The nextReality.Contest was launched in 2017 by nextReality.Hamburg e.V. and has since become one of the most prestigious XR awards in the German-speaking world. Each year, the competition honors outstanding Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality projects that stand out through innovation, creative excellence, and technological sophistication.
In 2025, the XRC enters its ninth edition, providing companies, studios, start-ups, and individuals with the opportunity to showcase their ideas and products on a major stage. An independent, interdisciplinary jury evaluates the submitted projects and selects the winners in the following categories:
- Interactive Entertainment – Engaging XR experiences with innovative gameplay
- Interactive Business – XR solutions that open new business models and create economic value
- Interactive Education – Immersive applications with a strong educational focus
- Young Talent – Projects by students and young talents in the XR field
- Best Installation – XR experiences that integrate physical installations for a unique impact
- Zeitgeist – Applications that address socially relevant topics
- International Production – Outstanding XR projects from around the world
- Community Award – The audience decides!
The winners will not only receive one of the most beautiful trophies in the XR world but also a cash prize in most categories as a recognition of their work.
(The Community Award and Best Installation are not endowed with a cash prize.)
The XRC Awards ceremony will take place on November 5, 2025, as part of the nextReality.festival in Hamburg’s Speicherstadt. Here, the nominated projects will not only be celebrated but also showcased to the public in an interactive exhibition. In addition to the awards ceremony, the festival features talks, panels, and numerous networking opportunities with leading experts from the XR industry.
