The 2026 3D Awards are now open, inviting artists, studios, and students worldwide to submit their best visualization work across image, film, and interactive categories. This year’s edition features six categories, two special awards, and the return of the Student award, and culminates in a live ceremony at the WVF in Warsaw.
Key takeaways
- The 3D awards return once again at CGconnect, showcasing amazing talent across the global visualization community in several different categories, including image, film, interactive, and student
- Two special awards – Studio of the Year and Viz Pro of the Year – honor outstanding teams and individuals in the visualization space.
- Commissions for the 3D awards are open from March 30 to April 30, 2026, with the winners being announced at a live awards ceremony on June 19, 2026.
The 3D awards are back, continuing CGconnect's mission to spotlight outstanding work from the talented visualization community.
This year’s edition brings together artists, studios, and students working across disciplines with a shared focus on creativity, storytelling, and technical excellence across several different categories.
Whether you're creating commissioned client work, personal explorations, cinematic animations, or interactive experiences, the 3D Awards provide a platform to showcase your craft alongside some of the industry's most respected creators.
© Stefana Ristić
Viz Pro of the Year 2025, Stefana Ristić
Stefana Ristić
What are the categories for the 3D Awards?
The 2026 edition recognizes work across image, film, and interactive experiences, alongside two distinguished special awards celebrating long-term creative excellence. The categories are as follows:
- Image, Commissioned
- Image, Non-Commissioned
- Image, Student
- Film, Commissioned
- Film, Non-Commissioned
- Interactive, VR/AR Experience
A notable addition this year is the return of the Student Image category to the main competition.
Special awards
There are two special awards at the 2026 3D Awards: the Studio of the Year & the Viz Pro of the Year award.
Studio of the Year
This award recognizes a studio’s overall creative impact across the past year. Rather than focusing on a single project, the judging process evaluates a studio’s broader range of work.
Participating studios are asked to submit a link to their 2025 reel, hosted on YouTube or Vimeo, showcasing their achievements, consistency, and creative direction.
Viz Pro of the Year
This individual honor celebrates outstanding contributors within the CGconnect community.
Eligibility for this award is limited to artists who were featured as Viz Pro of the Week during the 2025–2026 cycle, ensuring nominees represent some of the most recognized talent across the platform.
© Sonia Romero
Sonia Romero, Nominee for the 2025 3D Awards. Category: Image Non-Commissioned
Sonia Romero
3D Awards 2026: Key dates to know
Get your portfolio ready, as submissions are already open!
|
Milestone |
Date |
|
Call for submissions |
March 30 – April 30 (23:59 UTC/GMT) |
|
Judging round |
May 1 – 10 |
|
Official nominees announced |
May 19 |
|
Live awards ceremony |
June 19 |
|
Winners announced online |
June 19 (following the live ceremony) |
How can I participate in the 2026 3D Awards?
You can participate in the 3D awards by submitting your application, along with your portfolio and/or reel, on the 3D Awards submissions page.
Submissions are free, and creators are welcome to enter work produced using any tools or workflows. The focus of the competition remains firmly on the final result: the creativity, storytelling, and craft behind each submission.
Join 3D Awards at WVF in Warsaw!
The 3D Awards will be presented live at the World Visualization Festival (WVF) in Warsaw, Poland, bringing the community together. The ceremony will highlight nominees and winners on stage, culminating in an evening dedicated to the people and projects shaping the industry.
Submit your work and explore the full details on CGconnect.