Contributing to open source is one of the best ways to gain skills and build your resume as a student or a new developer. As open source becomes the norm, more and more tech companies are investing in open source projects and internship programs.
These programs often offer interns a mentorship opportunity and a stable stipend so that they can invest their time to work on these projects. This article contains all the details of these programs for 2026.
1.Google Summer of Code (GSoC)
Duration: 10-22 Weeks (flexible)
Timeline: January 2026 - November 2026
Stipend: $1500 - $6600
Website: GSOC
This is one of the most popular programs with 700+ participating organizations. The program is organized by Google and each year mentees identify projects and submit proposals to work on them. Accepted mentees are assigned a mentor by the participating organization and students spend their summer working with them.
Key Information:
- Anyone above the age of 18 can participate in GSoC
- Mentees and organizations can choose the project time commitment and the project scope based on their ability to commit
- Organizations typically announce projects in February-March
- Applications usually open in March
2.Linux Foundation Mentorship Program (LFX)
Duration: 12 Weeks, ~3 Months
Timeline: March 1st - May 31st, June 1st - August 31st, September 1st - November 30th
Stipend: $3000 - $6600
Website: LFX
This program is organized by The Linux Foundation and aims to pair open source talent with experienced mentors. The students identify a project and create a profile to submit an application. Mentees can apply to 3 projects at a time.
Key Information:
- Three terms per year (Spring, Summer, Fall)
- Work with leading Linux Foundation projects
- Flexible full-time or part-time options available
3.MLH Fellowship
Duration: 12 Weeks
Timeline: Year-round (3 batches: Spring, Summer, Fall)
Stipend: Up to $5000 (need-based)
Website: MLH
This program provides you the opportunity to contribute to the type of open source projects that every company depends on. MLH offers multiple fellowship tracks including Open Source, Site Reliability Engineering, and Software Engineering.
Key Information:
- Multiple tracks available
- Remote-first program
- Build production skills with real projects
- Network with peers globally
4.Open Source Promotion Plan (OSPP)
Duration: 6 months
Timeline: April - November 2026 (Applications typically due early June)
Stipend: ~$1000-$1700
Website: OSPP
Open Source Promotion Plan is a summer program organized by the Open Source Software Supply Chain Promotion Plan of the Institute of Software Chinese Academy of Sciences. It aims to encourage college students to actively participate in developing and maintaining open source software.
Key Information:
- Primarily targets students in China
- Growing number of international projects
- Focus on building sustainable open source communities
5.Google Season of Docs (GSoD)
Duration: 6 Months
Timeline: February 2026 - December 2026
Stipend: Depends on budget of the organization
Website: GSOD
This program gives technical writers an opportunity to gain experience in open source. If you are interested in contributing to documentation, this is a really good opportunity to work on some interesting projects.
Key Information:
- Perfect for technical writers
- Work with major open source projects
- Improve documentation that helps thousands of developers
- Organizations announce in March-April
6.Outreachy
Duration: 3 Months
Timeline: May - August, December - March (Applications due September 2026 for winter term)
Stipend: $7000
Website: Link
Outreachy is a diversity initiative that provides paid, remote internships to people subject to systemic bias and impacted by underrepresentation in the technical industry where they are living.
Key Information:
- Two cohorts per year
- Open to people from underrepresented groups
- Includes travel funding for events
- Strong community support
7.Season of KDE
Duration: 3 Months
Timeline: January - April 2026 (Applications typically due early January)
Stipend: No (Certificates, merchandise, and swags provided)
Website: link
This program offers an opportunity for people to participate in both code and non-code projects that benefit the KDE ecosystem.
Key Information:
- No monetary stipend but valuable experience
- Work on desktop environment projects
- Both coding and non-coding opportunities
- Great for beginners
8.Free Software Foundation (FSF) Internship
Duration: 12 Weeks
Timeline: 3 terms yearly
Stipend: No
Website: link
This program provides an opportunity to work closely with the FSF staff members in your area of interest, such as campaign and community organizing, free software licensing, systems and network administration, GNU Project support, or Web development.
Key Information:
- Work directly with FSF staff
- Multiple areas to contribute
- Learn about software freedom
- No stipend but great for building connections
9.Linux Kernel Mentorship Program
Duration: 12 Weeks Full-time, 24 Weeks Part-time
Timeline: March 1st - May 31st, June 1st - August 31st, September 1st - November 30th
Stipend: $3000 - $6600
Website: link
This program from The Linux Foundation connects experienced Linux Kernel developers and maintainers with mentees to help them become contributors to the Linux Kernel.
Key Information:
- Work on the Linux Kernel
- Highly technical program
- Strong focus on diversity
- Three terms per year
10.Linux Foundation Networking (LFN) Mentorship Program
Duration: 12 Weeks FT, 24 Weeks PT
Timeline: June 1st - August 31st (FT), June 1st - November 29th (PT)
Stipend: $3000 - $6600
Website: link
This program aims to provide opportunity to gain exposure to LFN's projects and technical communities. The mentors are active developers and technologists contributing to the industry's leading open source networking projects.
Key Information:
- Focus on networking technologies
- Work with ONAP, OPNFV, OpenDaylight, FD.io
- Industry-relevant experience
11.GNOME Summer of Code
Duration: 10-22 Weeks (flexible)
Timeline: January 2026 - November 2026
Stipend: $1500 - $6600
Website: link
This is provided through GSoC to help underrepresented groups in free and open source software to get involved with GNOME projects.
Key Information:
- Part of Google Summer of Code
- Work on GNOME desktop projects
- Focus on diversity and inclusion
- Flexible project sizes
12.FOSSASIA Codeheat
Duration: Year round
Timeline: Main contest: December - March
Stipend: Prizes for winners
Website: link
This is a coding contest for FOSSASIA projects on GitHub. A jury chooses winners from the top 10 contributors based on code quality and the relevance of commits.
Key Information:
- Year-round contribution opportunity
- Contest format with prizes
- Focus on quality over quantity
- Great for building portfolio
13.FOSSASIA Internship Program
Duration: 2 - 6 Months
Timeline: Decided individually
Stipend: Yes
Website: link
This program looks for people who would like to work on their chosen project continuously. Different from GSoC, it's not only about a specific project proposal but rather about advancing the project and solving bugs or adding features.
Key Information:
- Flexible duration
- Continuous contribution model
- More flexible than traditional programs
- Direct project involvement
14.Open Summer of Code
Duration: 4 weeks
Timeline: July 2026 (typically)
Stipend: No, but compensation for expenses
Website: link
This program coaches students into working in different open innovation projects provided by partnering organizations, companies and governments.
Key Information:
- Based in Belgium but open internationally
- Focus on real-world impact
- Work with government and NGO projects
- Expenses covered
15.Open Mainframe Project Mentorship Program
Duration: 3 Months
Timeline: Through GSoC or LFX
Stipend: Yes
Website: link
This program helps mentees expand their knowledge of mainframe technology and contribute to open source projects that make it easier for infrastructure applications to run on mainframe.
Key Information:
- Learn mainframe technology
- Rare and valuable skills
- Work with enterprise systems
- Runs through established programs
16.CNCF Mentoring Initiatives
Duration: ~3 Months
Timeline: Multiple terms throughout the year
Stipend: Yes
Website: link
Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) offers a vibrant community of projects and offers internships throughout the year through different mentoring programs including LFX Mentorship and Google Summer of Code.
Key Information:
- Work on cloud-native technologies
- Kubernetes and related projects
- Multiple programs throughout the year
- High industry demand skills
17.X.Org Endless Vacation of Code (EVoC)
Duration: 3 - 4 Months
Timeline: Can be initiated anytime
Stipend: $3000
Website: link
The EVoC program was initiated to help support more projects that would otherwise go rejected through GSoC. Students are welcome to either come up with an idea on their own or work up a proposal for an idea suggested by someone else.
Key Information:
- Flexible start dates
- Work on graphics and display systems
- Can propose your own project
- Great for self-motivated students
18.Hyperledger Mentorship Program
Duration: 3 Months FT - 6 Months PT
Timeline: Spring, Summer, and Fall terms
Stipend: $3000 - $6600
Website: link
This program provides a structured and hands-on opportunity for students and new developers to gain exposure to Hyperledger open source development and entry to the technical community.
Key Information:
- Learn blockchain technology
- Work with enterprise blockchain projects
- Multiple terms per year
- Full-time and part-time options
19.Julia Seasons of Contributions (JSoC)
Duration: Varies
Timeline: Through GSoC, GSoD, and NumFOCUS Small Development Grants
Stipend: Yes
Website: link
A set of seasonal programs for funding or mentoring students and other developers to contribute to the Julia open source ecosystem.
Key Information:
- Work on Julia programming language
- Scientific computing focus
- Multiple funding sources
- Active and welcoming community
20.Summer of Haskell
Duration: 10 Weeks, ~3 Months
Timeline: Through GSoC (typically March - August 2026)
Stipend: $1500 - $3300
Website: Link
This program is an effort by Haskell.Org to reach out to students and encourage them to contribute to the Haskell community with the aid of experienced mentors.
Key Information:
- Learn functional programming
- Work on Haskell ecosystem
- Through Google Summer of Code
- Strong academic connections
21.24 Pull Requests
Duration: 1 Month
Timeline: December 1st - December 24th, 2026
Stipend: None (Recognition and prizes)
Website: Link
As the name suggests, this program encourages new contributors to make 24 pull requests in the month of December. This is a very beginner-friendly program and a great way to get started with open source.
Key Information:
- Perfect for beginners
- Low commitment way to start
- Festive community event
- Recognition for contributors
Summary Table
Here's a quick reference table of all the programs:
| Program Name | Duration | Timeline | Stipend |
|-------------|----------|----------|---------|
| Google Summer of Code (GSoC) | 10–22 Weeks | Jan – Nov 2026 | $1500 – $6600 |
| Linux Foundation Mentorship (LFX) | 12 Weeks | 3 terms yearly | $3000 – $6600 |
| MLH Fellowship | 12 Weeks | Year-round | Up to $5000 |
| Open Source Promotion Plan | 6 months | Apr – Nov | ~$1000–$1700 |
| Google Season of Docs | 6 Months | Feb – Dec | Varies |
| Outreachy | 3 Months | May–Aug, Dec–Mar | $7000 |
| Season of KDE | 3 Months | Jan – Apr | No (Swag) |
| FSF Internship | 12 Weeks | 3 terms yearly | No |
| Linux Kernel Mentorship | 12–24 Weeks | 3 terms yearly | $3000 – $6600 |
| LFN Mentorship | 12–24 Weeks | Jun – Aug/Nov | $3000 – $6600 |
| GNOME Summer of Code | 10–22 Weeks | Jan – Nov | $1500 – $6600 |
| FOSSASIA Codeheat | Year round | Dec – Mar | Prizes |
| FOSSASIA Internship | 2–6 Months | Individual | Yes |
| Open Summer of Code | 4 weeks | July | Expenses |
| Open Mainframe Project | 3 Months | Via GSoC/LFX | Yes |
| CNCF Mentoring | ~3 Months | Multiple terms | Yes |
| X.Org EVoC | 3–4 Months | Anytime | $3000 |
| Hyperledger Mentorship | 3–6 Months | 3 terms yearly | $3000 – $6600 |
| Julia Seasons (JSoC) | Varies | Via GSoC/GSoD | Yes |
| Summer of Haskell | 10 Weeks | Via GSoC | $1500 – $3300 |
| 24 Pull Requests | 1 Month | December | Prizes |
Tips for Applying
Here are some tips to increase your chances of being accepted:
- Start Early: Most programs announce projects 1-2 months before applications open. Use this time to familiarize yourself with the projects and make some initial contributions.
- Contribute First: Make small contributions to your target projects before applying. This shows your commitment and helps you understand the codebase.
- Write a Strong Proposal: Your proposal should clearly outline what you plan to build, how you'll build it, and a realistic timeline. Include mockups or proof-of-concept code if possible.
- Communicate: Join the project's communication channels (Slack, Discord, mailing lists) and introduce yourself. Ask questions and show genuine interest.
- Be Realistic: Choose projects that match your skill level. It's better to propose something achievable than to overpromise.
- Have Backups: Apply to multiple programs and projects. Acceptance rates vary but having options increases your chances.
Conclusion
Open source internships are an excellent way to gain real-world experience, build your portfolio, and network with experienced developers. Whether you're interested in coding, documentation, design, or community management, there's likely a program that fits your interests.
Remember that these programs are competitive, so start preparing early. Make contributions to projects you're interested in, build relationships with maintainers, and craft thoughtful proposals.
Good luck with your applications for 2026!
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