PixLight 2026 Guide

Two tracks. Two ways in.

Three directions, available across both tracks. Each entry must select one genre direction. We do not accept works without narrative structure, pure visual experiments, or concept reels without story.

We judge the work on screen, and the creative vision behind it.

Pilot Track

Script Track

Submissions first go through eligibility screening, then international jury evaluation. Jury members score independently before a final deliberation. Community data is referenced but does not determine rankings.

$300,000 USD prize pool. 33 awards.

Each creator or team may receive only one award. If a submission qualifies for more than one award, only the highest-tier award will apply.

All prizes are stated on a pre-tax basis.

The PixLight Grand Prize, PixLight Gold Award, PixLight Silver Award, and 20 Pilot Track Spotlight Awards are awarded within the Pilot Track. The 10 Script Track Spotlight Awards are awarded within the Script Track.

Prizes will generally be paid in USD, unless another currency or payment arrangement is required by applicable law, payment-provider requirements, or the applicable award agreement.

Each winner is responsible for determining, reporting, and paying any taxes applicable to the prize under the laws of their country or region. The Organizer will not withhold or pay such taxes on the winner’s behalf, except where withholding is required by applicable law.

Prize payments will be processed within 60 days after the announcement of the results, subject to the winner completing all required identity, eligibility, compliance, tax, and payment verification; providing the required payment information and documentation; and signing the applicable PixLight Award Agreement or other prize-related agreement designated by the Organizer.

The applicable contracting entity, payment currency, payment channel, required documentation, tax treatment, and payment procedure will be determined based on the winner’s country or region, tax residency, identity, banking or payment eligibility, and applicable legal requirements. These details will be set out in the applicable award agreement.

Where necessary, the Organizer may arrange payment through an affiliated or designated entity or payment service provider, subject to applicable laws and payment requirements.

Start your entry from the PixLight 2026 submission page and follow the steps for your selected track.

Starter Pack — A total of 1,000 Starter Packs, each containing 6,000 PixVerse credits, will be released in four batches of 250 during the submission period.

Each batch opens at 12:00 UTC on the date listed below and is available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Priority is determined by the submission time of a valid and eligible claim.

Creators who have registered for PixVerse may claim one Starter Pack through PixLight 2026 – Starter Pack Batch : Claim 6,000 PixVerse Credits. Registration is sufficient; a completed contest entry is not required at the time of claiming.

Each creator may receive only one Starter Pack. Each batch will close once all available packs have been allocated or when the applicable claim window ends. Unclaimed allocations from one batch will not roll over to later batches.

Credits will be issued within 10 working days after the relevant batch has been fully claimed or the claim window has closed. Credits will remain valid for 90 days from the date of issuance.

Claims are subject to eligibility, availability, account verification, program rules, and anti-abuse requirements. Information submitted through the form will be used only to verify eligibility, process the credit issuance, and contact the creator if follow-up is required.

Submitting the form does not guarantee receipt of a Starter Pack. Duplicate, inaccurate, invalid, or otherwise ineligible claims may be rejected.

Receiving or not receiving a Starter Pack does not affect judging, rankings, award eligibility, prize decisions, or other recognition opportunities.

BTS Bonus — Creators who successfully submit a PixLight 2026 entry by October 31, 2026, at 23:59 UTC may publish public behind-the-scenes content related to their submitted work using both #PixLight2026 and #PixVerse.

Submit the public BTS post link through PixLight 2026 – BTS Bonus Submission Form by November 10, 2026, at 23:59 UTC. The extended BTS deadline does not change the contest submission deadline.

Both Pilot Track and Script Track entrants may apply. Approved creators will receive 20,000 PixVerse credits within 30 working days after approval. Each creator may receive only one BTS Bonus, and the bonus does not affect judging or award decisions.

Every work has a Purple Light button. It’s more than a like — it shows what you want to see happen next.

Signals reflect community interest only and do not constitute a production or development commitment.

Acceptance of Rules: By submitting an entry to PixLight 2026, each participant acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by these Official Rules, the PixVerse Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and any other contest guidelines referenced herein, all of which form a legally binding agreement between the participant and PixVerse.

Where a submission is made by or on behalf of a team, the submitting individual represents and warrants that they have the authority to bind all team members to these Official Rules and accepts responsibility for ensuring each team member complies with them.

Participation in PixLight 2026 is conditional upon acceptance of these Official Rules. Entries submitted without such acceptance may be rejected or disqualified.

Who can enter: Open worldwide to participants aged 18 or older, subject to applicable laws and the Sanctions and Payment Restrictions below. Individuals and teams may enter. Free to enter. PixVerse account required. Work created on or after January 1, 2026.

Submissions: Up to 3 entries per track. Both tracks open. Deadline: October 31, 2026 at 23:59 UTC.

Where spoken dialogue or narration is used, Pilot Track films and Script Track video pitches must include burned-in English subtitles, including English-language videos. Script Track screenplays must be submitted in English. No edits after submission.

Workflow (Pilot Track): PixVerse Canvas must be the primary creative platform. Video generation models are not restricted — works may combine AI-generated content with live-action footage, traditional VFX, or other production techniques. A workflow summary is optional at the time of submission. However, PixVerse may request a workflow summary or other reasonable supporting materials to verify compliance with the contest rules, including AI-content and PixVerse Canvas workflow requirements. Entrants must provide the requested materials within the specified timeframe. Every Pilot Track entry must be associated with a valid Canvas Share Link. After submission, the Canvas project will be available for viewing and cloning through its PixLight Gallery page. If the entry is submitted through the Inspiration Plaza publishing flow, the project will also be displayed in Inspiration Plaza.

Rights: All entries must be original. Non-original music requires proof of license. Original characters, worlds, stories, screenplays, and underlying intellectual property remain the property of their respective creators.

By entering PixLight 2026, participants grant PixVerse a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license during the contest and for five (5) years thereafter to display, reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly communicate, translate, adapt solely for promotional formatting, and otherwise use submitted materials (including excerpts, stills, trailers, cover images, titles, creator names, biographies, behind-the-scenes materials, and related promotional assets) for purposes of administering, promoting, documenting, marketing, and archiving PixLight and PixVerse products, services, events, and official channels.

Winning entries and shortlisted works may be featured by PixVerse across its websites, applications, social media channels, exhibitions, presentations, educational materials, marketing campaigns, case studies, and other official promotional activities without additional compensation beyond any prizes awarded, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

PixVerse holds a first-look right to evaluate and negotiate potential development of winning projects. For Script Track winning projects, PixVerse shall have an exclusive first negotiation right for a period of 90 days following the announcement of winners to discuss potential adaptation, production, financing, licensing, distribution, or other commercial development. During such period, the creator agrees not to enter into any exclusive development agreement with a third party relating to the awarded project without first providing PixVerse a reasonable opportunity to negotiate in good faith. If no definitive written agreement is reached within such period, the creator may freely pursue opportunities with third parties.

Social media (Pilot Track only): Post the complete submitted film, including the official PixLight title card, on X, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Bilibili, or another widely used public social or video platform. The post must include both #PixLight2026 and #PixVerse. Including a link to the Canvas project is optional. The post must remain publicly accessible through the judging period. Social data is referenced during evaluation. Script Track does not require social posting.

PixLab Creator Program: Selected winning creators may be invited to join the PixLab Creator Program or other successor creator initiatives operated by PixVerse. Membership eligibility, benefits, obligations, incentive programs, and commercial collaboration opportunities shall be determined by PixVerse under separate program terms.

An invitation to participate does not guarantee continued participation, compensation, sponsorship, or future commercial opportunities, and PixVerse reserves the right to determine eligibility, suspend participation, or discontinue the program at its discretion.

Commercial Development Opportunities: PixVerse may, at its sole discretion, approach winning or shortlisted creators regarding potential commercial development, financing, production, distribution, licensing, adaptation, merchandising, or other exploitation of their projects.

Any commercial cooperation, option, license, assignment, production agreement, investment, revenue sharing arrangement, or other business relationship shall be subject to separate written agreements negotiated between the parties. Except for the rights expressly granted under these Rules, no ownership transfer or exclusive commercial rights shall arise solely from participation in the contest.

Prohibited content: Pornographic, sexually explicit, or exploitative material; extreme violence; hate speech or discrimination; politically sensitive content; unauthorized third-party IP; AI-generated likenesses of real public figures without permission; previously commercially distributed works; content violating applicable laws.

Violation: PixVerse may reject, suspend, disqualify, revoke awards, withhold prize payments, or require repayment of any prizes already distributed if it reasonably determines that:

• any eligibility requirement was not satisfied;
• false, misleading, or incomplete information was provided;
• the submission infringes third-party rights;
• plagiarism, fraud, cheating, vote manipulation, artificial traffic generation, or other unfair conduct occurred;
• the participant breached these Rules or any applicable PixVerse Terms of Service;
• the participant engaged in conduct that materially harms the reputation, security, or legitimate interests of PixVerse, the contest, its partners, judges, or participants.

Sanctions and Payment Restrictions: A winner will not be eligible to receive a prize if the winner:

• is located, domiciled, ordinarily resident in, or a national of a country or region subject to applicable comprehensive economic sanctions or embargoes administered or enforced by the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, or any other competent sanctions authority;
• is included on, or owned or controlled by a person or entity included on, any applicable sanctions, blocked-person, or restricted-party list, including without limitation the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List; or
• is otherwise subject to any applicable law, restriction, banking rule, payment-service-provider requirement, or compliance measure that prevents the Organizer or its designated payment provider from lawfully processing the prize payment.

If any such circumstance applies, or if the Organizer is unable to complete the payment after conducting reasonable compliance checks, the Organizer may suspend, withhold, cancel, or declare the prize forfeited, to the extent permitted by applicable law, without being required to provide an alternative payment method or substitute prize.

Jury integrity: Jury members must disclose and recuse themselves from evaluating any entry where a conflict of interest exists.

Privacy: Personal information collected through PixLight is used solely for contest administration and handled in accordance with PixVerse’s Privacy Policy.

Modifications: PixVerse reserves the right, acting reasonably and in good faith, to interpret, amend, supplement, suspend, postpone, or cancel any aspect of PixLight 2026 where necessary due to legal, regulatory, technical, security, operational, or other unforeseen circumstances. Any material changes will be announced through PixVerse’s official channels. Continued participation following such announcement constitutes acceptance of the updated Rules to the extent permitted by applicable law.

Creator Representations: Participants represent and warrant that: all submitted materials are original or lawfully licensed; participation does not violate any contractual, employment, confidentiality, or other legal obligations; all necessary permissions have been obtained for any identifiable individuals, music, artwork, trademarks, or third-party materials appearing in the submission; any AI-generated or AI-assisted content complies with applicable laws and these Rules.

Winner Cooperation: Acceptance of an award constitutes the winner’s agreement to reasonably cooperate with PixVerse in connection with publicity relating to PixLight 2026 for up to twelve (12) months following the announcement of the winners. Such cooperation may include interviews, media appearances, promotional videos, educational content, social media campaigns, community events, creator spotlights, or other reasonable promotional activities, subject to the winner’s reasonable availability.

PixVerse may identify selected winners as Featured Creators or Official PixLight Creators and may invite them to participate in future creator programs, mentoring initiatives, platform showcases, commercial collaborations, or other long-term creator development opportunities. Participation in any such program shall be voluntary unless otherwise agreed in writing. As a condition of receiving any prize and/or participating in any subsequent collaboration, winners may be required to enter into one or more separate written agreements with PixVerse setting out the applicable terms and conditions.

PixVerse reserves the right to interpret, apply, and administer these Rules in good faith. Any matters not expressly addressed herein shall be determined by PixVerse in a manner consistent with the purpose and integrity of the contest. In the event of any inconsistency between language versions, the English version shall prevail unless otherwise required by applicable law.

For questions about PixLight 2026, please contact us at pixlight@pixverse.ai.<br> Please include “PixLight2026” in the subject line so we can route your inquiry appropriately.
You can also follow PixVerse’s official social media channels for updates on the contest.