Nerikson 2026 online painting contest opens worldwide with $5,000 in prizes

Nerikson has turned its 2026 painting contest into one of the easiest competition entries in the hobby: no travel, no convention badge, just a Nerikson model, a WIP post with the code word NK 2026, and final photos uploaded online. The worldwide contest opened on May 1 and runs through June 30, with submissions closing at 23:59 CET.

That low-friction setup is the story here. The event is entirely online, which removes the usual barriers that keep a lot of everyday painters on the sidelines, from airfare and hotel costs to the intimidation of showing work on a convention floor. MyMiniFactory listed the competition as live, with an end time of June 30 at 21:00 UTC, a total prize value of $6,173, and 58 entries already posted when the page was checked. For a contest built around one brand’s models, that is a meaningful amount of early momentum.

The structure is simple but specific. There are four categories, each judged on Creativity, Painting, Preparation, and Presentation. Entrants are limited to one entry apiece, and every submission must include at least four images. Painters also have to post a work-in-progress on social media when they begin, using NK 2026, then submit the finished piece on MyMiniFactory. The rules keep the field focused too: only Nerikson models are eligible.

That focus is part of what makes the contest feel approachable rather than locked behind a display-painting standard. Nerikson’s own rules say models can be upscaled or downscaled to fit a category, with special exceptions listed for Abandoned Robot Diorama, Tinker Fairy Diorama, BookNook of the Shattered King, and The World A Stage. The company also says prize options vary by location and may include an airbrush, brushes, tools, a Nerikson prompt choice, a printed 75mm miniature, or a Nerikson STL. With most of the line averaging around 140mm and a resized 75mm option also available, the contest gives painters room to work at a scale that fits their bench and their confidence.

The contest also carries the feel of a return visit, not a one-off promotion. Nerikson described it as a comeback after a long gap, and said the earlier contest was an “amazing experience” and “heart warming” to watch so many models painted with passion and creativity. A 2023 contest page showed the earlier version was open to everyone, as long as the entry used a Nerikson model and a new work. This year’s global online format keeps that spirit intact, while making the path from idea to entry even shorter.