Ctrl+Space: An Expo x ReactVision Hackathon

Build a real AR/VR app with React Native - no Unity, no native rewrite, just the stack you already know.

ReactVision and Expo are teaming up for a hackathon built for developers who want to go past the demo stage. One fixed build week, four cities, real judges, and a direct path into Expo's App Awards if you ship something worth entering.

We're looking for real AR/VR depth: geospatial anchoring, cross-platform native builds, spatial experiences that actually work in the physical world. Bring an idea, bring a team (or fly solo), and build something that runs on iOS, Android, and Quest from one codebase.

🎮 Details
Who can participate: All skill levels welcome · Individuals & teams (up to 4)

Open globally, in-person finals in SF, London, Toronto, and Bangalore

📅 Build Week: Oct 5–9, 2026

📍 Format: Global, virtual build week + in-person regional finals

🏆 4 prize tiers · Guaranteed perks for all participants

Ctrl+Space is a joint hackathon between ReactVision and Expo, focused on building real AR/VR experiences using React Native : no Unity, no native rewrites, no starting from scratch.

This hackathon invites developers, designers, and builders to create next-generation spatial computing experiences across industries like education, real estate, retail, training, and enterprise.

✨ What Makes Ctrl+Space Special

🌐 Focus on real spatial computing : geospatial anchors, cloud anchors, and genuine device-agnostic builds, not surface-level AR effects

🧠 Build with code (ViroReact + MCP server) or no-code (ReactVision Studio) : pick the path that fits you

🤝 Open for both solo participants and teams

🚀 Direct eligibility for Expo's App Awards if you ship something real

🛠 What You Can Build

You can create:

• AR/VR experiences using ViroReact, ReactVision Studio, or the MCP server
• Geospatial or Cloud Anchor–based experiences : persistent, real-world-anchored, not single-session
• Cross-platform builds : one codebase shipping to phone and Wearables alike
• Spatial training, education, or simulation experiences
• Agent-built apps : use an AI coding agent connected to the ViroReact MCP server to scaffold and validate your scene
• Infrastructure or tooling that uses Expo's build/deploy stack alongside ReactVision

🎯 Important Creation Guidelines

To ensure quality and consistency across submissions:

• Build your AR/VR experience using ViroReact, Studio, or the MCP server
• For education or training use cases: include a clear walkthrough (voiceover or on-screen explanation) so judges understand the concept
• For other use cases (retail, real estate, enterprise, etc.): show the experience running and interacting in a real environment, not just a static render
• ⚠️ Important Note🚫 Submissions without a demo video will NOT be consideredAlso share on social media and tag @reactvision and #Ctrl+Space

Requirements

📦 Submission Requirements

To submit a valid project, include:

🔹 Basic Details

• Project Title & Description
• Problem Statement
• Solution Overview
• Target Users / Industry

🎥 Demo Video (Mandatory – 2–4 mins)

Your video must clearly explain:

• What you built
• How it works
• Why it matters

🖼 Additional Assets

• Screenshots / Images (at least 2)
• Tech Stack Used
• GitHub / Source Code Link
• Platform Details (iOS, Android, Meta Quest, or Web)

Prizes

1st Place – Grand Winner : 1 team

• [Cash/credit amount TBA]
• Featured case study on ReactVision + Expo channels
• Direct eligibility for Expo App Awards
• [Hardware/device prize : TBA]
• 1-year ReactVision Pro tier + extended Expo credits

2nd Place : 1 team

• [Amount TBA]
• 6-month ReactVision Pro tier + Expo credits
• Runner-up feature on our channels

3rd Place : 1 team

• [Amount TBA]
• 3-month ReactVision Pro tier + Expo credits

All Participants

• Free ReactVision Studio access
• 1-month Expo Starter plan upgrade
• Access to the shared Expo × ReactVision Discord

Judges from

• ReactVision
• Expo judge
• Meta
• Pico

Judging Criteria

Innovation & Creativity: Originality of the idea and uniqueness of approach to the problem space.

Technical Implementation: Effective, skillful use of ViroReact, Studio, geospatial/cloud anchors, or the MCP server.

Real-World Impact: Applicability to a real industry or use case : not just a technical demo.

Design & Experience: Immersion quality, usability, and how the interaction actually feels.

Presentation & Demo Quality: Is the demo video clear, concise, and does it actually prove the thing works?

Join fellow builders for technical onboarding, casual workshops, team formation, focused build time, and feedback as you participate in the Expo x ReactVision Hackathon here: https://luma.com/ReactVision