Reallusion’s 3D character contest is back for 2026: $45,000 in prizes
[Sponsored] Reallusion has launched its latest 3D character design and animation contest. Enter to get access to the full Reallusion software suite, biweekly contest drops – and a chance to win a share of the prize pool, comprising over $45,000 in cash and hardware.
Reallusion has announced the 2026 Reallusion 3D Character Contest, offering entrants a $45,000 prize pool, free three-month access to the full Reallusion software suite, and biweekly premium content airdrops to qualified participants.
Entries will be judged by an international panel including Pablander Academy founder Pablo Muñoz Gómez and VFX artist Reza Sarkamari. Submissions are open now through 31 August 2026.
An important platform for 3D character artists
This is the sixth time that Reallusion has hosted its 3D Character Contest. Over the years, the competition has grown into one of the few remaining character art contests still actively run by a 3D software company.
The AI wave has swept across the entire 3D industry, and Reallusion is no exception. To adapt to this trend, the company has introduced AI-powered features across its product line, from Headshot’s photo-to-model generation to AI-assisted content workflows. But for this contest, Reallusion is drawing a clear line: entries must be grounded in traditional 3D craftsmanship.
Participants are welcome to use AI for concept art, reference generation, or as a creative aid in their process, but final submissions (renders, turntables, and animation clips) must be produced through conventional 3D workflows, not AI-generated output. The goal is simple: a level playing field where artistry and skill speak for themselves.
“The 3D industry is going through extraordinarily tough times in the age of AI. That’s exactly why we keep running this contest. We want to give talented artists a stage to show the world what they can do.”
Charles Chen, CEO, Reallusion
Contest categories: five ways to compete
This year’s competition continues the format established in the 2024 contest, with entries judged across five categories:
- Best Character Design (Realistic)
- Best Character Design (Stylized)
- Best Character Animation (Realistic)
- Best Character Animation (Stylized)
- Best AccuRIG Character
All entries in the Character Design and Character Animation categories must use a Character Creator base as their foundation. Beyond that, artists are free to sculpt, retopologize, texture, and animate using any combination of tools in their pipeline.
The Best AccuRIG Character category is designed as the most accessible entry point to the contest. Participants simply rig their own character model using AccuRIG and present three to five posed variations. No additional Reallusion software is required, and the winning entries should best demonstrate the character’s persona through these different poses.
Every submission, across all categories, must include behind-the-scenes documentation showing the creation process, whether through breakdowns, WIP screenshots, 3D wireframe models, timelapse recordings, or written process notes. This allows the community to see how each work was made, and provides the judges with proof of process before the final grading.
All entries will be reviewed and scored by the contest’s international judging panel. This year, Reallusion has invited Pablo Muñoz Gómez and Reza Sarkamari to judge entries on the basis of their artistic quality, technical execution, and creative process.
Don’t own any Reallusion software? That isn’t a barrier. Reallusion is offering every qualified participant free access to its full professional suite.
Enter to get access to the full Reallusion software suite
To welcome new talent and remove any barriers to participation, Reallusion is offering qualified applications access to an exclusive Profiled Artist Program, a free three-month fully licensed software workgroup. The workgroup includes Reallusion’s full character creation and real-time animation toolkit, including:
- Character Creator 5 Deluxe
- iClone 8
- Headshot 3
- AccuFACE
- ZBrush Face Tools
- Auto Setup for Unreal Engine, Blender, Maya, Marmoset Toolbag, 3ds Max, Unity, Omniverse
In a first for the contest, to speed up the process of creating your first entry, Reallusion is also introducing biweekly content airdrops throughout the competition period. Every two weeks, one popular content pack will be added directly into participants’ workgroups, giving creators an ever-growing library of production-ready characters, hairstyles, outfits, and motions to fuel their entries. To let you experience the full power of the Reallusion ecosystem, access to premium content – such as Hair Builder, Casual 20, and other best-selling assets – is included for approved applicants during the contest period.
To apply, simply fill out an application form via the link at the foot of this story. Applications are accepted through 31 July 2026, and workgroup access remains active until the contest concludes. The earlier you apply, the more time that you will have to work with the free assets.
A $45,000 prize pool sponsored by industry giants
This year’s event is backed by a powerhouse roster of industry leaders, offering a combined $45,000 in cash and prizes. Reallusion is honored to partner with NVIDIA, Maxon, Epic Games, Unity, Houdini, MSI, Western Digital, and CenterGrid to provide contestants with the professional hardware, cloud resources, and software support needed to bring their visions to life.
Beyond the prizes: career-defining exposure
In addition to cash and hardware, leading contestants will be featured across popular 3D media outlets and magazines through dedicated articles and promotional highlights. Selected artists may also be invited to join Reallusion’s digital content ecosystem to monetize their work or collaborate on official showcase projects. Submit your entry before 31 August 2026!
Visit the 2026 Reallusion 3D Character Contest webpage
(More information on rules, prizes, and how to apply for free software and content airdrops)