NSW AI Awards 2026 celebrates creative AI & technical AI talent from NSW, across Australia, and around the world.

The NSW AI Awards 2026 will take place on Friday, 25 September 2026, as part of the NSW AI Bonanza 2026, running from 23–25 September 2026. Submitted content will help shape not only the awards but the program and featured content for the NSW AI Bonanza in-person events.

The NSW AI Bonanza is designed to engage the wider community while bringing together local, national, and international AI leaders, innovators, and practitioners to collaborate, share knowledge, and inspire new ideas. AI Film Makers that attend will feel inspired to create more incredible AI content after seeing your work alongside others on show, but also after having the chance to collaborate with other AI Film Makers.

With multiple venues hosting activities throughout the festival, selected work will have the opportunity to be showcased across a range of screens and event spaces, reaching diverse audiences. Some of the incredible venues include the world famous Bondi Icebergs!

As always, we welcome submissions from across Australia and from the worldwide creative AI community.

Awards & Prizes

Winners will be announced 25th September 2026 in Sydney, NSW, Australia and they will receive a beautiful crystal trophy!

If you're unable to accept your trophy in-person, that's no problem - we will send it to you!

Award Categories:
Best in AI Animation
Best in AI Art
Best AI Campaign/Commercial
Best AI Influencer
Best in AI Music / Music Videos
Best AI Social Media Content
Best use of AI in Gaming
Best in AI Short Films

Special awards:
Best in Australia - Best Australian produced project (across all categories)
Best in the World - International produced projects (across all categories)
Rising Star - The best emerging talent (across all categories)

Special awards will be judged from the submissions in the regular award categories, so your entry may qualify for one or more special awards entries.

Rules & Terms

If the festival is postponed or cancelled your submission will be considered for the next edition of the festival. Some of the events are weather dependent. Event details including venues, dates and times are subject to change.
By submitting your work, you are granting us permission to use your work on platforms associated with the NSW AI Awards and NSW AI Bonanza (e.g. NSW AI Bonanza website, Mobile App, VR app, AR experiences, platforms, applications, social media etc.) as well as NSW AI Bonanza events. The festival has the right to use the publicity material (press, books, posters, stills etc.) from selected submissions to promote the festival as well edit your work for a variety of reasons (type of audience, reduce run time etc.).
NSW AI Awards are open to content of under 3 hours (although Games can last longer) and all genres and warmly welcomes all accepted creatives to attend. Except for content entered out of competition all content must not have screened before January 2020.
We strongly encourage electronic submission via FilmFreeway however if there is a physical element, please email us at hello@NSWAIBonanza.com to discuss.

Judging
Judging of your submission can take place at any time after your submission has been made, so make sure your submission is ready as we may judge it straight away.

Information for creators:
Selected content creators will receive 2 tickets to their content screening. Further tickets for content creators will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
Except those out of the competition, all content selected for NSW AI Bonanza is in the running to be selected as nominees for awards in their appropriate categories as well as others such as Best Australian or Internationally produced AI.

Nominations will be announced before the festival opens 23rd September 2026

More information is available at www.NSWAIBonanza.com if you have any specific queries about entry or terms and conditions, please email us at hello@NSWAIBonanza.com