2026 Make:able Challenge Prize Announcement
Today, we’re excited to reveal the prize lineup for this year’s Make:able 3D Printing and Assistive Technology Challenge. A big thank you to our sponsors, including Autodesk, MatterHackers, and CREATE Education, for supporting this year’s event.
7th April 2026 • News
Make:able is a global challenge that invites students, educators, and makers to design assistive devices that support people with disabilities or everyday challenges. It’s an opportunity to apply creativity, empathy, and design skills to real-world problems, while building practical experience with 3D printing and digital fabrication.
If you’re new to the challenge, there’s a complete online toolkit to guide you through the process, and there’s still time to get involved. You can learn more and register here: https://www.makeablechallenge.com
2026 Prizes
This year, we’ve taken a more streamlined approach to the prize pool. All 18 winning entries across every category and age group will receive a Bambu Lab A1 Mini 3D Printer. *Please note: printers are supplied without the Multicolour AMS.
By standardising the prizes, we’re able to deliver them more efficiently to winners around the world, fulfil orders locally through partners and resellers, and avoid delays and complications associated with international shipping. It also ensures every winner receives a consistent, high-quality tool that can be used to continue developing their projects. For the Under 14 and 14–18 age groups, prizes will be awarded to the schools or organisations students are representing.
Award Categories
As a reminder, there are 6 award categories in each age group (Under 14, 14–18, 18+):
- Best Showcase of Empathy
- Best Creative Idea
- Best Use of Autodesk Software
- Best Showcase of Customisation
- Best Use of 3D Printing
- Best Showcase of Iterative Design
These categories reflect the key design criteria of the challenge, so participants should aim to demonstrate strength across all areas in their projects.
What happens next
Submissions are open until 15th May 2026. After the deadline, the PrintLab team will review entries and create a shortlist of finalists across each category and age group. Finalist submissions will then be reviewed by the judging panel throughout June, with the 18 winners announced on 1st July 2026. Prizes will be shipped shortly after to the schools, organisations, or individuals receiving the awards.
Final call for submissions
There’s still time to take part. Whether you’re just getting started or refining your design, now is a great opportunity to create something meaningful. We’re looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
Go to Make:able to register for free and view the full online toolkit