Insider Gaming: Epic Games Sets November Dates for AI MegaJam with Up to $50K Grants

Epic Games has announced the 2026 AI MegaJam, a four-day event where creators will use AI tools to build new games with Unreal Engine and Unreal Editor for Fortnite.

The event runs November 12 to 15. Participants can join fully online or attend in person at Digital Jungle in San Francisco. Epic says creators will work alongside teams from Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, and additional partners during the jam.

Prizes include cash awards and continuation grants. First, second, and third place in the Best Overall Unreal Engine category receive $7,500, $5,000, and $2,500 respectively. The same prize structure applies to the Best Overall UEFN category and the Best Student Project category.

Additional modifier categories carry separate awards. Best Team receives $5,000. Solo Driver, Render Royalty, Pocket Powerhouse, Glass Box, and Walkie-Talkie each award $2,500. Standout entries across Unreal Engine and UEFN projects can also receive development continuation grants of up to $50,000.

Epic has promoted the event with a social media post. The post features an image contrasting an AI-altered six-fingered hand holding a red pill against a normal hand holding a blue pill. The accompanying text reads "Vibe your way to 50K."

The jam builds on Epic's prior AI statements. The company has previously indicated that Unreal Engine 6 will deepen AI integration for creators. Interested participants can register through the official itch.io page listed in the announcement.