Announcing the Chroma Awards Season 2

Today we're opening submissions for the second season of the Chroma Awards, the global AI creative competition incubated by ElevenLabs. Creators can enter work across five divisions (Film, Music Videos, Advertising, Games, and Behind-The-Scenes) until January 1, 2027. 

This season, ElevenLabs is putting up its own dedicated prizes for creators who build with our tools.

Returning after a successful first edition

We launched the inaugural season of the Chroma Awards in 2025, and embarked on a journey to discover what happens when creators around the world get access to the best AI tools and a real reason to use them.

The response was greater than we planned for. More than 5,550 creators from 122 countries submitted over 6,600 projects. Participants redeemed more than $1 million in free tool trials and competed for over $190,000 in cash prizes, supported by more than 75 sponsors and community partners from across the AI ecosystem.

The first season showed that there’s a global community of creators doing serious work with AI, and they want a stage built for them. Season 2 is built to meet that demand. We’re championing a creator-led movement that showcases best-in-class work, creates real career opportunities, and connects brands directly with top-tier creators.

What's new this season

Film and music videos remain at the core of the competition. This season, we’re also doubling down on Games and Advertising, two areas where AI-powered multimedia work is growing quickly and where the creative conventions are still evolving.

Each division has its own categories, rules, and prizes. There’s no limit on how many projects you can submit, including multiple entries in the same category. However, each project can be entered into only one category.

This year’s competition features $1M in free trials and promotions and over $450,000 in cash prizes and travel perks, plus a dedicated Student Awards category with paid internship opportunities for the winners. Winners will be announced on the awards ceremony livestream on February 11th, 2027, and celebrated at the Awards Gala in person.

Entries are reviewed over three rounds by a global panel of judges with backgrounds in both traditional creative industries and AI. For each category, we’re inviting four world-class judges to review submissions. These will be industry professionals who have watched their fields transform firsthand and know what great work looks like on either side of that shift.

The ElevenLabs Awards

As the incubator of the Chroma Awards, ElevenLabs is backing creators directly with awards of its own: $22,000 in cash across 22 winners, VIP trips to the awards ceremony, and more. There is no separate entry required. If ElevenLabs plays a significant role in your project, whether through ElevenCreative, ElevenMusic, or something else, you're automatically in the running for these awards.

ElevenLabs Awards: $22,000 total

Open to submissions in every division that use ElevenLabs in a significant way.

• 1st place: $6,000 + VIP trip to the Awards Ceremony + Creator Partner Program (CPP) position
• 2nd place: $3,000 + VIP trip to the Awards Ceremony + CPP position
• 3rd place: $1,500 + VIP trip to the Awards Ceremony + CPP position
• 4th to 11th place: $750 each + CPP position
• 12th to 22nd place: $500 each

ElevenLabs Music Video of the Year

This award is designed for music videos with a soundtrack made using the ElevenMusic model. Every entry in the Music Video Division that uses ElevenMusic in a significant way for its soundtrack is automatically eligible. The winner receives:

• A VIP trip to the Awards Ceremony
• An acceptance speech on stage
• A year of ElevenLabs Pro
• A CPP position

How to enter

Any project made after February 1, 2026 is eligible, and submissions close on January 7, 2027 at 11:45 PM PT.

Sponsor tools are available as free trials starting today, so you can start building your entry right away. Full rules, eligibility details, and trial access are at www.ChromaAwards.com

What makes the Chroma Awards different

Most conversations about AI and creativity focus on the tools. The Chroma Awards is the first creator-led movement of this scale that focuses on the people using these groundbreaking technologies.

That shows up in how the competition is judged. Entries are held to the same standards any film festival or music award would apply: does it move you, is it well made, does it sound right. AI is not why a project wins.

It’s also reflected in who can take part. Free trials remove the cost of entry, unlimited submissions remove the pressure of a single shot, and the curated judging panel means the work is judged with taste. This is a competition where a first-time creator and an established studio compete on the same terms.

Get started

Submissions for Chroma Awards Season 2 are open now. Learn more and submit today at www.ChromaAwards.com