The Profile Awards 2026 Student Virtual Lighting Design Competition sponsored by CAST Group of Companies.

At the end of March 2026 Lighting Design students and programmers from UK colleges will be invited to create a three-minute animation using the new release of WYSIWG 2026 visualisation software of a light show to music of your choice within a detailed model of the Royal Albert Hall, you will be able to use the embedded orchestra and audience layout or make a staging and performer design of your own.

The RAH model will be provided by Durham Marenghi and have a geometric truss structure with ten DMX universes of patched Ayrton lighting fixtures upon it. Though we prefer that entrants use the patched lighting rig within the WYSIWYG model you are allowed to change your preferred fixture type to other manufacturers and add SFX such as lasers, particle generators and atmospherics to suit your music choice.

To help empower emerging talent, all participating institutions will receive a complimentary copy of WYSIWYG 2026 Perform Lite Educational Edition, providing students with professional grade tools to craft their lighting designs and as part of the competition students will gain lighting design experience in a realistic, high-profile environment. Initiatives like this play a critical role in building skills, confidence, and a creative foundation that today’s students will carry into tomorrow.

Entries will be judged by the professional Profile Awards TV and Theatre nominees and the chosen Virtual competition student nominees will be published in May 2026. These students will receive an invitation to The Profile Awards event with the winner being announced live at the Awards at the Alexandra Palace on the 4th of June 2026. The deadline for MP4 video entries to info@profileawards.com is the 30th of April 2026.

To pre-order the WYSIWYG 2026 Perform Lite Educational Edition and files of the RAH and the patched Ayrton lighting rig ask your course tutor to contact info@profileawards.com    Good Luck!

Last year our winner was Shona M’gadzah of the University of Glasgow. Check out our previous year’s nominations and winners in the 2024 and 2025 Awards sections.