Apple’s 2026 Swift Student Challenge is open for applications — image credit: Apple
To encourage app development and celebrate the most creative participants, Apple’s Swift Student Challenge is back and winners will be able to visit Apple Park.
As now, every year since 2020, Apple is hosting the Swift Student Challenge. Applications for the competition to find innovative new app developers are open now and close on February 28, 2026.
Applications are required from students working with Swift Playground 4.6 or Xcode 26 or later. In addition to only having two weeks to apply, there are many eligibility requirements.
However, Apple expects to announce a total of 350 winners again, and while it hasn’t given a date yet, the results are usually released in late March. Along with 350 winners, 50 will be selected as honorable mention winners.
All winners will receive a special gift from Apple — previous prizes have included jackets and pins, or even AirPods Max in 2025 — and one year of free Apple Developer Program membership.
50 notable winners will also receive an all-expenses-paid invitation to an “inspirational” three days at Apple Park. Again, no dates have been announced yet, but the trip usually takes place in July, and in 2025 the winners can watch the WWDC keynote live.
Along with the online application, Apple has also launched a series of developer documentation to help students. This includes advice on how to get started with Swift and profiles of previous winners.
In 2025, winners included those from around the world, such as an astronomy app by Luciana Ortiz Nolasco from Mexico. There was an educational app teaching a card game by Taiki Hamamoto from Japan, and Marina Lee created an evacuation advisory app to help people in the California wildfires.
“We’re always inspired by the talent and perspective young developers bring to the Swift Student Challenge,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of worldwide developer relations after the 2025 competition. “(We’re) excited to support their journey as they continue to create apps that will help shape the future.”