Source: Smilegate

Smilegate (CEO Sung Joon-ho) announced on the 7th that its MMORPG 'Lost Ark' will hold the '2026 Avatar Contest' in collaboration with its players (adventurers).

Unlike previous contests where players submitted their own designs, this event features avatar concepts created by the development team, which players will then judge and vote on. The final winners will be selected from six male and six female avatar designs, regardless of class.

The contest consists of two stages: a 1-on-1 evaluation and a final vote. In the 1-on-1 evaluation, which begins today, each gender category will undergo three rounds of judging to determine which designs advance to the final vote. Participating players can select their preferred designs from the concept art provided and leave ratings and feedback.

Participation in the evaluation and voting is open to players with characters at item level 1680 or higher. The 1-on-1 evaluation will run from May 7 to May 13, followed by the final vote from May 20 to May 27. The final winning designs will be announced in a separate notice after the voting concludes.

More information about Lost Ark and the 2026 Avatar Contest can be found on the official Lost Ark website.