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Everyone's making AI videos. Almost no one's making ads worth watching. The OpenArt Ad Awards exist to change that: a $50,000 contest, across 15 awards, for the best advertising made with AI.
Make a 30-second ad on OpenArt, post it publicly, and enter. That's the whole thing. This guide walks through every award, how to enter, how entries are judged, and the rules you need to know before you post.
What the OpenArt Ad Awards are
The OpenArt Ad Awards is a global contest for AI-made advertising. You create an original ad using OpenArt, post it on social, and submit it. Fifteen awards share a $50,000 prize pool, from a $15,000 grand prize down to honorable mentions.
The contest runs from 10:00 AM PDT on September 10, 2026 to 11:59 PM PDT on September 30, 2026. It's open worldwide.
The prize pool: $50,000 across 15 awards
Fifteen awards, $50,000 in total. Here's the whole board at a glance:
| Award | Winners | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| Ad of the Year (Grand Prize) | 1 | $15,000 |
| Wan Award (Model) | 1 | $5,000 |
| Seedance Award (Model) | 1 | $5,000 |
| MiniMax Award (Model) | 1 | $5,000 |
| Best UGC Ad (Category) | 1 | $3,000 |
| Best Fashion & Beauty Ad (Category) | 1 | $3,000 |
| Best Product Ad (Category) | 1 | $3,000 |
| Best Brand Commercial (Category) | 1 | $3,000 |
| Machine Cinema Award (Partner) | 1 | $2,000 |
| Wonder Studios Award (Partner) | 1 | $2,000 + Founding Membership |
| People's Choice (Community) | 1 | $2,000 |
| Honorable Mentions | 4 | $500 each |
The awards in detail
Ad of the Year — $15,000
The grand prize. Every eligible submission is automatically considered, no separate entry needed. It recognizes the strongest overall ad in the competition, regardless of category or model.
Model Awards — $5,000 each
Based on the primary video generation model used, one per entry. There are three:
- Wan Award — in partnership with Alibaba
- Seedance Award — in partnership with BytePlus
- MiniMax Award — in partnership with MiniMax
To win one, that model has to be the primary video generation model in your ad.
Ad Categories — $3,000 each
Every submission competes in exactly one:
- Best UGC Ad — creator-led, social-first advertising: talking-to-camera concepts, testimonials, demonstrations, social-native storytelling, direct response.
- Best Fashion & Beauty Ad — fashion, beauty, skincare, cosmetics, fragrance, accessories and luxury. Judged on concept, styling, art direction, movement and visual quality.
- Best Product Ad — advertising where the product itself is the focus. Judged on presentation, concept, execution, product accuracy and commercial quality.
- Best Brand Commercial — a commercial for a brand, service, or idea where storytelling, emotion, or brand message takes center stage. Judged on concept, storytelling, execution, and overall impact.
Partner & Community Awards
No separate submission required:
- Machine Cinema Award — $2,000. Selected by Machine Cinema for outstanding AI filmmaking, judged on direction, shot design, visual language and creative use of motion.
- Wonder Studios Award — $2,000 + a free Wonder Studios Founding Membership. Selected by Wonder Studios for the strongest storytelling.
- People's Choice — $2,000. Chosen by the community. The ad with the most positive engagement on its public post.
- Honorable Mentions — 4 × $500. Four entries recognized for exceptional work beyond the primary categories.
How to enter
Four steps, all required. Miss one and the entry isn't valid.
- Make a 30-second ad. Create an original advertisement, at least 30 seconds long and no more than 2 minutes, for any fictional brand, product, service or idea.
- Create it with OpenArt. All AI-generated visual content must be made on OpenArt, using any model. Editing, compositing, color grading, sound design, music, typography and other post-production can be finished in external tools. For longer, multi-scene ads, OpenArt Director is the place to build them.
- Post it publicly from your own account on Instagram, X, or LinkedIn. Tag @OpenArt and include #OpenArtAdAwards. Entering a Model Award? Also tag the relevant Model Partner in the same post.
- Submit through the official form. Include the link to your public post and select your Ad Category. Entering a Model Award? Select the Model Award too, and include your OpenArt project or generation link(s) so the team can verify the model.
You can submit as many ads as you like, but each has to be a distinct work, submitted separately, with its own public post.
Where to tag for Model Awards
- Alibaba / Wan — Instagram · X · LinkedIn
- BytePlus / Seedance — Use hashtag Seedance · X · LinkedIn
- MiniMax — Instagram · X · LinkedIn
What gets judged
Eligible entries are judged on:
- Strength and originality of the creative idea
- Advertising effectiveness
- Quality of execution
- Storytelling and communication
- Visual and creative craft
- Appropriate use of AI and OpenArt
- Overall impact
Category-specific considerations may also apply. Model Award finalists are verified to confirm the declared model was the primary video generation model used, and that the relevant Model Partner was tagged in the public post.
Key dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Submissions open | September 10, 2026 · 10:00 AM PDT |
| Submission deadline | September 30, 2026 · 11:59 PM PDT |
| Winners announced | October 2026 |
Late submissions will not be accepted.
The rules, in short
- Eligibility. Open worldwide, subject to local law. Unlimited entries, each a distinct work submitted separately with its own public post. Resubmitting the same ad, or making insignificant changes to create duplicates, doesn't create additional eligible entries.
- Content restrictions. No real brand's IP, and nothing religious, political, NSFW, or featuring any identifiable person's likeness or voice.
- Originality and rights. Your submission must be your own original work, and you must hold all rights and permissions for everything in it, including third-party IP, trademarks, music, likenesses, voices and images.
- Use of your work. By entering, you grant OpenArt a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to display, distribute, share and promote your ad in connection with the awards and the promotion of OpenArt.
- Verification. OpenArt may request more information or review project and generation records before confirming a finalist or winner, and may disqualify entries that break the rules or manipulate voting or engagement.
Everything here is a summary. The official rules on Notion are the complete, authoritative version, and they win if anything differs.
Common questions
Can one ad win several awards?
Yes. A brand commercial made primarily with Seedance can be considered for Ad of the Year, Best Brand Commercial, the Seedance Award, both partner awards, People's Choice and an Honorable Mention. An entry may compete in only one Ad Category and only one Model Award.
What has to be made on OpenArt?
All AI-generated visual content must be created on OpenArt, with any model. Editing, compositing, color grading, sound design, music and typography may be finished in external tools.
How long should my ad be, and what language?
At least 30 seconds and no longer than 2 minutes. Any language works, with English subtitles or an English voice-over.
Where can I post my ad?
Entries must be posted publicly on Instagram, X, or LinkedIn. Tag @OpenArt and include #OpenArtAdAwards in your post. Entries posted only to other platforms won't be eligible.
How do Model Awards work?
Pick one Model Award and use that model as the primary video generation model for your ad. Tag the relevant Model Partner in your public post alongside @OpenArt, then select the Model Award on the submission form and include your OpenArt project or generation link(s) so the team can verify the model. An entry may compete in only one Model Award.
What's the difference between Best Product Ad and Best Brand Commercial?
- Best Product Ad is for ads where a specific product is the main focus, including its features, benefits, design, or use.
- Best Brand Commercial is broader. It's for ads centered on a brand, service, or idea, where the story, message, emotion, or identity is more important than showcasing a specific product.
Not sure which one fits? Choose the category that best reflects the main focus of your ad.
Can I use my own images, footage or characters as references?
Yes. You can use your own images, footage, 3D models, and other materials as references. They do not need to have been created during the contest period.
However, do not use the face or voice of any real person, including yourself. Any people or voices featured in your ad must be fictional and AI-generated.
Can I use external editing tools?
Yes. All AI-generated visual content must be created on OpenArt, but editing, compositing, color grading, sound design, music and typography may be finished anywhere. Premiere, After Effects, CapCut, DaVinci Resolve, external music tools and the rest are all fine.
When is the submission deadline?
Entries close September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM PDT. Submissions open September 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM PDT. Winners are announced October 12, 2026.
How many ads can I enter?
Unlimited entries. Each ad must be a distinct work, submitted separately, with its own public post. Resubmitting the same ad or making insignificant changes does not create additional eligible entries.
Who can enter?
The awards are open worldwide, subject to local law.
Where are the full rules?
The official rules on Notion are the official, complete version. They win if anything differs.
Submit your ad
Make something worth watching. Entries close September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM PDT.