Epic AI MegaJam 2026 UEFN gives Fortnite creators four days to build an original island and compete for cash prizes. The challenge runs from 12 to 15 November, with solo entries and teams of up to five people. Despite the name, AI tools are optional.
The competition also accepts Unreal Engine games, but each team must choose one platform. You can join online, so you don’t need to attend the San Francisco gathering. In the UK, the submission deadline is 1:59 AM GMT on Monday 16 November. Your final UEFN private version and entry details must be submitted by then.
How to enter Epic AI MegaJam 2026 UEFN
To enter, open Epic’s official jam page on itch.io and select Join jam. You’ll need an active Epic Games account and must meet the entry rules, including the minimum age. Choose UEFN for a Fortnite island; Unreal Engine teams follow a different submission process.
You can set up UEFN, arrange your team and prepare AI agents before the challenge. But you cannot build the competition game before 12 November. Declare any prompts, scripts or assets made earlier that you use, and make sure your game has original gameplay beyond an unchanged template.
Epic AI MegaJam 2026 UEFN dates and UK times
| What happens | UK date and time |
|---|---|
| San Francisco event registration opens | 1 November, 2 PM GMT |
| Theme reveal and kickoff stream | 11 November, 7 PM GMT |
| Jam creation window opens | 12 November, 5 AM GMT |
| In-person Digital Jungle gathering | 14 to 15 November |
| Final submission deadline | 16 November, 1:59 AM GMT |
| Winners announced | By 29 January 2027 |
Epic lists the cutoff as Sunday 15 November at 5:59 PM PST / 8:59 PM EST. In Britain, that’s Monday 16 November at 1:59 AM GMT. The kickoff stream and theme reveal are at 7 PM GMT on 11 November, and the creation window opens at 5 AM GMT on 12 November.
Digital Jungle is an optional gathering in San Francisco on 14 and 15 November. Registration opens on 1 November and spaces are limited. Online entries are judged on the same terms, so there’s no reason to travel just to take part in Epic AI MegaJam 2026 UEFN.
Who can enter, and how many people can join a team?
Entrants must be 18 or older with an active Epic Games account; additional restrictions apply under the full rules. You can work alone or with four other people. There’s no limit on AI agents. Best Student entrants also need to be enrolled in higher education.
You can use AI for coding, art, audio and other development, but AI isn’t compulsory. Licensed Fab assets are allowed if declared, while your island still needs original, playable content. Our UEFN assets guide covers adding editable Fab material.
Epic AI MegaJam 2026 UEFN prizes
Epic has announced $65,000 in cash prizes. The three main categories are Best Overall UEFN, Best Overall Unreal Engine and Best Student Project. Each pays $7,500 for first place, $5,000 for second and $2,500 for third.
| Main award | First | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall UEFN | $7,500 | $5,000 | $2,500 |
| Best Overall Unreal Engine | $7,500 | $5,000 | $2,500 |
| Best Student Project | $7,500 | $5,000 | $2,500 |
Separate modifier awards recognise particular achievements. Best Team pays $5,000. Solo Driver, Render Royalty, Glass Box and Walkie-Talkie each pay $2,500, while Pocket Powerhouse awards $2,500 to one UEFN and one Unreal Engine winner. A team can win one main category and one modifier.
Walkie-Talkie is for narrative-driven UEFN games with LLM-powered NPCs and conversations. If you’re considering that for Epic AI MegaJam 2026 UEFN, our UEFN conversations guide covers the relevant tools. Glass Box is for the best development log.
How the development grants work
Standout entries can also earn Development Continuation Grants. Epic lists $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 for first, second and third place in each of the UEFN and Unreal Engine grant categories. These are separate from the $65,000 cash prize pool and aren’t guaranteed to everyone who enters.
Judges consider ambition, theme, enjoyment, gameplay, visuals, level design, progression and audio. In a four-day jam, a smaller game that works well is better than an impressive idea you cannot finish.
How to submit an Epic AI MegaJam 2026 UEFN island
An Epic AI MegaJam 2026 UEFN entry needs a playable private version code, the island name, each team member’s name and Epic-linked email, and a 30 to 60-second gameplay video link. Public island codes and playtest codes aren’t accepted. A development log is only compulsory for Glass Box entrants.
Our private-version submission walkthrough shows how to generate the code in UEFN, find it in Creator Portal and complete the itch.io form. Leave time to test your island and record the video: Epic disqualifies late entries.
When is the theme revealed?
Epic reveals the theme during its 11 November livestream at 7 PM GMT. You can prepare the tools beforehand, but game development starts on 12 November. Aim to get one strong idea playable, tested and submitted within the four-day window.
Related Guides
- Epic AI MegaJam 2026 UEFN Submission: Private Version Code
- UEFN Template Abilities: How to Build Custom Powers
- UEFN Text Chat Channels: Team and Faction Chats
- Fortnite UEFN Source Assets on Fab
- Fortnite UEFN Verse UI Kit
- How to Use Conversations in Fortnite UEFN
- Fortnite AI NPCs Explained
- Fortnite Creator Tools Update
Official source: Epic Games 2026 AI MegaJam official event rules and registration.
