that you can inspect and experiment with freely.

How you're scored: your estimates are compared with the exact values, and your score is how well they correlate (signal-to-noise).

Using AI is encouraged. The best teams will combine physical intuition with AI tools to iterate quickly over simulation strategies.

The exact number of circuits, qubit counts, and observables will be confirmed at kickoff.

🎟️ Credits

Your team's compute budget will be provided as BlueQubit credits at kickoff. The coupon code is coming soon; you'll redeem it at Account → Billing → Redeem Coupon. Make sure you have a BlueQubit account set up before the event.

💬 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who can participate? Students, researchers, hobbyists, and quantum enthusiasts from anywhere can join online. In-person participation at Duke is limited to accepted DuQuantum 2026 participants.

2. Can I participate with a team? Absolutely! Just make sure your team signs up and makes submissions from a single account. We recommend teams of no more than 5 people.

3. How is this related to DuQuantum at Duke? Most participants of the BlueQubit hackathon will be online, but some will be participating in person at Duke as part of their DuQuantum 2026 hackathon. All participants will be visible in the leaderboard tab under the "World" view, and DuQuantum participants will be visible under the "Duke" view.

4. Do I need prior experience in quantum computing? Not really. Knowing what a quantum circuit and an expectation value are will get you started. Experience with quantum simulators and approximation methods will give you an edge.

5. How long does the challenge last? 24 hours: from 11:30 am ET on October 24 to 11:30 am ET on October 25.

6. What kind of problems can I expect? Estimating observable expectation values of quantum circuits that are too large to simulate exactly. Sample circuits will be available, and the graded circuits stay hidden.

7. How do I prepare?

• Get comfortable with quantum circuits and expectation values. The introductory tutorials from Qiskit or PennyLane are a good place to start.
• Then read up on approximate simulation methods, such as matrix product states (tensor networks) and Pauli propagation.

8. Which tools can I use? The graded circuits can only be run through BlueQubit's platform. For the sample circuits, you can use any tools you like, AI assistants included.

9. How are winners selected? By score: how well your team's submitted estimates correlate with the exact values across all the hidden circuits.

10. Is there a participation fee? No. Registration is free!