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National Day of Civic Hacking

Join the National Day of Civic Hacking and make a positive impact on your community - use technology to solve local issues!

Friday

September 2026

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATESeptember 18

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYCareers

SUBCATEGORYTech Pros

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Celebrate the National Day of Civic Hacking on September 18 and join in the mission to make our communities better! This day was created to bring together citizens, software developers, entrepreneurs, and government employees with a shared goal of using their skills to improve local communities. The possibilities are endless – from creating apps that help people find resources in their area, to designing websites that make it easier for citizens to access public information. It's an amazing way to show your civic pride while having fun and making a difference!

TIMELINE

National Day of Civic Hacking Timeline

Early Civic Hacking

The beginnings of civic hacking could be traced back to the 1970s, as passionate computer programmers start to utilize technology to tackle public issues.

Open Source Initiative

Open Source Initiative is established aiming at promoting and protecting open source software and communities, a principle highly valued in the civic hacking culture.

Open Government Directive

The Open Government Directive is issued by the White House to create a culture of transparency, participation, and collaboration in and with the federal government, facilitating more civic engagement.

Code for America Accelerators

The formation of Code for America Accelerators, a program focusing on applying modern technology practices to delivering government services, marks another significant milestone in civic tech evolution.

First National Day of Civic Hacking

The first National Day of Civic Hacking takes place, organized by the White House, with widespread participation from local communities, cities, and even some national organizations.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate National Day of Civic Hacking

Organize a hackathon

Gather together people from all walks of life to develop new and innovative solutions to community problems. This is a great way to get people involved in civic hacking and to help the community.

IDENTIFY

Identify open data sources

Research existing open data sources and determine how to use them to help solve problems in the community. Open data can be used to create maps, visualize trends, and more.

CREATE

Create an app

Design an app that can improve or simplify the experience of dealing with local government or other civic needs. This could be anything from a voter registration app to a real time bus tracker.

JOIN

Join a local group

Find a local civic hacking group and join them for their next event or project. This is a great way to network with other likeminded individuals and learn more about civic hacking.

CREATE

Create a blog

Start a blog or podcast about civic hacking and share your knowledge with others. This is a great way to spread awareness about civic hacking and encourage others to get involved.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why National Day of Civic Hacking is Important

It can drive economic development

By focusing on tech projects that have potential for creating jobs and spurring economic growth, the National Day of Civic Hacking can help revitalize local economies. The investments made during this day can lead to long term benefits for cities as different projects come to fruition over time!

It encourages citizens to get involved in local government

The National Day of Civic Hacking is a great opportunity for citizens to learn about their local government, and to find out how they can become involved in the decision-making process. It provides an avenue for citizens to get engaged in their communities and help make change happen from the ground up!

It fosters public/private partnerships

The National Day of Civic Hacking brings together local governments, non-profit organizations, private companies, and individual citizens to work on civic problems. By collaborating together, these stakeholders are able to pool resources and use technology in innovative ways to solve pressing community issues.

Related holidays

FRI

Mar 2026

Tech

International Open Data Day

An awareness observance on March 5 promoting awareness and use of open data through global events including talks, seminars, demonstrations, hackathons, and training.