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Hackathons and code camps have been used over the years to ideate, collaborate and develop innovative solutions to address sustainability challenges with citizens. However, there is less research on how hackathon products can drive citizens’ behavioral changes via engagement in sustainable activities to improve sustainability awareness in society. In this study, we evaluate the potential of the hackathon to address local sustainability issues and develop innovative solutions to engage and stimulate citizens and hackathon participants for sustainable activities and awareness. Our approach involves the implementation of two hackathons, Living Lab Hack and SustHack. The result from the two hackathons shows that citizen engagement in hackathons brings a new dimension that facilitates inclusiveness in designing sustainability solutions and increases citizen sustainability awareness. Furthermore, the hackathon served as a reawakening call to action for the students and the citizens about the sustainability impacts of their activities.