Hacktoberfest 2025: Celebrate All Things Open Source!

Hacktoberfest 2025 is just around the corner

October is almost here, which brings Hacktoberfest with it. We just started registrations for Hacktoberfest, and now is the time to prepare yourself for a month filled with open-source contribution, collaboration, and fun! Hacktoberfest is our month-long celebration of all things open source that kicks off on October 1. Each year, maintainers and contributors come together to contribute to the open-source projects that many individual maintainers, companies (including DigitalOcean), and builders of every skill level rely on. In the 12 years since its inception, Hacktoberfest has exploded from a group of just 676 contributors to a global open-source phenomenon, with over 90,000 participants last year across the globe. That’s a lot of love for open source!

How to participate in Hacktoberfest 2025

Hacktoberfest challenges you to support open-source projects by creating 6 pull or merge requests that project maintainers accept during October. We’re doing awards a little differently this year and bringing back t-shirts! If you’re among the first 10,000 contributors to complete 6 PRs, you will receive an official Hacktoberfest 2025 t-shirt and have a tree planted in your name.

We’re also partnering with Holopin this year to share the open-source love digitally. The mascot for this year is Hackstronaut, and all you have to do to get your first Hackstronaut pin is register! As you complete each PR, your pin will move up through different levels, so keep an eye on your inbox to claim them.

Starting today, visit Hacktoberfest.com to get excited about making your contributions or prepare your project to receive some. Also, mark your calendar for the virtual kickoff event on October 1. The Hacktoberfest website has all the information you need to get started.

Contributing to open-source projects can take many forms. Here are a few ways you can contribute during Hacktoberfest:

• Prepare and share an open-source project for collaboration.
• Improve a project through technical code contributions.
• Use your non-technical skills, like writing, graphic design, and advocacy, to support a project.
• Organize an event.
• Mentor others about open-source.
• Donate money directly to open-source projects.

Hacktoberfest and Major League Hacking

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We’re thrilled to have Major League Hacking (MLH) joining us again as a sponsor of Hacktoberfest this year. Like many companies, MLH runs on open source, and their team is committed to nurturing open source ecosystems and empowering developers to become new contributors and maintainers. Every year, MLH puts this mission into action through Global Hack Week: Open Source. Taking place October 10th to 16th, this event is a weeklong festival to supercharge your Hacktoberfest journey. You’ll dive into the world of open source, collaborate with other passionate developers, and walk away with new skills you can take into your own open source journey. Global Hack Week: Open Source is completely virtual, so you can join this celebration from anywhere in the world (just like Hacktoberfest!). Sign up here to level up your open source journey!

Celebrate and share your love of open source this Hacktoberfest!

Whether you’re a contributor, maintainer, event organizer, sponsor, or partner, we’d love to see how you’re bringing open source to life. Share your experiences and help spread the Hacktoberfest spirit across the community:

• Video: Post a short video about your Hacktoberfest journey on TikTok, Instagram, X/Twitter (yes, it’s still Twitter to us!), or wherever your open-source community hangs out. Don’t forget to tag @hacktoberfest and use #hacktoberfest.

• Blog: Write about your Hacktoberfest experience! How did you first discover it? What’s been your favorite contribution? How has open source shaped your growth? Maintainers, tell us how Hacktoberfest contributions have improved your project. You can even join the DEV writing challenge. Once your post is live, share it with us on social media for a signal boost.

• Social media: Share your stories, favorite hacks, and proudest contributions on your favorite platforms. Again, tag @hacktoberfest and use #hacktoberfest to join the global conversation.

We can’t wait to hear your stories and see how you’re making Hacktoberfest your own this year!

Gratitude for our sponsors and partners Hacktoberfest wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our sponsors: DigitalOcean, MLH, Auth0, and AMD, along with our amazing community partners.

The celebration kicks off October 1, 2025. Let’s get hacking, friends!