> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.firstcommit.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Beginner's Paradise: Key Dates and Timeline

> Track every milestone for the Beginner's Paradise hackathon, from registration opening on August 10 to the winners announcement on October 20, 2026.

FirstCommit's Beginner's Paradise follows a clear timeline so you can plan your project, form a team, and submit with confidence. Registration opens early, giving you time to brainstorm before the hacking period begins.

<Steps>
  <Step title="August 10, 2026: Registration Opens">
    Sign up on [Devpost](https://firstcommit.devpost.com) and reserve your spot. Registration is free and open to all developers ages 13 to 21 in Devpost-supported countries.
  </Step>

  <Step title="August 21, 2026: Submissions Open / Hackathon Begins">
    The hacking period officially starts. You can begin building your project, committing code, and pushing to your public GitHub repository.
  </Step>

  <Step title="October 1, 2026: Submissions Due">
    All projects must be submitted by this deadline. The official Devpost submission deadline is Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM EDT, so plan to finish and submit before then.
  </Step>

  <Step title="October 3, 2026: Judging Begins">
    Our judges review every submission and score projects based on the official judging criteria.
  </Step>

  <Step title="October 18, 2026: Judging Ends">
    The review period closes and all scores are finalized.
  </Step>

  <Step title="October 20, 2026: Winners Announced">
    Winners are revealed and prizes are distributed across multiple categories.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Submit your project early on Devpost and keep updating it until the deadline. Early submissions give you time to fix broken links, refine your README, and record a polished demo video.
</Tip>