Meta VR Start Developer Competition 2026
By Meta
Check your eligibility
Sign up and we'll tell you whether your startup qualifies for this grant.
Quick Answer
Meta's contest for VR Start members building hands-first VR/MR apps for Meta Quest. Top prizes of US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh), up to US$1 million in total.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Meta
- Application deadline
- 15d — 19 Nov 2026
- Location
- International
About this competition
The Meta VR Start Developer Competition 2026 is a Devpost contest run by Meta Platforms for developers building games and apps for Meta VR devices. It is open only to members of the Meta VR Start programme. The entry period runs from 24 September 2026 to 12:00 PM PT on 18 November 2026 (1:30 AM IST on 19 November).
You can enter as an individual, a team of two or more people, or a registered organisation. Your project must be a VR or mixed-reality app for Meta VR devices in one of three tracks:
- Entertainment – spatial cinema, interactive video, immersive storytelling, music visualisation, media companion apps
- Gaming – puzzle, strategy, casual, social or narrative games that work seated and without controllers
- Productivity – workspaces, task management, creative tools and apps built around daily routines
Each entry also goes into a division: a New Experience built from scratch during the contest, or an Adapted / Significantly Updated Experience for an existing app that ships a meaningful new feature during the contest. Every project must be fully usable with hands (controllers optional), work seated, and be easy to get into and out of.
Prizes total up to US$1,000,000 (about ₹9.5 crore) across track winners and runners-up, plus special awards of US$25,000 each for categories such as Best Social & Multiplayer, Best Agentic Interaction and Best Accessibility, and two US$20,000 Judge's Choice awards. The top track prizes are US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh). Winners are announced around 11 December 2026.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
Meta will award up to US$1,000,000 in prizes (about ₹9.5 crore). Winners and runners-up are picked in each track and division, with top track prizes of US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh). Special awards of US$25,000 each go to Best Social & Multiplayer Experience, Best Agentic Interaction, Best Reason to Come Back, Best First Five Minutes, Best Accessibility Forward Experience and Boldest Original Concept, and two Judge's Choice awards are worth US$20,000 each. Each entry can win one prize; prizes are paid to the individual or to the team's representative, a bank account may be needed, and US tax may be withheld for winners outside the US.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Entries are first checked to see that they meet the requirements, then judged by a panel of experts chosen by Meta on equally weighted criteria. Judging runs from around 18 November to 9 December 2026, AI tools may assist but humans make the final decisions, and winners are announced around 11 December 2026. Potential winners must sign winner documents and may need to show government ID and a bank account before payment.
Application Process
- 1
Join on Devpost
Register on the contest website with a Devpost account.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can enter?
Individuals aged 18 or over (and of age of majority where they live), teams of two or more, and registered organisations, as long as the person submitting is a member of the Meta VR Start Program and has a Meta account with Developer Access. Residents of Brazil, Quebec and sanctioned countries cannot enter.
When is the deadline?
12:00 PM PT on 18 November 2026, which is 1:30 AM IST on 19 November 2026.
Can I submit an app I have already published?
Yes, in the Adapted / Significantly Updated Experience division, if you ship a meaningful new feature, mode or platform integration during the contest window. Bug fixes, cosmetic changes or performance work alone do not count.
What must the app do?
It must be a VR/MR app for Meta VR devices, fully usable with hands from start to finish (controllers optional), designed for seated use, and in English or with English subtitles.
What do I submit?
An APK in a release channel named "Competition" on the Meta VR Developer Dashboard (or a link for WebXR apps), a demo video under three minutes on YouTube or Vimeo, a text description, and your chosen track and division.
How many prizes can one entry win?
One. The rules limit each entry to one prize.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
