SPONSORSHIP GUIDE
International AI Creator Award 2026
An international open call in ten fields and seven languages, to find the people who create with generative AI and put them on a stage
PDF https://aicu.ai/award/2026/partner/for-sponsors.pdfLast updated 13 September 2026 rev.20260913.4
What the award is
An international award with an open call in ten fields for work made with generative AI. Entries and votes are accepted in seven languages (Japanese, English, French, Korean, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese); the first round is free and open to anyone.
The final round is voted with a comment and a written critique, published together with the result — so every winning work carries a record of why it was chosen.
It is run by AICU, a creative media company for the generative-AI era, with a monthly magazine, books, a column series and a weekly newsletter that reach creators directly. The ceremony takes place on the INTER BEE IGNITION stage at Makuhari Messe.
The ten fields
The award and AICU in numbers
Our vision: to create people who create, in the age of generative AI
A daily blog at note.com/aicu, the monthly AICU Magazine (150 full-colour pages an issue), books on AI, a column series in Impress Mado-no-Mori, and the weekly newsletter Weekly AICU. Each one is a route that reaches the people who make things.
Overview
| Name | International AI Creator Award 2026 |
|---|---|
| Organiser | AICU Inc. (Delaware); operated by AICU Japan K.K. |
| Supported by | Digital Content Association of Japan (DCAJ) (Supported by); OpenAI (Technology partner); ElevenLabs Grants (Technology partner) |
| Period | August–November 2026. Entries open 11 Sep 2026; first deadline 24 Sep 2026; nominees 16 Oct 2026; public vote 26 Oct 2026–15 Nov 2026 |
| Ceremony | Fri 20 November 2026, 15:50–16:50, INTER BEE IGNITION stage IG-205, Makuhari Messe. Winners' reception alongside |
| Eligibility | Work made with generative AI in ten fields. Any country, age or affiliation. Published at a URL that opens without a login |
| Judging | Screening → first round (free public vote, 3–10 finalists per field) → final round (votes with comment and critique) |
| Fees | Entry USD 10 per work; Award Supporter USD 10 per year. First-round voting is free |
| Website | https://aicu.ai/award/2026/ (seven languages) |
Who enters, who votes, who it reaches
Who enters
- Creators in ten fields: film, character, music, publishing, game, XR and more
- Individuals, studios, students and in-house teams
- Japanese-speaking creators plus the EN / FR / KO / ZH / ES / PT communities
- Published work, entered by URL (must open without a login)
Who votes
- First round: free and open to anyone; one vote per field, all ten fields
- From high-school students to audiences outside Japan
- Final round: community judges taking part as Award Supporters
- One person, one vote per field, cast with a written critique
Where it reaches
- AICU Magazine (monthly, 150+ pages), books, the Mado-no-Mori column, a weekly newsletter
- The official site (seven languages) and the winners' archive
- INTER BEE 2026 × DCEXPO at Makuhari Messe (34,072 visitors in 2025)
- The ceremony stage and the winners' reception
Three things a sponsor receives
Real contact with makers
Through recommendations and the reception you meet creators whose work has passed screening — as hires, users, collaborators.
A name on the record
Your logo on the official site (seven languages), in the ceremony materials and in AICU Magazine — kept in the archive after 2026 at no cost.
Sponsorship plans
Three plans. Bronze is free for supporting companies and Silver is free for public institutions, if you apply by 15 Sep 2026. In-kind and technology sponsorship (p.12) can be combined with any of them. All amounts exclude tax (Japanese consumption tax of 10% applies to yen billing).
| Free for supporting companies until 15 Sep 2026Bronze Partner | Free for public institutions until 15 Sep 2026Silver Partner | With a named awardGold Partner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | 690 USD | 2,300 USD | 6,900 USD |
| For | Companies, communities, schools, labs, media | Companies and organisations | Companies and organisations |
| Logo on the official site (7 languages) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Logo in ceremony materials and AICU Magazine | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Recommendations (with entry-fee waiver codes) | 1 | 10 | 50 |
| Winners' reception seats | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Company-named award, presented by you on stage | — | — | ✓ |
| Sponsor kit (ready-to-use texts, award logo) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Yen billing with a qualified invoice / bank transfer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kept in the archive after 2026 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Bronze Partner
Free for supporting companies that apply by 15 September 2026.
For
- You want your name on the record and a close view of what AI creators are doing
- Communities, meetups, schools, labs and media that already gather creators
- You want one seat at the winners' reception
- You want to start at an amount that is easy to approve
What we ask
- Agreement with the purpose of the award
- Agreement to the Code of Conduct
- Telling your community about the award, so that the people in it can enter
Benefits
| Logo on the official site (7 languages) | ✓ |
|---|---|
| Logo in ceremony materials and AICU Magazine | ✓ |
| Recommendations (with entry-fee waiver codes) | 1 |
| Winners' reception seats | 1 |
| Company-named award, presented by you on stage | — |
| Sponsor kit (ready-to-use texts, award logo) | ✓ |
| Yen billing with a qualified invoice / bank transfer | ✓ |
| Kept in the archive after 2026 | ✓ |
Silver Partner
Free for public institutions that apply by 15 September 2026.
For
- Organisations (communities, schools, labs, media) applying by 15 Sep 2026 — free until then
- You want ten recommendations to send your community's work into the ten fields
- You want to bring a team (up to three) to the reception for hiring or partnership
- You want to combine it with in-kind or technology sponsorship (API credits, equipment, venues)
- You exhibit or attend INTER BEE and want your name there in the same week
Benefits
| Logo on the official site (7 languages) | ✓ |
|---|---|
| Logo in ceremony materials and AICU Magazine | ✓ |
| Recommendations (with entry-fee waiver codes) | 10 |
| Winners' reception seats | 3 |
| Company-named award, presented by you on stage | — |
| Sponsor kit (ready-to-use texts, award logo) | ✓ |
| Yen billing with a qualified invoice / bank transfer | ✓ |
| Kept in the archive after 2026 | ✓ |
Ten recommendations because there are ten fields: one community can fill a single field, or spread one work across each. What we ask of organisations joining free is that you tell your community the award exists.
Gold Partner
For
- You want a company-named award, and to invite its winner onto your own stage
- You want direct contact with winning creators for hiring, users and showcase work
- You want to be on the record as a company serious about creative AI
Benefits
| Logo on the official site (7 languages) | ✓ |
|---|---|
| Logo in ceremony materials and AICU Magazine | ✓ |
| Recommendations (with entry-fee waiver codes) | 50 |
| Winners' reception seats | 5 |
| Company-named award, presented by you on stage | ✓ |
| Sponsor kit (ready-to-use texts, award logo) | ✓ |
| Yen billing with a qualified invoice / bank transfer | ✓ |
| Kept in the archive after 2026 | ✓ |
The name, field and prize of the sponsored award are agreed with the office. You present it on the ceremony stage, and your name stays on the award record and in the winners' archive.
In-kind and technology sponsorship (combinable with any plan)
Money is one form. Sponsorship that brings what creators actually need is valued and treated as the equivalent plan. OpenAI and ElevenLabs Grants take part as technology partners.
Creative tools, API credits, compute
Allocated to entrants and winners — the fuel for their next work
Venues for screenings, exhibitions and events
Screenings and exhibitions of winning work, related events
Reach
Telling your audience the award exists, so the makers among them can enter
Equipment, translation, education, editorial
Ceremony equipment, translation for seven languages, education for entrants, coverage
Prizes
Products, licences or credits for winners (works well with a named award)
Reception sponsorship
Catering or venue costs, with a moment to address the reception
Benefits in detail
Recommendations
Put works by creators connected to you in front of the award office. Each recommended work receives an entry-fee waiver code (USD 10 per work), is reviewed by the office and considered for nomination, and the recommendation stays on the work's record — a way to bring the makers around you into the light.
Logo placement
The partner section of the official site (seven languages), the ceremony screen and handouts, and AICU Magazine. Published after agreement and payment are confirmed (or after a free tier is confirmed), and kept in the archive after 2026. Clicks are measured through a short URL that forwards to the destination you specify.
Winners' reception
After the ceremony: winners, nominees, judges and partners in one room. Seats per plan (1 / 3 / 5). The most concentrated time to talk with makers directly.
Company-named award (Gold)
A sponsored award in your company's name. Name, field and prize are agreed with the office; you present it on the ceremony stage, and your name stays on the record and in the archive.
Sponsor kit
As soon as sponsorship is confirmed you receive ready-to-use texts (JA/EN) for internal reports, press releases, your site and social media, plus the award logo. No prior approval needed.
Logo specifications
A horizontal mark on white is preferred (it ends up in print). SVG, or PNG at 2x the placed size (transparent or white background); AI/EPS accepted. Tell us any isolation rule. Deadline 15 Oct 2026.
Schedule
| 11 Sep 2026 | Entries open |
| 15 Sep 2026 | ●Silver early free tier deadline (organisations) |
| 24 Sep 2026 | First entry deadline |
| 5 Oct 2026 | ●Sponsorship application deadline |
| 15 Oct 2026 | ●Logo submission deadline / late entries close |
| 16 Oct 2026–26 Oct 2026 | Nominees announced |
| 26 Oct 2026 | Public vote opens |
| 15 Nov 2026 | Public vote closes |
| 18 Nov 2026–20 Nov 2026 | ●Ceremony, screening and reception (20 Nov 15:50, IG-205, Makuhari Messe) |
| 21 Nov 2026 | Winners' archive opens |
● Sponsor deadlines
How to apply
Get in touch
Use the form (organisation, contact name and email only) or write to award@aicu.ai. A meeting is not required.
Confirmation
The office confirms plan, credited name, logo and billing details, and can prepare a proposal tailored to you.
Application and payment
Yen: a qualified invoice from AICU Japan K.K., paid by bank transfer. USD: paid to AICU Inc. through AICU Checkout. Deadline 5 Oct 2026.
Placement and kit
After payment is confirmed we publish your logo and send the sponsor kit. Logo deadline 15 Oct 2026. Ceremony 20 November.
How to reach us
Frequently asked questions
Q. How do we use our recommendations?
Tell us the works by creators connected to you and we send entry-fee waiver codes. Every recommended work is reviewed by the office and considered for nomination, and the recommendation stays on the work's record.
Q. When is our logo published?
After agreement and payment are confirmed; for the free early Silver tier, once the application is confirmed. Please do not announce before we publish.
Q. Can we pay by invoice?
Yes. Yen billing is issued by AICU Japan K.K. as a qualified invoice, paid by bank transfer (10% consumption tax applies). USD billing is sold by AICU Inc. and paid through AICU Checkout.
Q. Is the award run for profit?
No. Sponsorship and fees cover running costs; any surplus carries into the next edition and creator support. The archive business after the event (pay-per-view, screenings) is accounted for separately.
Q. How many people can attend the ceremony and reception?
Reception seats are per plan (1 / 3 / 5). The ceremony is on a stage inside INTER BEE, so visitor registration with INTER BEE is required to enter the venue.
Q. Can we sponsor in kind?
Yes. API credits, equipment, venues, translation and reach are valued and treated as the equivalent plan, and can be combined with a paid plan.
Q. Can a company outside Japan sponsor?
Yes. The site, entries and voting run in seven languages, and USD payments are received by AICU Inc. (Delaware).
Q. Can we change plan after applying?
Yes, up to the application deadline (5 Oct 2026) — just ask.
Terms of sponsorship
- Logos and credited names are published after agreement and payment are confirmed; free tiers after the application is confirmed.
- Screening and voting apply the same standard to every entry, including recommended works. Partners do not take part in the vote.
- We ask for agreement with the purpose of the award and with the Code of Conduct.
- The ceremony date, venue and stage slot follow the decisions of the INTER BEE / DCEXPO organisers and may change for reasons on their side.
- Please submit logos by the deadline (15 Oct 2026); late submissions may not make it into print.
- Amounts exclude tax. AICU Japan K.K. applies 10% consumption tax to yen billing. Refunds and governing law follow the Terms of Sale (https://aicu.ai/award/legal/).
- This document reflects the situation as of 13 September 2026. The latest information is at https://aicu.ai/award/2026/for-partners/.
Making the people who make
Generative AI does not exist only for the companies that build it. However strong a technology is, it becomes culture only when people use it, are surprised by it, work around its limits, and turn it into something worth showing.
This award exists to find those people and put them on a stage. From next year, the creators who won will join the judging — which is why we would rather call it an academy than a prize.
We ask companies, institutions, schools and communities to build that stage with us.
Akihiko SHIRAI — CEO, AICU Inc. / Representative Director, AICU Japan K.K.
PDF https://aicu.ai/award/2026/partner/for-sponsors.pdfLast updated 13 September 2026 rev.20260913.4
