Student Games Festival 2026
Competition Rules
01
General Provisions
1.1. These rules define the conditions of participation in the Student Game Development Competition "Student Games Festival 2026" (hereinafter: "Competition").
1.2. The organizers of the Competition are Fundacja Kultura Interaktywna, based in Warsaw, ul. Kaniowska 108, 01-529, KRS 0001173467 (hereinafter: “Organizer”).
1.3. The Competition aims to promote young talent in video game development, support creativity, and integrate the student game developer community from around the world.
1.4. The Competition is open to students who meet the eligibility criteria described in section 2 of these rules.
1.5. The Competition includes submissions of video games created by students, including long-term projects (e.g., semester or year-long assignments) and games developed during game jams.
02
Eligibility
2.1. The Competition is open to individuals who:
2.1.1. At the time of submission, are currently enrolled in higher education (Bachelor’s, Engineer’s, Master’s or Doctoral programs), or completed such studies no more than 12 months prior, or are high school students. The Organizer reserves the right to invite participants from educational institutions governed by alternative regulations in other countries.
2.1.2. Submit a game created individually or in a team where all members meet the above criteria.
2.2. Participants must be of legal age. If not, parental or guardian consent is required.
2.3. Submitted games must be original works that do not infringe upon third-party rights including copyright, intellectual property, or personal data.
2.4. Games may be submitted in any genre and for any platform (PC, consoles, mobile, VR, etc.) provided they are playable and offer at least 10 minutes of gameplay.
2.5. Each team or individual may submit only one game. Each game may be submitted to the Festival only once. Games that have been submitted in any previous edition of the Festival are not eligible for submission in subsequent editions.
2.6. Participants may use commercial or free game engines, such as Unreal Engine, Unity, Godot, etc., in accordance with their licenses.
2.7. Participants may use resources from digital asset marketplaces such as Unity Asset Store or Unreal Marketplace, provided their use is disclosed in the submission form and complies with licensing terms.
2.8. Games may be submitted by teams of up to 6 people, each of whom must meet the criteria in 2.1. A team leader must be designated as the primary contact with the Organizer.
2.9. If selected for the finals, the team will choose up to 2 representatives to attend the event at the Organizer’s expense. All team members will be recognized as co-creators in case of awards.
03
Submission Process
3.1. Submissions will be accepted from April 1, 2026, to June 30, 2026, via the submission form available at www.studentgamesfestival.com.
3.2. Each submission must include:
- Completed submission form with participant/team details and game description.
- Playable build of the game in digital format (download link or online access).
- Demonstration video (min. 2 minutes, max. 5 minutes) showcasing gameplay and key elements.
- List of game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity), middleware, plugins, development tools, and assets used in the project, along with confirmation of compliance with their respective licenses (e.g., license link or declaration in the form).
- Generative AI use disclosure - the participants must disclose any use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the creation of submitted game projects. This includes, but is not limited to, AI-generated code, artwork, music, dialogue, narrative content, or other assets.
3.3. Incomplete submissions, those not complying with asset licenses, or those sent after the deadline will not be considered.
3.4. The Organizer will confirm receipt within 7 working days via email.
3.5. Submitted games must be provided in formats compatible with Windows/Android/iOS/Meta and include installation and launch guide (max one-page long). Non-compliant submissions may be rejected.
3.6. Finalists must provide an optimized version of the game for equipment supplied by the Organizer. Technical requirements will be shared after the finalist announcement. If optimization isn’t possible, the participant must provide their own equipment.
04
Qualification Process
4.1. Submitted games will be evaluated by a Qualification Jury announced on the opening date of submissions.
4.2. The Qualification Jury will determine, at its sole discretion, the number of games selected to advance to the final (the ‘Finalist Games’).
4.3. The list of Finalist Games will be published on the website no later than August 15, 2026.
4.4. Finalists will be notified by email and/or phone within 3 days of the announcement.
4.5. Jury members must declare potential conflicts of interest (e.g., affiliations with participants or submissions). The Organizer ensures that jurors do not evaluate games with which they have ties.
05
Competition Final
5.1. The final will take place in Warsaw on October 8–9, 2026, as a physical event (“Student Games Festival 2026”)
5.2. Finalists (up to 2 per team) will be invited to Warsaw at the Organizer’s expense, covering:
- Economy class flight/train/bus tickets to Warsaw and back.
- Hotel accommodation in Warsaw for the duration of the final (3 nights).
5.3. Finalists will present their games to the Final Jury and the public during showcase sessions.
5.4. The Organizer provides technical equipment for presentations. Finalists must supply compatible game builds or bring their own compatible hardware.
5.5. If a given project has special hardware requirements (e.g., a VR headset, a special controller, etc.), Finalists are obligated to bring such hardware with them to the final.
5.6. The following costs are not covered by the Organizer: visa fees, travel insurance, local transportation within Warsaw, or additional hotel nights beyond the official event duration. These are the participants’ responsibility.
06
Evaluation and Awards
6.1. The Final Jury will select the Best Student Games based on: innovation and originality, quality (graphics, sound, coding), gameplay and immersion, narrative coherence (if applicable), and technical performance.
Best Student Game Awards categories:
ARTISTIC GREATNESS
It is given to a game with a distinctive, elegant and original visual style, not only in its static graphics, but as well in motion, be it animations, lighting, interface and overall perception of the game from the eye-of-the-beholder perspective.
TECHNICAL GREATNESS
It is is given to a game with an extraordinary use of technology, seen in a fluent work of the game, spectacular shaders, lighting, camera work, but also with a one-of-a-kind use of the technology, whether it is about online features or creating own engine or outstanding use of the existing engines.
THE MEANINGFUL GAME
It is given to a game that cleverly communicates its message through gameplay and aims to speak about social issues, state of humankind, provokes to ask important questions and basically has the ability to improve us as humans and makes it just by playing it.
BEST STUDENT GAME AWARD
Is given to a game that plays best, has clever design and that addictive loop that just drags you in and makes you want to play more, having also great visual style, and properly coded so it just doesn’t break. Best Student Game Award is given to a game that stands out as a work of creativity and is an engaging game at the same time.
6.2. The Jury may also award special mentions.
6.3. Additional award categories will be announced during the award ceremony.
6.4. The Organizer reserves the right not to award a main prizes or mentions if no entry meets the criteria.
07
Intellectual Property Rights
7.1. Participants retain full intellectual property rights to their games.
7.2. By submitting a game, participants grant the Organizer a free, non-exclusive license to use submission materials (e.g., screenshots, demo videos) for promotional purposes, including social media, website, and press.
7.3. Participants are responsible for ensuring that engines and assets used are licensed appropriately. The Organizer is not liable for license violations.
7.4. Participants are responsible for ensuring submitted games do not infringe third-party rights. In case of claims, the participant indemnifies the Organizer.
7.5. Finalist games may be publicly presented during the final, on the website, in social media, or selected platforms (e.g., itch.io, Steam), with participant consent. Participants may limit promotion to screenshots and videos by indicating this in the form.
08
Personal Data Protection
8.1. The Organizer is the data controller of participants’ personal data.
8.2. Data (name, email, phone, university info) will be processed for the Competition, communication, and prize fulfillment, in accordance with EU Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR).
8.3. Participants have the right to access, correct, delete, restrict processing of their data, and to file a complaint with a supervisory authority.
8.4. The detailed privacy policy is available on the Competition website.
09
Final Provisions
9.1. The Organizer may amend these rules for valid reasons with at least 7 days' notice on the Competition website.
9.2. If the Competition is canceled for reasons beyond the Organizer’s control (e.g., force majeure), no compensation will be granted.
9.3. Disputes arising from the Competition will be resolved by a court competent for the Organizer's registered office.
9.4. The official language of the Competition is English. All submissions, presentations, and communications must be in English.
9.5. Questions should be sent to festival@kulturainteraktywna.pl. Appeals against decisions must be submitted within 7 days and will be reviewed within 14 working days.
9.6. The Organizer may change the Competition format (e.g., from physical to online) due to unforeseen circumstances. Participants will be informed at least 14 days in advance.
10
Competition Schedule
- Submission opens: April 1, 2026
- Submission deadline: June 30, 2026
- Finalist Games announced: August 15, 2026
- Final and Award Gala: October 8-9, 2026