Real-Time Live!

Creating connections and fostering collaborations through computer graphics and interactive techniques starts with you and your contributions to SIGGRAPH 2026. We are excited that you are submitting your work for consideration.

We are seeking cutting-edge, real-time work in the following areas:

• Video games (commercial, explorations, applications)
• Virtual reality and augmented reality
• Artist explorations or applications
• Military or industrial simulations
• Research projects (physics, graphics, modeling, etc.)
• Demoscene
• Filmmaking technology
• Scientific visualizations (medical/physical science, astrophysics, astronomy, etc.)
• Machine learning
• Design or Production Tools
• Real-Time technology driving examples of entertainment or toys
• Anything that is interactively controlled, rendered in real time, and repeatable for a live audience

View the Sample Submission Form to get an overview of all the details needed to complete a submission.

1. Log into the submission portal.
2. Select the “Make a New Submission” tab.
3. Select the Real-Time Live! form.

In particular, please be aware of the crucial information you need to provide, including but not limited to:

Basic Information

• Identification of all contributors. Full names of primary content creators/presenters. (Please note: Each contributor must be identified with their full name, affiliation, and a unique email address. Duplicate email addresses within a submission are not allowed.)
• Title, a 50-word description of your project that we can use in promotional materials if your work is accepted, running length, genre.
• A minute-by-minute breakdown of a six-minute presentation of your work for a live audience.
• An overview of the platform and necessary hardware needed to run your project. (Note: SIGGRAPH cannot guarantee on-site availability of any specific hardware platforms or software packages. For the best results, plan to ship your own platform hardware to the conference.)
• A list of all licensed components and/or middleware.
• Network requirements.

Representative Image Guidelines located on the Submissions FAQ page.

• One “representative image” suitable for use on the conference website and promotional materials.
• 3:2 aspect ratio, landscape orientation (recommended).
• Minimum 1500 x 1000 pixel resolution.
• Minimum 300 dpi.
• Maximum 15 MB size.
• Allowed formats: jpeg.

Video (Upload or Link)

• Maximum two-minute segment of captured video from your project.
• Multiple non-continuous edits are permissible.
• Post-processing, such as image or speed enhancement, is strictly prohibited.
• Narration explaining the content in the video is highly encouraged.
• Minimum 720p resolution.
• H.264 codec.
• Maximum 200 MB size.
• Allowed formats: avi, mov, mp4.

Additional Information

• File Uploads
  • For more information about uploading files to your submission, please see Uploading Files located on the Submissions FAQ page.

• Questions?
  • For additional submission information, please see the Submissions FAQ.

Please Note: If your submission is accepted, you must prepare and submit up  to a three-page abstract for inclusion in the ACM Digital Library. This is a document that outlines what SIGGRAPH 2026 participants will experience. See “Upon Acceptance tab” for additional information.

Entries are judged by a panel of computer graphics and real-time technology experts from across the industry. They are looking for the best interactive work driven by real-time technology that results in compelling and innovative content for a live audience. Creativity, innovation, content, and performance will be considered. The jury will meet in early May 2026 to review each submission on the following major criteria:

1. Innovation (pushes the boundaries of real-time rendering or immersive techniques)
2. Interactivity (how much control and quality of interactivity is allowed to the user)
3. Creativity and originality
4. Interest and entertainment value for SIGGRAPH 2026 participants
5. Production values (appropriate to context)
6. Real Time work that goes beyond the screen into the world alongside us.

The jury will select the top-rated pieces for presentation at SIGGRAPH 2026, and all submitters will be notified of their submission status: conditionally accepted,* or rejected. In all cases, the jury will provide detailed feedback to submitters.

* If your work is conditionally accepted, you must demonstrate your submission to the Real-Time Live! Chair via video demo so that its interactivity and/or real-time graphics aspects can be verified. We may have to refuse to include work that does not demo as anticipated, or is not suitable for the conditions of our conference.

The final acceptance will be determined based on the virtual rehearsal.

Non-Disclosure Agreements

SIGGRAPH reviewers cannot sign non-disclosure agreements for submissions. For information on Patents and Confidentiality see the Submissions FAQ.

Upon acceptance, presenters will be required to:

1. Complete Stage 2: Program Materials (by 2 June 2026)
   • Provide the name and email of the contributor to receive and distribute the contributor registration code.
   • Review your submission and provide a 50-word summary statement suitable for conference publicity.
   • Provide a valid ORCID identifier — ACM requires that all accepted contributors register and provide ACM with valid ORCID identifiers prior to publication. Corresponding contributors are responsible for collecting these ORCID identifiers from co-contributors and providing them to ACM as part of the ACM eRights selection process. You and your co-contributors can create and register your ORCID identifier at https://orcid.org/register. ACM only requires you to complete the initial ORCID registration process. However, ACM encourages you to take the additional step to claim ownership of all of your published works via the ORCID site.

2. Secure Permissions on Representative Image and Video (by 5 June 2026)
   • Attain the proper permissions for the representative image and video in your submission by 5 June 2026.
   • This media will be used for event-related promotional purposes. (For example, see the SIGGRAPH 2025 Real-Time Live! trailer.)
   • If your work references other work that is copyrighted, additional proof of permissions will be required. For more information, see the ACM Authors Portal.

3. Submit up to a three-page abstract (by 5 June 2026) [See abstract sample.]
   • Publication: If your submission is accepted, you must prepare and submit up to a three-page abstract for inclusion in the ACM Digital Library. This is a document that outlines what SIGGRAPH 2026 participants will experience. A good abstract serves as an overview of your submission, provides background information, and highlights the novelty of your submission.
   • See Author Instructions for more information. Please prepare your abstract using these templates and instructions.
   • Up to three-page abstract must be submitted by Friday, 5 June 2026.
   • When your rights form has been delivered to ACM, you will then receive an email from “tapsadmin@aptaracorp.awsapps.com” with information about the preparation and delivery of your material to TAPS for publication.
   • Please make sure that emails from “rightsreview@acm.org” and “tapsadmin@aptaracorp.awsapps.com” are part of the “allow list” in your email program so that you do not miss these email messages.
   • The source (Word or LaTeX) of your abstract, as well as any supplemental materials, must be delivered to TAPS, ACM’s article production system. The TAPS-generated PDF of your abstract can be up to three pages in length, including references.
   • TAPS will generate the PDF and HTML5 versions of your abstract for publication in the ACM Digital Library. You must deliver your material to TAPS, resolve any formatting issues identified by TAPS or by the proceedings production editor, and approve your material for publication by Friday, 5 June 2026. Information about the preparation and delivery of your final material to TAPS also can be found here.
4. Attend Virtual Rehearsal(s) (Mid-May – Early June 2026):  Attend a mandatory virtual rehearsal in Mid-May – Early June 2026 (or multiple if deemed necessary by Real-Time Live! Chair). You will be expected to demonstrate your entire presentation in six minutes or less to the Real-Time Live! Committee.
5. Bring Multiple Copies of Your Presentation to SIGGRAPH 2026: To provide insurance in the event that the primary technology fails during the live event, you must bring two copies of the presentation technology on-site along with all applicable hardware. If the technology also was accepted to another area of the conference, you will be required to bring an additional copy of your technology (for a total of three copies). If there is any reason that it is not feasible to bring two copies, this must be approved with the Real-Time Live! Chair by 15 May 2026. No technology will be moved once it is set up for Real-Time Live! on the afternoon of Saturday, 18 July 2026.
6. Travel, Arrive, Attend SIGGRAPH According to the Following Schedule:
   • Saturday, 18 July 2026 (before 12 pm PDT) – Arrive in Los Angeles, California
   • Arrange travel to Los Angeles to arrive before 12 pm PDT on Saturday, 18 July for presenter check-in and tech setup. All presenters must be present at that time. Registration and travel costs are at your own expense, except for the contributor of record, who will receive recognition as specified under Presenter Recognition.
   • Sunday, 19 July 2026 – Mandatory Rehearsal
   • Attend a mandatory rehearsal of the Real-Time Live program in its entirety on the morning of Sunday, 19 July from roughly 8-11:30 am PDT (time subject to change).
   • Tuesday, 21 July 2026 – Present In Person at SIGGRAPH 2026
     • Contributors should only present accepted, jury-reviewed Real-Time Live! content.
     • All content presented must be presented in real-time (no pre-recorded videos or slides allowed).
     • Presenting new content is also not permitted.

Presenter Recognition

If your work is accepted, you are required to: Attend in-person at SIGGRAPH 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Contributor Registration Benefit: Up to two contributors per accepted work receives a 100% complimentary Full Conference registration.

To present your work at SIGGRAPH 2026 contributors must be registered at the Full Conference registration level.

You will receive an email by late May explaining how to access the registration discount code as well as instructions for registering. The contributors using the discount codes are eligible for the early-bird registration rate regardless of when registration is completed. Any additional contributors that will be attending the Real-Time Live! program are also required to register at the appropriate registration level for the program, and prevailing registration rates will apply.

7 April 2026, 22:00 UTC/GMT
Submission deadline

Early May 2026
Conditional acceptance or rejection notices are sent to all submitters.

Mid-May – Early June 2026
Mandatory virtual rehearsals will take place. You will be expected to demonstrate your entire presentation in six minutes or less to the Real-Time Live! Committee.

5 June 2026

• Confirmations due, alongside submission updates and permissions for representative image and video.
• Submit up to a three-page abstract for inclusion in the ACM Digital Library.

17 July 2026
Official publication date for the ACM Digital Library.
Please Note: The official publication date is the date the proceedings are made available in the ACM Digital Library. This date may be up to two weeks prior to the first day of your conference. The official publication date affects the deadline for any patent filings related to published work. (For those rare conferences whose proceedings are published in the ACM Digital Library after the conference is over, the official publication date remains the first day of the conference.)

18 July 2026
Arrive in Los Angeles before 12 pm PDT for presenter check-in and tech setup. All presnters must be present on-site at this time.

19 July 2026
Mandatory Rehearsal with all contributors on-site at SIGGRAPH.

21 July 2026
SIGGRAPH 2026 Real-Time Live! Show

19-23 July 2026
SIGGRAPH 2026
Los Angeles Convention Center
Los Angeles, California