Peabody Awards 2026 Interactive & Immersive: Games, VR and Digital Stories Open
The 87th Peabody Awards have opened entries for Interactive and Immersive work: a category for storytelling in games, virtual reality, augmented reality, interactive journalism and participatory digital formats. The 2026 submission window opened on 8 October, with three fee deadlines through 15 December 2026. This is particularly relevant to digital artists whose projects use interaction as an essential part of the audience's experience.
Who and what can enter?
Eligible projects must have been publicly released between 1 January and 31 December 2026. The Peabody Awards require meaningful public distribution; private showcases, festival previews or industry-only screenings do not automatically qualify. The work should be made for audiences engaging at home on consumer-level hardware, and interactivity, immersion or participation must be central to the storytelling rather than a minor technical feature.
Eligible formats and exclusions
The organisers list Game + Play, Interactive Journalism, Narrative/Other, Social Video and VR as submission types. Experiences involving AR, collaborative participation and other immersive practices may also fit if they satisfy the published criteria. The category specifically excludes physical installations, location-based media, primarily text-based websites and certain other formats. Conventional television, podcasts and standalone videos belong in different Peabody categories.
Fees and deadline tiers
Early-bird submissions close on 19 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time for a $350 fee. The regular deadline is 8 December at $450. The final extended deadline is 15 December at $700, also at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time; the organiser states that there will be no further extensions. Applicants should budget for the non-refundable entry fee and select the correct tier before checkout.
Application and verification
Entries are made through the official Peabody online submission portal. Instead of uploading project files or mailing physical media, applicants must supply working links and any necessary access codes so reviewers can experience the work. The Peabody Awards have a longstanding programme recognising excellence in storytelling across media; for digital creators, this interactive category sets a clear boundary between art that is simply displayed and work experienced through audience actions.
Read the official guidelines
Before paying, check the current rules for eligibility, distribution, rights and access requirements. The organiser's submission page is the authoritative source for fees and deadlines.
Official call and application
Verified against the organiser's published information on 23 October 2026. Always check the source for later updates.