Google I/O 2026 Writing Challenge
Tune into Google I/O and start exploring!
Google I/O 2026 is here! Join us May 19 & 20 as we livestream Google's keynotes and sessions — plus, we're launching a new writing challenge right alongside the event!
Running through May 24, the Google I/O Writing Challenge invites you to dive into the announcements as they drop, then experiment and write about what has you most excited from this year's releases, keynotes, and sessions.
Five winners will each receive:
- $200 USD
- DEV++ Membership
- Exclusive DEV Badge
All participants with a valid submission will receive a completion badge.
Key Dates
- Contest start: May 19, 2026
- Submissions due: May 24, 2026
- Winners announced: June 04, 2026
Badge Rewards
Find Out More
Ask questions and share your ideas on the Google I/O 2026 Writing Challenge Launch Post.
View Launch PostSponsored by Google AI
At Google, we believe making AI helpful for everyone is the most profound way to advance our mission. We're excited by the amazing possibilities of a world responsibly empowered by AI — a future of innovation that will enhance creativity, extend knowledge, advance science, and transform the way billions of people live and work around the world.
Within our ecosystem, Gemini is evolving to be more than just the models. It supports an entire ecosystem — from the products that billions of people use every day, to the APIs and platforms helping developers and businesses innovate. Among this, Google AI Studio is the fastest way to start building with Gemini.
Challenge Prompt
Explore the Google I/O 2026 announcements and pick the release, update, or livestream session that speaks to you, and tell us about it.
We encourage you to play around with any new products (if applicable) to form your opinions, but even if you're in the "reading the docs" phase, we want your take. Share your highlights and critiques with us!
Your submission might look like:
- A hands-on tutorial or walkthrough of something you tried
- A written reflection on an announcement or keynote point and what it means for developers
- An opinion piece on the update you think is most underrated or overlooked
- A first-look or "getting started" guide for a new tool or feature
The most compelling submissions will go beyond summary to offer a genuine perspective for the community.
Judging Criteria:
- Clarity & Quality: Is it well-written, engaging, and easy to follow?
- Usefulness: Will the community learn something or be inspired by reading it?
- Depth & Insight: Does it go beyond surface-level summary to offer a genuine perspective?
Helpful Links & Resources
Catch everything as it unfolds live on DEV, May 19 and 20:
- Google Keynote: May 19 at 10:00 AM PT
- Developer Keynote: May 19 at 1:30 PM PT
- What's New in Google AI: May 19 at 3:30 PM PT
- What's New in Firebase: May 19 at 4:30 PM PT
- What's New in Flutter: May 20 at 10:00 AM PT
- Google Cloud Live from I/O: May 20 at 1:00 PM PT
Frequently Asked Questions
Participation
Can I submit to the prompt more than once?
Yes, you can submit multiple submissions but you'll need to publish a separate post for each submission.
- In the event that you may win two or more submissions, and your submissions are very close with another participant, we will favor the other participant.
- In the event that you do win with multiple submissions, you will only receive one winner badge.
Can I work on a team?
No, this is an individual writing challenge. Team submissions are not accepted.
How old do I have to be to participate?
Participants need to be 18+ in order to participate.
If I live in X, am I eligible to participate?
For eligibility rules, see our official challenge rules.
Submission
Do submissions have to be in English?
Non-english submissions are eligible for a completion badge but not eligible for prizes due to the current limitations of our judges. We will not be judging on mastery of the English language, so please don't let this deter you from submitting if you are not a native English speaker! We hope to evolve this in the future to be more accommodating.
Can I use AI?
Use of AI is allowed as long as all other rules are followed. We want to give you a chance to show off your writing and analytical skills. If you use AI tools to help you, be transparent about it.
What happens if my submission is considered plagiarized or invalid?
Anything deemed to be plagiarism will not be eligible for prizes. Incidental plagiarism may simply result in your disqualification from the challenge. Egregious plagiarism will result in your suspension from DEV entirely.
Judging and Prizing
Can there be ties?
In the event of a tie in scoring between judges, the judges will select the entry that received the highest number of positive reactions on their DEV post to determine the winner.
How will I know if I won?
Winners will be announced in a DEV post on the winner announcement date noted in our key dates section.
When will I receive my DEV badge?
Both participation and winner badges will be awarded, in most cases, the same day as the winner announcement.
When will I receive my prizes?
The DEV Team will contact you via the email associated with your DEV profile within, at most, 10 business days of the announcement date to share the details of claiming your prizes.
What steps do I need to take to receive my cash prize?
The winner may be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility and publicity/liability release, and provide any additional tax filing information (such as a W-9, social security number or Federal tax ID number) within seven (7) business days following the date of your first email notification.
Google I/O 2026 Writing Challenge Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open only to 18+. Contest entry period ends May 24, 2026 at 11:59 PM PDT. Contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law or regulation. All entries must be submitted during the contest period. For Official Rules, see Google I/O Writing Challenge Contest Rules and General Contest Official Rules.
