Stop Wasting Your Talent: Apple Wants to Fly You to Cupertino for Free

Do you Think your coding skills are just a hobby? Apple is ready to prove you wrong. The 2026 Swift Student Challenge is officially live, and it’s not just another “participation trophy” contest. This is a high-stakes ticket to the heart of Silicon Valley.

If you can build a killer app playground using Swift, you could be one of the few “Distinguished Winners” Apple flies out to Cupertino, California. We’re talking about three days of rubbing shoulders with the world’s top engineers, with travel and lodging fully paid.

The Bare Essentials

• The Mission: Build an incredible app playground (.swiftpm) that works offline.
• The Prize: An all-expenses-paid trip to Apple HQ and direct mentorship from the pros.
• Deadline: February 28, 2026. (Yes, that’s right around the corner).

Are You Eligible?

• Age: 13+ in most countries (14–16 in specific regions like France, Brazil, or China).
• Student Status: Must be currently enrolled in school, a STEM program, or an Apple Developer Academy, or be a recent grad (within 6 months).
• The Rule: You cannot be a full-time professional developer. This is for the students.

The Rules of the Game

1. Work Alone: No groups. This is a solo mission to prove your creativity.
2. Size Matters: Your ZIP file must be under 25 MB.
3. No Internet: Your app must run perfectly without a Wi-Fi connection.
4. Tech Stack: Use Swift Playgrounds 4.6 or Xcode 26 (or later).

Don’t let this opportunity sit in your inbox. Most students talk about “making it” in tech; this is your chance to actually do it.CLICK HERE TO START YOUR APPLICATION