The Lumen Prize is an international, non-profit art competition that champions outstanding creative work made with technology, spotlighting artists and innovators who use digital tools and emerging media to push contemporary art forward. It is widely recognised for supporting technology-driven art practices, including digital art, interactive installations, immersive experiences, generative art, AI art, data visualisation, experimental moving image, and other cutting-edge forms at the intersection of art, science, and innovation. Through its annual awards, The Lumen Prize presents a platform for creative practitioners working with new technologies to gain global visibility, professional recognition, and new opportunities within the international art world.
Each year, The Lumen Prize Open Call invites submissions from artists, collectives, studios, and creative researchers worldwide, creating a diverse and competitive field of contemporary digital artworks. Submissions are reviewed through a structured selection process by expert judges and an international jury, ensuring artistic excellence, originality, technical achievement, and conceptual depth are recognised. By bringing together a broad range of artistic approaches, from screen-based works to experiential installations, the prize reflects the rapidly evolving landscape of digital creativity and the expanding possibilities of technology in art and culture.
Beyond the awards, The Lumen Prize functions as an ongoing global showcase for the best art created with technology, supporting artists who explore the creative potential of computational systems, interactive design, mixed reality, and experimental digital practices. It aims to elevate technology art in the public imagination, strengthen the global ecosystem for digital artists, and connect audiences with innovative work that engages with the contemporary world. With its focus on international reach, future-facing creativity, and recognition of excellence across multiple categories, The Lumen Prize continues to position itself as a leading benchmark for digital art competitions and new media art awards worldwide.
Entry fee: $45 per artwork (Early Bird: $35 per artwork if submitted between Jan 26 – Feb 17, 2026).
Eligibility
Open to creators across disciplines worldwide, including individual artists, collectives, studios/practitioners, artist-designers, and academic researchers/creative teams.
Prize
The 2026 prize pool totals $30,000, including three category prizes of $5,000 each (Legacy Futures, Systems & Structures, Experiential Innovation) and a Gold Award of $15,000 for the highest-scoring artwork across all categories.
