A MAZE. Awards 2026 — an international competition for game, XR and media artists with prizes of up to €2,000
A MAZE. Awards 2026 is not just a competition, but an entry point into the international ecosystem of gaming and media art, where experimentation, research and originality are valued. The project is part of the A MAZE. festival, one of Europe’s most renowned festivals dedicated to arthouse games, interactive art and new digital formats. The festival takes place annually in Berlin and brings together artists, developers, curators and researchers from around the world.
Who is organising the competition
The organiser isA MAZE. / Berlin, an independent international platform that has been operating since 2012 at the intersection of games, art, technology and critical thinking. Individual awards are implemented in partnership with institutions, including the Körber-Stiftung, which oversees the special XR-History Award nomination.
Who is this competition for
This competition is designed for those who work outside the classical genres:
game artists,
XR and media artists,
creators of interactive installations and immersive forms,
artists working with archives, history, memory and political context,
researchers and experimenters are all
welcome to apply.
Important: not only completed projects are accepted, but also demo versions, prototypes, artistic experiments and works “in progress”. Here, ideas, potential and expression are valued, not the size of the budget.
A MAZE. Awards 2026 Nominations
Most Amazing Award
The festival’s main award. For the most powerful and difficult to classify works with a striking artistic gesture.
Human & Machine Award
Projects about the interaction between humans and technology: AI, algorithms, systems, interfaces as part of artistic expression.
Digital Moment Award
Works that accurately capture the spirit of the times — the social, cultural or political digital context.
Explorer Award
For research and experimental projects, prototypes and forms that are still in search of their identity.
Audience Award
The audience’s favourite, chosen by the festival audience.
WINGS Award
Nomination for projects with a pronounced social, cultural or educational impact.
XR-History Award
Special award for XR projects that reinterpret history, collective memory and cultural heritage through VR, AR and immersive media.
What participants and winners receive
Each submitted work is reviewed by an international selection committee and receives feedback. Nominated projects are included in the exhibition programme of the A MAZE./Berlin festival and receive international visibility.
Cash prizes:
grand prize — €2,000, category
prizes — €1,000,
XR-History Award — €2,000.
But the key value is inclusion in the professional community, attention from curators, and potential future collaborations.
How to submit a project
Submissions are made via the official A MAZE platform.
Projects are uploaded once and automatically considered for all relevant categories.
Applications are open from 16 December 2025 to 1 February 2026.
Participation is subject to a fee, but early registration at a reduced rate is available, as well as a community model that allows you to apply at a reduced price or from €0 if you are currently unable to afford it.
The deadline for submitting applications is 1 February 2026.
