Epic’s 2026 AI MegaJam Will Offer Grants Up to $50,000
AI tools are optional for the Nov. 12-15 event, which has $65,000 in cash prizes, grants up to $50,000 per team, and online or in-person participation at Digital Jungle in San Francisco.
Epic’s 2026 AI MegaJam runs Nov. 12-15, giving creators four days to make games in Unreal Engine or UEFN. The event has $65,000 in cash prizes, and selected teams can receive Development Continuation Grants of up to $50,000 per team to keep working on their projects after the jam.
AI tools are optional. Epic said on X that its original FAQ incorrectly described AI use as mandatory, and that entrants can use AI as much or as little as they want. The company said it was updating the FAQ and rules.
Our FAQ originally said you had to use AI for the MegaJam. That’s our mistake.
You can use as little or as much AI as you want. We’re updating the FAQ and rules to make that clear.https://t.co/HbdnoyOjGo https://t.co/7zR92iXzmT
— Unreal Engine (@UnrealEngine) October 22, 2026
Epic’s event announcement points to uses such as asset generation and coding. The theme is due to be revealed on Nov. 11, and registration is open on Itch.io. Creators can join online or attend in person at Digital Jungle in San Francisco, where participants will build alongside teams from Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, and other companies. Epic also plans daily livestreams with progress updates.
The MegaJam prize tracks cover Unreal Engine and UEFN
Three main categories will recognize Best Overall projects made with Unreal Engine, Best Overall UEFN projects, and student projects made with either tool. Each category pays $7,500 for first place, $5,000 for second, and $2,500 for third.
Modifier awards add $5,000 for Best Team and $2,500 each for Solo Driver, Render Royalty, Glass Box, and Walkie-Talkie. Glass Box recognizes a development log showing how AI tools were used. Walkie-Talkie is for a narrative-driven UEFN game with LLM-powered NPCs and conversational characters. Pocket Powerhouse awards $2,500 each to one mobile game made with Unreal Engine and one made with UEFN.
Which prize track best fits the kind of game you would want to make, and would AI tools be part of your process? Follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram for more coverage of AI tools in game development.
