The Amazon ML Challenge 2026 is a machine learning competition for engineering students across India. Participants will work with an Amazon-provided dataset and develop innovative solutions to a real-world machine learning problem.
The competition gives students an opportunity to apply their machine learning, data science and problem-solving skills in a competitive environment. The best-performing teams can win cash prizes, certificates, Amazon SWAGs and potentially receive Pre-Placement Interviews (PPIs) for the Applied Scientist Intern role at Amazon.
Amazon ML Challenge 2026: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration Starts | 7 September 2026 |
| Registration Deadline | 20 September 2026 |
| 72-Hour ML Hackathon | 25–27 September 2026 |
| Grand Finale | 7 October 2026 |
| Top 50 Teams | Eligible for PPI opportunity |
Eligibility Criteria
The Amazon ML Challenge 2026 is open to full-time engineering students enrolled in programs such as:
- PhD
- M.E.
- M.Tech.
- M.S.
- MS by Research
- B.E.
- B.Tech.
Students from engineering colleges across India can participate.
Graduation Year
Eligible students should graduate in:
- 2027
- 2028
Team Requirements
Participants need to create a team before participating in the challenge.
- Each team must have 3 to 4 members.
- Every team must have a team leader.
- Students from different colleges can form a team.
- A participant can be part of only one team.
This makes the competition suitable for students who want to collaborate with peers from different engineering institutes.
How the Amazon ML Challenge Works
The competition consists of multiple stages, starting with AWS Builder Center registration and moving to the ML hackathon and Grand Finale.
Stage 0: Create an AWS Builder Center Profile
Before registering for the challenge, participants need to create an AWS Builder Center Profile.
Participants should complete their profile setup and obtain their AWS Builder Center Profile ID alias, which will be required during the challenge registration process.
Participants can refer to the official setup guide provided by the organizers for instructions on creating and configuring their AWS Builder Center profile.
Stage 1: Registration
Registration Period: 7 September to 20 September 2026
Participants must complete the online registration within the given timeline.
During registration, participants need to provide their AWS Builder Center Profile ID alias.
It is important to enter a valid profile alias because an incorrect alias can result in an incomplete registration.
Participants must also have a team of 3–4 members.
Stage 2: 72-Hour Machine Learning Hackathon
25 September to 27 September 2026
This is the main technical stage of the competition.
Teams will receive a problem statement and dataset at the beginning of the challenge. They will then have 72 hours to analyze the data, develop their machine learning solution and submit their work.
Teams can monitor their position through the competition leaderboard during the challenge.
For submission, teams need to provide:
- A 1–2 page document explaining their approach
- A ZIP file containing their code, scripts or notebook
- Their final ML solution according to the competition requirements
The final evaluation will determine the teams that advance to the next stage.
Stage 3: Grand Finale
7 October 2026
The Top 10 teams will be invited to the Grand Finale.
Selected teams will present their solutions to Amazon Scientists in a live virtual session.
The final selection will consider the team's leaderboard performance along with the solution and approach presented in their submission document.
Amazon ML Challenge 2026 Prizes & Rewards
The competition offers cash prizes as well as additional benefits for participants and top-performing teams.
🏆 Winners - ₹1,00,000 cash prize + certificates + goodies
🥈 First Runners-Up - ₹75,000 cash prize + certificates + goodies
🥉 Second Runners-Up - ₹50,000 cash prize + certificates + goodies
AWS Credits for Participants
Registered participants will receive $200 worth of credits that can be used to explore and build using the resources available as part of the challenge.
Additionally, at the 48-hour mark, the Top 500 teams will receive an additional $100 worth of credits.
This can provide teams with additional resources while developing and improving their solutions.
Certificates and Amazon SWAGs
Certificates and exclusive Amazon SWAGs will be provided to:
- Top 10 overall teams
- Top 10 women-only teams
PPI Opportunity at Amazon
One of the biggest benefits of the Amazon ML Challenge 2026 is the opportunity for top-performing participants to move closer to an Amazon internship.
The Top 50 teams will be rewarded with Pre-Placement Interviews (PPIs) for the Applied Scientist Intern role at Amazon.
This makes the competition particularly valuable for students interested in:
- Machine Learning
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data Science
- Applied Science
- Research
- Software and technical problem solving
Why Should Students Participate?
The Amazon ML Challenge 2026 can be a valuable opportunity for students who want hands-on experience with machine learning. Instead of working only on academic datasets or projects, participants get the chance to solve a competitive problem using an Amazon-provided dataset.
For students targeting ML, AI, Data Science or Applied Scientist roles, the competition can also strengthen their portfolio. The possibility of receiving a PPI for the Applied Scientist Intern role at Amazon makes the challenge especially attractive.
Source note:
Information is based on the Amazon ML Challenge 2026 competition details published by the organizers. Dates, eligibility and rewards may be subject to change.
