Artists anywhere in the world can now submit designs for display on the façade of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, after Emaar widened the eligibility rules for its latest projection design competition.
The 2026 Open Call accepts entries from creatives “from the UAE and around the world,” a departure from the 2025 edition, which restricted participation to UAE residents.
Emaar has set August 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. as the cutoff for submissions, which began July 8, 2026. That window runs roughly six weeks, longer than the seven-week period allotted in 2025, when the contest ran from May 6 to June 26.
The developer is seeking what it describes as a “stunning audio-visual projection,” with the brief asking designers to build work around “innovation, artistry, and the vibrant spirit of Dubai.”
Technical requirements are specific. Each entry must run exactly three minutes. Preview versions go in as MP4 files with music embedded, while the projection-ready master must be delivered in MOV format accompanied by a standalone audio track. Every piece of music used has to be free of copyright restrictions, a condition Emaar also applies to the visual elements.
Applicants additionally submit a concept note capped at 300 words, describing the thinking behind their design. Emaar has posted a downloadable specifications template and a guidance manual for entrants preparing files.
Completed submissions go to opencall@emaar.ae. Terms, conditions and frequently asked questions sit in the Open Call section of the Burj Khalifa website.
What the competition does not carry this year is money. The listing describes the reward as having a designer’s “work projected on the world’s tallest building,” with no figure attached anywhere in the current call.
The 2025 competition offered AED 100,000 to its winner along with the projection itself.
Announcing that earlier edition, Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar framed the tower as public property in artistic terms: “At Emaar, we believe that talent knows no boundaries. Burj Khalifa stands not only as a symbol of human achievement but also as a canvas for creativity and innovation — open to everyone with a talent to share. Through initiatives like this, we reaffirm our commitment to nurturing creativity and providing a platform where ideas can reach new heights. We are proud to open our doors to every dreamer, artist, and innovator, offering them the opportunity to contribute to our collective story of achievement.”
Emaar announced the current call through its social media channels, telling followers that “the next projection could carry your signature” and inviting artists to “project their creativity sky-high.”
