Hong Kong International AIGC Digital Creation Competition 2026

Empowering Global Youth to Explore Human-AI Co-creation Boundaries

Hosted jointly by Hong Kong Power Youth Association and Magic Bean Group, with institutional support from the Hong Kong Metropolitan University Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration and JD Technology, Hong Kong International AIGC Digital Creation Competition 2026 officially opens global call-for-entries for young creators. Rooted in Hong Kong’s positioning as Asia’s international tech-innovation hub, the competition targets young learners worldwide, guided by the mission Technology for Good • Creativity Without Boundaries • AI Empowers Every Young Mind. It builds a cross-regional, interdisciplinary competitive and exchange platform for generative-AI creation. Participants are invited to reflect on the core theme Human × AI Creativity, practice prompt-engineering and end-to-end AIGC workflows, and translate AI tooling into tangible competencies for learning, entrepreneurship and future careers.

I. Competition Overview: Organisers, Eligibility & Core Themes

1. Organising & Supporting Bodies

• Organisers: Hong Kong Power Youth Association; Magic Bean Group
• Co–organiser: GBA Research Academic Industry Sectors Association Limited
• Supporting Institutions: Hong Kong Metropolitan University Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration; JD Cloud (JD Technology)
• Advisory Council: Comprising 18 distinguished advisorsfrom Hong Kong’s political-business, tech-innovation, culture and education sectors, providing professional guidance for judging and competition strategy.

Open to global youth from Grade–4 primary school up to university–level students, the competition establishes four separate divisions: Primary, Junior Secondary, Senior Secondary and University Open Division, covering the full spectrum of youth education. Creators from more than 50 countries and regions have registered interest in this edition.

Core theme for University Open Division: Human × AI Creativity. Participants are encouraged to blend creative thinking, business insight and human-centred social concern, explore the boundary between human creators and artificial intelligence, and deliver AIGC works combining intellectual depth and digital aesthetics.

2. Key Competition Highlights

1. Open–tool policy + hands–on skill building: There are no restrictions on AIGC creation platforms. Contestants may select any generative-AI software. The official recommended tool is JD Cloud Lingjing AIGC Platform, integrating leading large-model systems including Keling AI, Vidu and Hailuo AI, supporting multi-modal workflows from text-to-image to image-to- Beyond final visual outputs, the competition values creation logic, prompt design, asset iteration and complete workflow thinking rather than mere aesthetic spectacle.
2. Structured international competition pipeline: Four sequential phases: Selection Round, Semi–final Result Announcement, Final Round, Awards Ceremony. Online submission for the Selection Round runs Jun 1 – Sep 16, 2026. Finalist shortlist will be published mid- The grand final and awards ceremony will be hosted 21 November 2026 on the Hong Kong Metropolitan University campus.
3. Prize & recognition package: Total prize pool exceeds HK$21,000. Champion, 1st Runner-up and 2nd Runner-up will be awarded for each of the four divisions, accompanied by cash prizes, official trophies and verified certificates. Outstanding entries gain industry exposure, expert feedback and access to global youth creator communities.
4. Value–driven judging philosophy: The competition goes beyond superficial visual novelty. It invites young participants to reflect upon AI ethics, cultural heritage and contemporary social issues, treating generative AI as a medium for ideas rather than only special-effects generation.

II. How to Participate: Registration, Submission & Important Notices

1. Eligibility

Open globally for students from Grade–4 primary school through university. The University Open Division also accepts young independent creators from the general public. Both individual entries and team submissions (maximum of 3 members per team) are permitted.

2. Registration & Work–submission Workflow

1. Visit official website https://aigcglobal.org/, complete account registration, fill in participant information, select your competition division and finish registration procedures.
2. Within the Selection-Round window June 1 – September 16 2026, upload all required deliverables via the dedicated submission portal on the official website.
3. Mandatory submission materials: Final AIGC production, creation statement (max. 500 words, covering concept, prompt strategy and humanistic intent), and full process documentation recording your complete AI-creation workflow.
4. Practical advice: Participants are strongly recommended to submit well before the deadline to mitigate risks from network congestion or system latency. No late submissions will be accepted at any competition phase.

Note: Contestants are free to adopt any third-party AIGC tools. JD Cloud Lingjing AIGC Platform is an official recommended auxiliary tool and is not mandatory.

3. Full Competition Timeline

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III. Core Significance for Young Participants

Against the backdrop of rapid AIGC evolution, this initiative is far more than a contest. It serves as a practical upskilling platform for youth, delivering multi-faceted growth opportunities:

1. Build practical AIGC proficiency for future–ready employabilityThe full competition journey builds hands-on capabilities: prompt engineering, multi–modal generation, iterative asset refinement and end–to–end AIGC workflow design. These are increasingly transferable skills for digital-culture creation, advertising, media, design and creative entrepreneurship. Participants grow from casual AI-tool users into human-in-the-loop creators, leveraging generative AI as an asset for learning, startup ventures and job-market competitiveness.
2. Build cross–border networks among global young creatorsBringing together youth creators from 50+ countries and territories, the competition enables peer-learning across diverse cultural backgrounds. Participants exchange creative perspectives and expand global mindsets. Standout creators gain access to Hong Kong and Greater-Bay-Area tech-culture industries, as well as connections to domain experts and advisory-council members.
3. Foster interdisciplinary literacy: balancing technology, humanity & critical thinkingThe competition advocates deep integration of AI technology with arts, humanities and social concerns. Contestants are encouraged to move beyond AI-generated eye-candy; they must deliberate on cultural messaging, social empathy, human-AI boundaries and AI-ethics awareness. In an era dominated by generative algorithms, participants cultivate critical thinking to keep human creativity in command of AI tools.
4. Showcase creativity within Hong Kong’s international tech–innovation ecosystemLeveraging Hong Kong’s status as Asia’s tech hub, the event partners with tertiary institutions including Hong Kong Metropolitan University, with finals and awards held on- Young creators get a high-visibility stage to present original works to academia and industry. Official certificates and trophies become valuable supporting material for further education, portfolios and social-practice resumes.

IV. Competition Vision

“The most vital capability for tomorrow is not knowledge alone — but knowing how to wield AI.”

Hong Kong International AIGC Digital Creation Competition 2026 hopes every participant acts not merely as a competitor, but as an explorer of the AI-powered creative age. It aims to dismantle the shallow perception that “AIGC equals instant generation”. Young talents are encouraged to master generative-AI tools, draw inspiration from cultural roots, articulate independent viewpoints, and build bridges connecting culture, technology and the future through digital creativity.

Registration Portal: https://aigcglobal.org/