KVR Developer Challenge 2026

The tenth free-for-all audio plugin / audio application / soundware design event, the KVR Developer Challenge 2026 is now live and its been 20 years since the first one in 2006! Open to anyone who develops Audio Plugins, Applications and Soundware; the challenge is to create and release a brand new free audio plugin, application or sound library / pack / set that will benefit the community at large. More details here and below...

Creativity is key, it can be as simple or as complex as you want - KVR members will vote on the entries and pick the eventual winner using whatever criteria they choose to.

Five cash prizes will be awarded to the top entries and a wildcard pick. Prize moneys are sponsored by the community-funded KVR Developer Challenge 2026 donation pool.

The KVR Developer Challenge began in 2006 and has occurred every 2-3 years ever since.

2023 was won by the excellent Solaris reverb plugin by Adam Szabo, with MONSTER OctaChord v1 by Monster DAW, Wave Breaker by Press Play, and Northern Trumpets by VG Trumpet making up the top four and Roundels by XiiixxiQ taking the wildcard prize.

2021 gave us WhispAir by Full Bucket Music, GR-8 by Phuturetone, Virtuosity Drums by Versilian Studios, and FKFX Influx by FKFX.

2018 delivered gems such as ProF.E.T. by Ignite Amps, Deducktion by Dead Duck Software and MPS by Full Bucket Music. We had Youlean Loudness Meter, Lagrange by Ursa DSP and Spaceship Delay from Musical Entropy in 2016, Multiply by Acon Digital, Nova-67P by vladg/sound and Emissary by Ignite Amps in 2014, and so it goes on...

Check out 2012, 2009, 2007, and the original in 2006 when Triple Cheese by u-he won the show!

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