About

Start building in AR. Join the 2026 Snap AR Lens Challenge from March 9, 2026 to April 8, 2026. This is your chance to jump into the world of augmented reality using Snap’s Lens Studio—no coding experience required.

We’re opening up the tools used by Snap AR experts to show everyone how easy it is to create for AR. Through simple, self-guided tutorials and live workshops led by Snap team members, you’ll learn how to build immersive experiences that help people connect in new, creative ways.
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Click on the FAQs below to learn more:‍

How does the Snap AR Lens Challenge work?

There are 3 parts to the AR Lens Challenge:

1. Level up and learn. ↗

Use these self-guided tutorials to create your own 2D Lens using the Lens Studio application.

These tutorials are available for you to learn from at any time.

2. Attend our live Lens Lab. ↗

Participate in a live virtual workshop with an expert who will show you their tips and tricks on creating in Lens Studio.

These workshops are offered several times a year when our Challenge is live.

3. Share your Creation. ↗

Submit your Lens to be published with Snap, or share your creations with family and friends.

Enter our Challenges for a chance to win one of many prizes, including:
★ cash prizes
★ a professional development opportunity to design a Lens for a client
★ an invitation to apply to the 2026 Snap Lens Academy– Snap Inc’s paid summer program for rising AR design students in community college OR to our 2026 Snap Lens Lab - Snap Inc.’s three-week, educational learning experience at Otis College of Art and Design.

What is the Snap AR Lens Challenge schedule?

March 9, 2026 - April 8, 2026

You can learn year round using our self-guided ‘Tutorials’ at any time, our official 2026 Challenge cohort follows the timeline below:
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March 9: 2026 Snap AR Lens Challenge begins
March 10: Kickoff Session + Intro to Snap AR
March 10 – March 25: Self Paced: Tutorials #1-5 (Prepare for upcoming Lens Lab session)
March 25: The ARLC Lens Lab
March 27: Challenge Briefing & Ideation
April 2: AR Help Desk: Final Polish & Upload (Session #1)
April 6: Challenge Lens Submissions Due to Snapchat
April 7: AR Help Desk: Final Polish & Upload (Session #2)
April 8: 2026 Snap AR Lens Challenge closes

You can view full session times and details here.
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Sign up > here < to be notified about the next Snap AR Lens Challenge.

Who can join?

We're on a quest to make AR more accessible.

Anyone can learn to make Lenses from our Level Up Tutorials. In addition, we host Challenges throughout the year for high school (13 years or older) or college students who are interested in designing in augmented reality.

We’re looking for participants to come prepared with a beginner's mindset, deep curiosity, and creative courage! A familiarity with the English language, a 2-dimensional design background, and experience with software tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva, etc. is highly encouraged.

Do I have to attend all three parts of the challenge?

Only if you're participating in the U.S. Challenge.

You only have to complete all three parts if you are taking part in one of our competitions. Otherwise, we encourage you to complete the Level Up modules at your own pace.

What materials do I need to download?

All you need is a phone, a laptop and access to the internet.

1. On your laptop,
download Lens Studio.

2. On your phone,
download Snapchat.

We understand not everyone owns their own laptop or phone so if you are downloading onto school devices or a family/friends, make sure to notify them and get their permission!
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What is augmented reality (AR)?

Augmented reality is world building.

Augmented Reality is an interactive camera technology that overlays digital objects on the physical world in real-time.
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AR is being used across different industries, such as entertainment, gaming, healthcare, marketing, and more! Now, you have the opportunity to add this to your creative tool belt and explore growing career opportunities.

What is Lens Studio?

Lens Studio allows you to create and share AR experiences on Snapchat.
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Lens Studio is free software created by Snapchat that empowers artists, creators, and developers to create Augmented Reality (AR) experiences. Lens Studio offers many templates and guides to help beginners get started.

‍> You can download it here.

Who's offering this challenge?

Next Shift Learning & Snap Inc.

Next Shift Learning (NSL) is a learning design studio. We create engaging virtual experiences that connect untapped talent to the tech industry. We help career seekers to go from dreaming to engaging in industry experiences. We love creating moments that supercharge people to pursue their desired careers.

Snap Inc. is a camera company. We believe that reinventing the camera represents our greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. We contribute to human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together. For more information, visit snap.com.

Who can I contact for support?

ARLensChallenge@nextshiftlearning.com

We'll get back to you ASAP.