Pick Your SDG
The 2026 theme is UN Sustainable Development Goals x Generative AI. Choose one of the 17 UN SDGs and develop your own original project that tackles it.
See the full list of goals at sdgs.un.org/goals.
The content of this publication has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States.
Your AI Tools
Students use their own tools and their own accounts — for example ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude. CodeFest does not provide AI tools, API keys or credits. Check each tool's age requirements and use them with a parent or guardian where needed.
AI Game Makers Prep Path
Recommended learning path for AI Game Makers (ages 7–10).
Simple Game Design
Plan a score, a win/lose condition and ideally 2 or more levels around your chosen SDG.
Browser Game Basics
Make sure your game runs in a web browser and opens from index.html on your own laptop.
Prompting & Prompt Journal
Practise clear prompts, and write down your key prompts and what each one changed in your game.
Presenting Your Game
Practise an 8-minute presentation: your SDG, how the game works, and how AI helped you build it.
AI Web Builders Prep Path
Recommended learning path for AI Web Builders (ages 11–14).
HTML/CSS/JavaScript
Build at least 3 pages or sections in code — no block-based tools.
Adding AI to Your Website
Make user input trigger an AI response. Calling a real AI API is encouraged — keep your API key out of the submitted ZIP.
Responsible AI
Write a README explaining how AI was used, its limits and the ethical considerations.
Presenting & Q&A
Practise an 8-minute presentation and be ready to explain your code and AI choices to the judges.
Submission Checklist
- Project files in a single ZIP that opens from index.html
- Prompt journal (AI Game Makers) or README (AI Web Builders), stating your chosen SDG
- No API keys inside the ZIP
- Optional slides
- Uploaded through the project submission form by Friday, 18 December 2026, 6:00pm (Singapore time)
Presentation Day Checklist
- Saturday, 19 December 2026 at SMU — presentations in the morning, awards in the afternoon
- Your own laptop, fully charged, with your project on it
- Laptop charger
- Project tested offline beforehand — no hosting or live link needed
Recommended Workshops
Consider enrolling in structured prep programmes to build your skills before the competition.
CodeFest Preparation
Use the preparation paths and project checklists on this page to develop your skills and prepare your individual project.