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.
6.5. Main sponsor of the Awards: AMD
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 7, 2026
- Submission deadline: June 30, 2026
- Finalist Games announced: August 15, 2026
- Final and Award Gala: October 8-9, 2026
Student Games Festival 2026
Participation in the Festival Rules
1
General Provisions
These Terms and Conditions apply to the event titled “Student Games Festival 2026” (hereinafter referred to as the Festival).
The main organizer of the Festival is Fundacja Kultura Interaktywna (Interactive Culture Foundation), registered in Warsaw, ul. Kaniowska 108, 00-529 Warsaw, KRS 0001173467, NIP 5253047129, REGON 541782647.
The Festival will take place in Warsaw on 8-9 October 2026 at the Palace of Culture and Science
The Festival is a non-profit event co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage under the Creative Industries Institute's own programme: Development of Creative Sectors, as well as by sponsors and partners.
These Terms and Conditions apply to all Festival participants. Each participant is obliged to comply with these provisions and with the Organizer’s instructions.
By registering for or entering the Festival, the participant confirms that they have read these Terms and Conditions and undertake to comply with them.
The Organizer may take reasonable measures necessary to ensure the safety, security and proper conduct of the Festival, including refusing entry to or removing from the Festival a person who violates these Terms and Conditions, the rules of the Venue, applicable law, or instructions of the Organizer or Venue staff.
The rights and obligations set out in these Terms and Conditions apply subject to mandatory provisions of Polish law. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions is intended to exclude or limit any liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited.
2
Festival Objectives
To promote video games as legitimate forms and carriers of culture, as well as effective tools for education and economic development.
To support young creators by providing them with opportunities to present their projects, gain industry knowledge, and establish professional connections.
To support educators through participation in the conference and the exchange of experiences.
To contribute to the standardization of international education frameworks in the field of game development.
3
Participation in the Festival
The Festival program, published on the website https://studentgamesfestival.com (hereinafter referred to as the Website), is indicative and has been prepared by the Organizer with due diligence.
In case of unforeseen circumstances, the Organizer reserves the right to modify the Festival program.
Any discrepancies between the actual course of the Festival and the program published on the Website do not constitute grounds for any claims against the Organizer, including refund requests.
The Organizer reserves the right to record the Festival in various formats – including video, photo, and audio recordings. Such materials may be used for documentation, informational, reporting, archival and promotional purposes, subject to applicable law and Section 4 of these Rules. Where a participant appears as part of a wider audience, gathering or general scene of the Festival, their image may be recorded and used to the extent permitted by applicable law. Where a participant is intentionally and individually photographed or recorded as the principal subject of the material, the Organizer will obtain consent or rely on another applicable legal basis where required by law for the intended use.
Due to the large number of participants, attendance at some lectures or accompanying events may not be possible if all seats are occupied. In such cases, participants are not entitled to any claims against the Organizer.
The event is closed to the public – participation is possible only after registration via the online form available on the Website.
The Festival is organized as an event that is not a mass event within the meaning of the applicable Polish regulations on the safety of mass events. For safety, organizational and capacity-management reasons, the maximum number of persons who may be present at the Festival venue at any one time is 500 persons.
The Organizer will operate a system for counting the number of persons currently present at the Festival venue, including at the reception and entrance points. The number of persons present will be monitored on an ongoing basis and the Organizer will respond to changes in attendance as necessary.
If the maximum number of 500 persons present at the Festival venue is reached, the Organizer may temporarily refuse entry to additional participants until a sufficient number of persons have left the venue and the number of persons present falls below the applicable limit.
Registration for the Festival, possession of a registration confirmation or invitation, or arrival at the Festival venue does not guarantee entry at any particular time if the maximum number of persons permitted to be present at the venue has already been reached.
The above measures are implemented for the safety of participants and in accordance with applicable Polish laws and safety requirements concerning the organization of events. The Organizer reserves the right to refuse or temporarily suspend entry to the Festival venue due to the number of persons already present at the venue.
If you require any additional assistance or accommodations, including a sign language interpreter or translation into another language, please contact the organizers in advance by email: hello@studentgamesfestival.com.
All program activities are conducted in English.
The organizers are not responsible for any items left in the cloakroom.
Registration is personal and may not be transferred to another person unless the Organizer expressly agrees otherwise. The Organizer may verify registration details and refuse entry where registration details cannot be verified or where a person attempts to use another participant’s registration.
The Organizer reserves the right to limit or refuse participation where this is reasonably necessary due to capacity limits, safety requirements, technical limitations, instructions of the Venue, decisions of competent authorities, or other circumstances beyond the Organizer’s reasonable control.
Participants are responsible for their personal belongings and equipment brought to the Festival, including computers, mobile phones, cameras, game-development equipment and other valuables. Participants should not leave valuable items unattended.
The Organizer shall not be responsible for loss, theft or damage to personal belongings or equipment brought by participants, except to the extent such responsibility cannot be excluded under applicable law.
Participants may take photographs and make audio or video recordings for their personal, non-commercial purposes, provided that such activities do not interfere with the Festival, presentations, safety procedures or the rights of other persons. The Organizer or individual speakers may prohibit recording of particular sessions or materials.
Participants must not use photographs, recordings or other materials obtained during the Festival in a manner that violates applicable law or infringes the rights, privacy, intellectual property or personal rights of other persons.
The Organizer may refuse entry to or remove a participant whose conduct presents a safety risk, materially disrupts the Festival, violates these Terms and Conditions or the rules of the Venue, or may reasonably be expected to cause harm to other persons or property.
Where reasonably necessary for safety or security purposes, the Organizer may request the assistance of Venue security personnel, medical services, police or other competent authorities.
Participants must immediately follow reasonable instructions issued for safety, security, evacuation, emergency response and the proper operation of the Festival.
4
Data Protection (GDPR) and Image Use
The controller of personal data of Festival participants is Fundacja Kultura Interaktywna, based in Warsaw.
Personal data are processed in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council (GDPR) for the purpose of organizing and operating the Festival, including registration of participants and speakers, and for communication related to organizational matters.
The scope of processed personal data is defined in the Privacy Policy available on the Festival’s Website.
Data may be shared with the Organizer’s partners, sponsors, and subcontractors to the extent necessary to carry out tasks related to the organization of the Festival (e.g. IT service providers, accountants, technical suppliers, printing services).
Personal data will be stored for the period necessary to achieve the purposes for which they were collected, in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Participants have the right to access, rectify, delete, restrict processing, transfer their data, and object to processing, where applicable under the GDPR.
In the event of a request for deletion, data will be removed unless they are still required to fulfill the purposes for which they were collected or where continued processing is permitted or required by law.
Participants have the right to lodge a complaint regarding the processing of their personal data with the President of the Personal Data Protection Office (UODO) in Poland.
Providing personal data is voluntary; however, failure to provide data necessary for registration or participation may make participation in the Festival impossible.
During the Festival, photos, audio, and video recordings may be taken to document the event.
Information concerning the processing of personal data, including applicable legal bases, retention periods, recipients and participants’ rights, is provided in the Privacy Policy available on the Website.
The Organizer may use photographs and recordings in which participants appear as part of the Festival audience or a wider event scene for documentation, informational, reporting and promotional purposes, subject to applicable law.
Where a participant is intentionally and individually recorded or photographed as the principal subject of the material, the Organizer will obtain any consent or rely on another applicable legal basis required by law for the intended use of that material.
Participants who do not wish to be intentionally photographed or recorded as the principal subject should inform the Organizer or designated event staff before or during the Festival. The Organizer will make reasonable efforts to accommodate such requests where practicable, without prejudice to recordings of the Festival as a whole or other processing permitted by law.
The use of a participant’s image, where based on consent, shall be carried out in accordance with the scope and conditions of that consent.
Where applicable, materials containing participants’ images may be published on the Festival’s Website, social media channels and in press, reporting, promotional and archival materials relating to the Festival and the Organizer.
Withdrawal of consent, where consent constitutes the applicable legal basis, does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before the withdrawal.
The Data Protection Officer (DPO) is Ewa Maria Szczepanowska, email: ewaszczepanowska@kulturainteraktywna.pl.
5
Code of Conduct
The value of the Festival lies in its participants – each person contributes to the atmosphere and quality of the event.
Student Games Festival promotes an environment of inclusion, collaboration, and professionalism.
All forms of communication during the Festival must be conducted professionally and with respect for others.
Discrimination, harassment, or intimidation of any kind are strictly prohibited. There is no justification for disrespectful behavior toward other participants.
Prohibited conduct includes, in particular, threats, physical violence, unwanted sexual conduct, stalking, deliberate intimidation, persistent disruption of Festival activities, destruction or deliberate damage to property, theft, and conduct that creates a reasonable risk to the safety of other persons.
Participants must not bring or use items, substances or materials prohibited by applicable law or by the rules of the Venue.
Bringing alcohol onto the Festival premises is prohibited, unless expressly permitted by the Organizer or the Venue.
Smoking tobacco products and using e-cigarettes is prohibited inside the Festival buildings, except in designated smoking areas where such areas are permitted by the Venue and applicable law.
Possession or use of illegal drugs or other prohibited psychoactive substances on the Festival premises is strictly prohibited.
The Organizer may refuse entry to or remove from the Festival any person who is intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or other psychoactive substances where their condition or conduct creates a safety risk, disrupts the Festival or violates these Terms and Conditions.
Participants must not interfere with the work of speakers, exhibitors, technical staff, security personnel, emergency services or other Festival staff.
The Organizer may take proportionate measures in response to violations of this Code of Conduct, including a warning, refusal of entry, removal from the Venue, cancellation of registration, or referral of the matter to appropriate authorities where required or justified.
In serious cases, or where necessary to protect the safety of persons or property, the Organizer may remove a participant without prior warning.
A participant removed from the Festival for violating these Terms and Conditions may not re-enter the Festival unless expressly authorized by the Organizer.
6
Safety and Sanitary Regulations
The Festival is organized in accordance with current legal regulations and the recommendations of the Polish Ministry of Health and the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (GIS), where applicable.
Participants are required to comply with all safety, fire protection, evacuation, sanitary and security instructions applicable at the Venue.
Participants must immediately notify the Organizer, Venue staff or security personnel of any accident, injury, dangerous situation, fire, suspicious object or other circumstance that may pose a risk to persons or property.
In the event of an emergency, the Organizer may temporarily suspend, modify, relocate or terminate individual Festival activities, or evacuate participants from all or part of the Venue, where reasonably necessary to protect health, life or property.
The Organizer may contact emergency medical services, police, fire services or other competent authorities where reasonably necessary in connection with an emergency or suspected violation of law.
If a participant becomes ill or is injured during the Festival, the Organizer may take reasonable steps to obtain medical assistance, including contacting emergency services.
Participants attend the Festival taking into account their own health, physical condition and individual circumstances. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits the Organizer’s obligations or liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited.
7
Minors
Participants under the age of 18 may participate in the Festival only in accordance with applicable law and any requirements specified by the Organizer or the Venue.
Unless expressly stated otherwise by the Organizer, participation in the Festival does not constitute the provision of childcare or supervision of minors.
A parent or legal guardian remains responsible for the supervision of a minor participant to the extent required by applicable law.
Where the Organizer requires parental or legal guardian consent for participation in a particular activity, the minor may not participate in that activity without the required consent.
8
Presentations, Games and Intellectual Property
Participants, speakers, exhibitors and other persons presenting games, software, artwork, audiovisual materials, music, text or other content during the Festival are responsible for ensuring that they have the necessary rights, licenses, permissions and consents to present and use such materials.
A participant must not present or distribute materials that infringe the intellectual property rights, personal rights, privacy rights or other legally protected rights of third parties.
The Organizer does not acquire ownership of intellectual property rights in materials submitted or presented by participants unless a separate written agreement provides otherwise.
The participant is responsible for the content of materials submitted or presented by them and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, shall be responsible for claims arising from unlawful use of third-party materials resulting from the participant’s actions or omissions.
The Organizer reserves the right to refuse the presentation or distribution of materials where there are reasonable grounds to believe that their presentation would violate applicable law, the rights of third parties, the rules of the Venue, or these Terms and Conditions.
Participation in the Festival does not grant any participant a license to use the Organizer’s trademarks, logos, branding or other intellectual property except where expressly permitted by the Organizer.
9
Cancellation, Changes and Events Beyond the Organizer’s Reasonable Control
The Organizer reserves the right to cancel, postpone, relocate, shorten, suspend or modify the Festival or any part of its program where this is reasonably necessary due to circumstances beyond the Organizer’s reasonable control or for reasons relating to safety, security, legal requirements or the proper organization of the Festival.
Such circumstances may include, in particular, fire, flood, extreme weather conditions, epidemic or pandemic-related restrictions, public health emergencies, war, terrorism, civil unrest, strikes, failures of essential infrastructure, significant technical failures, decisions of public authorities, emergency situations, restrictions imposed by the Venue, or other events that materially affect the possibility or safety of holding the Festival.
The Organizer will make reasonable efforts to inform registered participants of significant changes to the Festival through the Website, email or other available communication channels.
The Organizer shall not be responsible for costs incurred independently by participants in connection with attendance at the Festival, including travel, accommodation, meals or other personal expenses, except where mandatory provisions of applicable law provide otherwise.
Changes to the Festival program, including changes of speakers, sessions, schedules or individual activities, do not by themselves constitute grounds for claims against the Organizer, subject to mandatory provisions of applicable law.
10
Liability
Each participant is responsible for their own actions and omissions during the Festival and for any damage caused by them to the extent provided by applicable law.
Participants are required to respect the property of the Organizer, the Venue, sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and other participants.
A participant who causes damage to property or causes harm to another person may be liable for such damage in accordance with applicable law.
The Organizer shall exercise reasonable care in organizing the Festival; however, the Organizer does not guarantee that the Festival will be uninterrupted or that every planned activity, speaker, session, exhibition or technical element will take place exactly as announced.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Organizer shall not be liable for loss or damage resulting from circumstances beyond the Organizer’s reasonable control, or from the participant’s failure to comply with these Terms and Conditions, the rules of the Venue, applicable law or reasonable instructions issued by the Organizer or Venue staff.
Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits liability for damage where such exclusion or limitation is prohibited by applicable law.
11
Final Provisions
The Organizer is not responsible for consequences arising from events beyond its reasonable control, subject to the limitations and mandatory provisions of applicable law.
The Organizer shall take reasonable measures to protect participant safety, provided that attendees comply with these Terms and Conditions, the rules of the Venue and applicable law.
Matters not regulated by these Terms and Conditions are subject to Polish law.
If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid, ineffective or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in force to the fullest extent permitted by law.
The Organizer may amend these Terms and Conditions where necessary due to changes in applicable law, organizational requirements, safety requirements, Venue requirements or other legitimate reasons relating to the Festival.
Amendments that materially affect participants will be published on the Website or communicated through another appropriate channel.
The version of the Terms and Conditions applicable to a participant is the version in force at the relevant time, subject to mandatory provisions of applicable law.
The Organizer may issue additional organizational or safety instructions during the Festival. Such instructions are binding on participants to the extent they are consistent with applicable law and these Terms and Conditions.
In the event of a discrepancy between these Terms and Conditions and mandatory provisions of Polish law, the mandatory provisions of Polish law shall prevail.
The Organizer may use electronic means of communication, including email and information published on the Website, to provide participants with organizational information concerning the Festival.
These Terms and Conditions enter into force on the date of their publication on the Website and remain applicable throughout the Festival, unless amended in accordance with these provisions.