A comprehensive list of online painting competitions, community challenges, and in-person events for miniature painters in 2026.
Looking to test your skills and get your work in front of judges and the wider hobby community this year? Whether you’re into grimdark, oldhammer, competitive display painting, or just need some motivation to clear the pile of shame, there’s an online competition or challenge out there for you.
Here’s every online painting competition and challenge I’ve been able to track down for 2026.
Purely Online Competitions
Smash Bash
Deadline: May 31, 2026 Format: Online submission (photo entry) Focus: Grimdark painting and sculpting Skill Level: All levels welcome
Smash Bash is an artist-run competition focused on the grimdark and indie side of the hobby. Submit your entries at smashbash.org by the end of May. Follow @totally_not_panicking on Instagram for announcements and prize info. Past prizes have included casts from indie sculptors, MDF terrain kits, STL files, and more from a range of sponsors.
Squidmar Open
Entry Window: December 1, 2025 – January 30, 2026 (closed for 2026) Format: Online submission Skill Level: Youngbloods (16 and under), Standard, Masters
The Squidmar Open is one of the biggest online painting competitions in the hobby, with a world-class judging panel that has included Golden Demon Slayer Sword winners. Categories include single miniatures at three difficulty tiers plus a multi-figure unit/warband category. Entries for 2026 have closed, but keep an eye on squidmaropen.com for next year’s edition.
Olden Demon 2026
Deadline: May 31, 2026 Format: Online submission Focus: Classic out-of-production miniatures (oldhammer)
If you love old-school Citadel vibes, this one is for you. The rules are simple: paint any out-of-production miniature from Games Workshop or another large company, and it must have a green base in the pre-2000s ‘Eavy Metal style. A nostalgia-fueled annual tradition that celebrates the roots of the hobby.
- Website: oldendemon.com
- Rules: oldendemon.com/rules
- Past winners: oldendemon.com/painting-competition
Grimdark Compendium — Carrion Thrones Challenge
Format: Online submission (email photo entry) Focus: Grimdark style only Categories: Single Miniature, Diorama
The Grimdark Compendium runs themed painting challenges throughout the year, and the current “Carrion Thrones” challenge includes categories for single miniatures and dioramas. Entries must be painted in the grimdark style — clean ‘Eavy Metal style work will be disqualified. Winners qualify for the Black Chalice Main Category 2026, which is the big annual showpiece event. Judged by Zatcaskagoon with a Community Champion vote as well.
- Website: grimdarkcompendium.com/grimdark-challenge
- Carrion Thrones details: grimdarkcompendium.com/grimdark-challenge-carrion-thrones-single-miniature-category
Bestiarum Games Monthly Discord Painting Competition
Format: Monthly, via Discord Focus: Themed around Bestiarum Games releases (grimdark/dark fantasy)
Bestiarum Games runs a monthly painting competition on their community Discord server. Each month has a new theme tied to their latest releases. The community votes for a top 3, then the Bestiarum team picks a winner. Prizes include digital miniature releases and honorary Discord titles. February 2026’s theme was the “Swine Raid” and featured some impressive diorama entries.
- Website: bestiarumgames.com
- Discord: Check their site for the invite link
Online Painting Challenges (Community / Motivational)
Old World Army Challenge (OWAC 9)
Timeline: Running through the first half of 2026 Format: Monthly painting pledges, shared on blog Focus: Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Rogue Trader armies
Now in its 9th year, OWAC is a beloved community challenge where participants commit to painting a set number of points each month toward a brand new army. It’s not a competition with prizes — it’s about motivation, camaraderie, and getting an army done. Participants share monthly progress posts on the group blog. The 2026 edition features armies ranging from Empire and Tzeentch to Tyranids and Grey Knights.
ROTSPOT 2026
Format: Online, open-format painting challenge Focus: Paint a designated model (the Rotswords or Darkwater Blight Templar alternate)
ROTSPOT is a community challenge from Richard Gray Creations where everyone paints the same model — this year it’s the Rotswords (with the Darkwater Blight Templar as an alternative). Choose your category, paint in any style you like, and submit before the deadline. Entries are featured in a gallery and judged by Richard Gray and friends. Art print prizes for winners.
BONEZONE 2026
Format: Online only Focus: Skeletons and undead
Also from Richard Gray Creations, BONEZONE is an annual celebration of all things skeletal. Full details for 2026 haven’t been announced yet, but it’s confirmed as online only. Keep an eye on richardgraycreations.com and their Discord for updates.
Baselair Monster Hunter Painting Challenge
Deadline: April 1, 2026 Format: Online submission Prize: Free STL pack for all participants
Paint the designated hunter model, submit one finished entry, and receive a free STL pack. A straightforward, low-barrier challenge — great if you want to jump into something quick.
- Listed on: The MiniCal
Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC XVI)
Timeline: December 21, 2025 – March 20, 2026 (wrapping up now) Format: Points-based painting productivity challenge Focus: Any genre, any scale
One of the longest-running community painting challenges in the hobby (now in its 16th year). You set a personal points target and paint toward it over the winter months — any miniatures count, from 6mm Napoleonics to 28mm sci-fi. Entries are shared on the group blog with themed bonus rounds throughout. The current edition is wrapping up in March 2026, but registration typically opens in November for the next edition.
- Blog: thepaintingchallenge.wordpress.com
- Legacy blog: thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com
GW Million Miniatures Challenge
Timeline: January 17 – May 9, 2026 Format: In-store pledge tracking Focus: Any Warhammer miniatures
Games Workshop’s community-wide push to collectively paint one million miniatures. Pledge to paint 25+, 50+, or 100+ minis and earn cumulative rewards: a pin badge at 25, a purity seal water pot stand at 50, and a paint brush tin at 100. Tracked through your local Warhammer or GW store.
DreadTober
Timeline: October 2026 (tentative) Format: Online community challenge Focus: Paint a Dreadnought-class model during October
An annual October tradition where hobbyists commit to painting a Dreadnought (or Dread-sized model) during the month. The organizer has indicated plans to run it again in 2026, though it’s not yet officially confirmed. Watch dreadtober.blogspot.com in September/October for announcements.
Armies on Parade
Timeline: Typically fall (dates TBA for 2026) Format: In-store display with online gallery component Focus: Showcase diorama-style army displays
Games Workshop’s annual army showcase competition. Build a display board, fill it with your painted army, and present it at your local store. Winners advance through regional and global stages. No 2026 dates announced yet, but it returns every year — usually with an online gallery and community vote component.
In-Person Events with Notable Painting Competitions
While these aren’t online-only, they’re worth having on the radar if you’re planning your hobby year or considering travel:
Crimson Chalice — Trench Crusade
Dates: October 22–25, 2026 Location: Spiel Essen, Germany Format: In-person
Trench Crusade’s first official painting competition. Categories for single figure, large figure, warband, storytelling, open, and young guns. No grimdark-style requirement — paint however you wish. Official Trench Crusade miniatures required for most categories (STL range, plastic range, Red Brigade, Great Hunger), but the Open category accepts proxies and custom sculpts.
Golden Demon at AdeptiCon
Dates: March 26–29, 2026 Location: Baird Center, Milwaukee, WI
The flagship Warhammer painting competition. Multiple categories across 40K, Age of Sigmar, Horus Heresy, Diorama, and Open. The overall best entry wins the legendary Slayer Sword.
- Website: paint.warhammer.com/golden-demon
Miniature Painting Open (MPO) Bristol 2026
Dates: May 16–17, 2026 Location: Bristol Beacon, Bristol, UK
Run by Cult of Paint, MPO has grown rapidly from its online-only pandemic origins into a major in-person event. They also typically run an online edition — keep an eye on their site for details.
- Website: miniaturepaintingopen.co.uk
The Lavender Brush at Meeple-A-Thon
Dates: November 6–8, 2026 Location: Bartle Hall, Kansas City
A painting competition run in partnership with Monument Hobbies, established in memory of Michelle Farnsworth. All skill levels welcome. Categories include single model, large model, vehicle/monster, diorama, speed painting, and novice. Proceeds benefit Extra Life / Children’s Miracle Network.
Resources for Tracking More Events
New competitions pop up throughout the year, especially community-driven challenges on Instagram and Discord. Here are the best places to stay up to date:
- The MiniCal — theminical.com — The most comprehensive global calendar for painting competitions, conventions, and workshops.
- The Golden Demon Compendium Calendar — thegoldendemoncompendium.com/calendar — Tracks major painting events with countdowns.
- Richard Gray Creations — richardgraycreations.com/painting-competitions-2026 — Maintains a running list of 2026 painting competitions.
- r/minipainting Wiki — reddit.com/r/minipainting/wiki/usefullinks/painting_competitions — Community-maintained list of competitions and conventions.
Last updated: March 2026. Some events may not have announced final dates — always check the organizer’s website for the latest details.
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