Emaar has thrown open its Burj Khalifa Open Call once again, inviting artists, designers and creatives this time from anywhere in the world to submit projection designs for a shot at lighting up the world’s tallest building. The competition is live on the Burj Khalifa website, with Emaar teasing on social media that the next projection could carry the winner’s own signature.
Emaar Reopens Burj Khalifa Open Call For Global Artists
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Unlike the 2025 edition, which was restricted to UAE residents, this year’s Open Call is global, giving international entrants the same shot as those based in the Emirates.
Key dates:
- Entries opened: July 8, 2026
- Deadline: August 18, 2026, 11.59 pm
That’s close to six weeks to put a submission together.
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What The Brief Call For?
The competition is looking for a striking audio-visual projection that reflects innovation, artistry and the spirit of Dubai. Submissions need to be original, culturally appropriate, and completely free of copyright issues across both visuals and audio.
Technical requirements:
- Final video: 3 minutes long
- Preview clip: MP4 format, with embedded music
- Final high-resolution projection file: MOV format
- A separate, standalone, copyright-free audio track for projection use
- A concept note of up to 300 words explaining the idea and inspiration behind the design
Emaar has also put together a downloadable spec template and guidance manual to help entrants prepare their submissions correctly.
How To Apply?
Artists need to email their video files and concept notes to opencall@emaar.ae before the deadline. Full terms, conditions and FAQs are posted in the Open Call section of the Burj Khalifa website.
What’s The Catch?
There’s no cash prize on the table this time. The 2025 edition, which ran from May 6 to June 26 and was open only to UAE residents, offered a AED100,000 reward for the winning designer on top of the projection itself. This year, the incentive is exposure alone, having your work beamed across one of the most photographed buildings on the planet.
Cover Image Courtesy: Emaar/Website
FAQs
When does the Burj Khalifa Open Call close?
Entries close August 18, 2026, at 11.59pm.
Is there a cash prize?
No, this year's edition drops the AED100,000 prize offered in 2025; the reward is exposure via the projection itself.
What format should submissions be in?
A 3-minute final video, an MP4 preview clip with embedded music, and a final MOV projection file.
