We are delighted to announce the upcoming art contest in celebration of the upcoming FINAL FANTASY XIV Fan Festival 2026 in Anaheim. For this year’s theme, we would like you to share your Journey of FINAL FANTASY XIV, showcasing your most memorable moments and experiences in Eorzea and beyond, through one or more of the following categories:

Illustrated Works

Screenshot (Unaltered)

Screenshot (Altered)

Physical Handcrafted Works

Submit your entry by Friday, March 6 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (PST), and be sure to review the rules below!

FINAL FANTASY XIV FAN FESTIVAL 2026 ART CONTEST (THE “PROMOTION”) OFFICIAL RULES
KEY RULES

A. Official Rules:
The Official Rules for this Promotion consist of both (i) these key rules summarizing the important rules for participating in the Promotion (the “Key Rules”) and (ii) the Additional Promotion Official Rules (“Additional Rules”) applicable to your place of legal residence. Please review the Additional Rules at the following URL:

For legal residents of any Promotion Jurisdiction (defined below) located in North America, Central America, South America, or the Caribbean: https://square-enix-games.com/en_US/documents/promotion-additional-rules.

B. Territories:
This Promotion is open only to individuals who are legal residents and physically and permanently located in one of the following countries/territories at the date and time of entry (the “Promotion Jurisdiction”):

The fifty (50) states of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Canada (excluding Quebec).

C. Age Limit:
This Promotion is open only to individuals 13 years of age or older at the date and time of entry.

D. Entry Period:
You may enter the Promotion only between Friday, January 23, 2026 at 12:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) and Friday, March 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) (the “Entry Period”).

E. Entry Procedure and Limitations:
In order to enter the Promotion, you must complete the following steps during the Entry Period:

Step One:
Create a piece of art themed around the prompt of “The Journey through FINAL FANTASY XIV” in at least one (1) of the following four (4) categories (individually a “Category” and collectively the “Categories”)(an entry under each Category shall be an “Entry”):

Illustrated Works
This category is designated for any form of artwork, whether it be digital, or hand drawn. To submit a hand drawn piece, please scan or photograph the artwork and submit a digital copy.

One (1) image per Entry

Images must be high-resolution with 150 dpi minimum, 300 dpi preferred

Image Resolution: 16:9 or 9:16 aspect ratio

Image Format: .jpg, or .png file format

File Size: Maximum of 150 MB

Screenshot (Unaltered)
This category is designated for unaltered in-game screenshots taken using only the features available in FINAL FANTASY XIV (such as group pose).

One (1) image per Entry

Image Size/Resolution: Width or height of the image must not exceed 3840 pixels

Image Format: .jpg, or .png file format

File Size: Maximum of 150 MB

* All screenshots must have the unaltered copyright line present in the lower left corner of the image to be accepted in the Screenshot (Unaltered) category.

* Screenshots that do not fit the standard 16:9 ratio (1920x1080 or 3840×2160 pixels), for instance when taken on a widescreen monitors, should be resized to fit the maximum 3840 pixels width for landscape or the 3840 pixels height for portrait.

* If a screenshot Entry with multiple characters is selected as a finalist or winner, only the character specified by the entrant will be awarded the prize. Please make sure to get approval from others appearing in the screenshot when submitting a screenshot with multiple characters.

Screenshot (Altered)
This category is designated for in-game screenshots that have been altered or adjusted beyond using existing in-game features such as using post-processing or graphic editing software. Entries created exclusively using in-game features (such as group pose) should be submitted in the Screenshot (Unaltered) Category.

One (1) image per Entry.

Image Size/Resolution: Width or height of the image must not exceed 3840 pixels.

Image Format: .jpg, or .png file format.

File Size: Maximum of 150 MB.

* Please do not use any characters or artwork unrelated to FINAL FANTASY XIV when altering the screenshot.

* Screenshots that do not fit the standard 16:9 ratio (1920x1080 or 3840x2160 pixels), for instance when taken on a widescreen monitors, should be resized to fit the maximum 3840 pixels width for landscape or the 3840 pixels height for portrait.

* If a screenshot Entry featuring multiple characters is selected as a finalist or winner, only the character specified by the entrant will be awarded the prize. Please make sure to get approval from others appearing in the screenshot when submitting a screenshot with multiple characters.

Crafted Physical Works
This category is designated for any physically crafted works such as accessories, jewelry, plush, figures, sculptures, etc. To submit an Entry, please take photographs of the handcrafted piece.

Use below template to submit one image which includes photograph of the front-view, side-view, and rear-view angle of the physical piece.

(Right-click the above template to save the image.)

Image Format: .jpg, or .png file format.

File Size: Maximum of 150 MB.

We will not accept any physically mailed-in Entries.

* All Entries must be the original creative work of the entrant submitting the Entry. You may not submit works created by another person.

* The use of Artificial Intelligence software to create or generate any portion of any Entry submission is prohibited. If Sponsor determines that any Entry uses any Artificial Intelligence software, such Entry shall be disqualified at Sponsor’s discretion.

* You may submit multiple Entries during the Entry Period; however, only one (1) Entry will be accepted per entrant per category. If multiple Entries are submitted by the same entrant, only the last entered submission will be accepted for that category.

* Please refrain from sharing your artworks publicly until the Fan Festival 2026 in Anaheim entries have been shared on the Fan Festival voting website on or around mid-April, 2026, in order to protect your Entry.

Step Two:
Submit your Entry via the submission form.

How to Use the Entry Submission Form

After visiting the submission form, log in with your Square Enix Account.

Enter the required information.

After you log in, the entry submission form will be displayed. Fill out all the required information.

Category Selection

Character Name

Home World Name

The URL to your Character Profile on Lodestone
(Ex. https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/character/000000/)
* See How to Obtain Your Lodestone Character Profile.

Nickname

Entry Title

Preferred In-game Item Prize (See Prize section)

Brief comment (Maximum of 400 characters)

* Your nickname, entry title, and comment will be publicly posted alongside your entry should it be selected.

* Other than instances when you are using your real name for your nickname, please do not include personal information (such as your name or address) in your submission.

Upload your image(s).

Submit your image(s) via the image upload feature.

You can either drag and drop your image into the area indicated by (1), or you can choose the “Select files to upload.” button to browse and select an image file on your computer. You’ll be able to confirm the images you’ve selected in the area indicated by (2). Once you’ve filled out the required information and finished uploading your images, select “Proceed to Confirmation” to advance.

Confirm the details of your submission.

On this screen, you can confirm the information you’ve entered. Make sure there are no errors in the submitted information and select “Submit Entry” to proceed if there are no errors. If you would like to edit your submitted information, select Edit Entry.

Once you finish submitting your entry, the following screen will be displayed.

You can log back in to see if your Entry has been submitted or if you would like to submit a new Entry to change your existing Entry.

F. Winner Selection:
Sponsor shall select fifty (50) finalists from the Illustrated Works, fifty (50) finalists from the Screenshots (Unaltered), fifty (50) finalists from the Screenshots (Altered), and twenty-five (25) finalists from the Physical Crafted Works. A total of one hundred-fifty (175) finalists will be selected by Sponsor based on the:

Technical quality of the Entry

Originality of the Entry

Creativity of the Entry

Artistic elements of the Entry

Adherence to the theme of the contest: “Journey through FINAL FANTASY XIV.”

Sponsor will display the finalists’ Entries online before the North American Fan Festival event on or about Monday, April 13, 2026. Voting will be open to anyone with a North American FINAL FANTASY XIV account (the “Voters”). Voters will select the ultimate winners from the eligible finalists that best fit one or more of the three (3) voting categories below (“Voting Categories”), each Voting Category having its own voting criteria:

Voting Categories:
Amazing / Cute / Fun

Sponsor shall collect votes to determine the winners from each of the Voting Categories. There will be a total of twelve (12) winners. Three (3) winners from the Illustrated Works category, three (3) winners from the Screenshot (Unaltered) category, three (3) winners from the Screenshot (Altered) category, and three (3) winners from the Physical Crafted Works category.

G. Prize(s):
One hundred seventy-five (175) finalists shall each receive:

one (1) in-game item of their choice from the items below:
- Ahriman Choker
- Bluebird Earring
- Gaelicap
- Great Paraserpent
- Loporrit Earrings
- Mandragora Choker
- Modern Aesthetics – Strife
- Noble Barding
- Scarf of Wondrous Wit

A new In-game Community Item (will be announced at a later date).

In addition to the above prize, twelve (12) winners shall each receive the following:

FINAL FANTASY XIV: FINAL FANTASY XIV: Dawntrail - The Art of Succession -Relics of Heritage- (Signed by Naoki Yoshida) (approximate retail value of $39.99 USD)

FINAL FANTASY XIV Gaming Mouse Pad - Warriors of Light (Signed by Naoki Yoshida) (approximate retail value of $34.99 USD)

A new In-game Framer's Kit

* Example image. Final design is subject to change.

A physical art frame with the winner's art piece (Signed by Naoki Yoshida)

* All in-game prizes are non-transferrable and will only be delivered to the character specified upon entry.

Excluding the new in-game community item, other in-game prizes and physical items listed above are scheduled to be delivered on or about June 30, 2026. The new in-game community item will be delivered once it becomes available.

H. Winner Notification:
Sponsor, or Sponsor’s designee, will notify winner(s) by or about May 1, 2026 on the North American Fan Festival website.

I. Sponsor:
The Sponsor of this Promotion is Square Enix, Inc.

J. Other:

Sponsor reserves the right to change the Category for an Entry, in compliance with these Key Rules, at Sponsor’s sole discretion.

Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any Entry, in compliance with these Key Rules, at Sponsor's sole discretion.

By entering the Promotion, you agree to be bound and abide by these Key Rules and the Additional Rules applicable to your place of legal residence, and you represent that you satisfy all eligibility.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. YOU MUST HAVE LEGALLY ACQUIRED ACCESS TO FINAL FANTASY XIV PRIOR TO THE LAUNCH OF THE PROMOTION.

KEY RULES POSTED ON JANUARY 23, 2026.

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