We’re back for 2026
The Flight Sim Awards are returning for 2026, and the next ceremony is already well underway. Our first event earlier this year exceeded all expectations, from the packed room at the Captain’s Dinner to the thousands of viewers following the show online. The enthusiasm from developers and community members confirmed that this industry deserves a proper annual celebration, and we are thrilled to bring the event back for its second edition.
Over the past months, we have reviewed every part of the structure, listened closely to your feedback, and refined the categories to ensure a fair and transparent process. Several new categories have been introduced to give more creators and developers the space they deserve. The goal is simple: every contribution that shapes our hobby should have the chance to be recognised.
A More Community-Driven Nomination Process
For 2026, we invite content creators and media outlets to participate directly in shaping the list of nominees. Each creator will ask their audience to nominate their favourites, and the top picks from their communities will be brought forward as official entries. This brings a broader and more representative foundation for the final vote, while keeping the spirit of the awards firmly grounded in the community.
Public voting will once again decide the winners, with a jury step only used if votes are tied or if manipulation is suspected. The intention is to maintain a transparent, fair, and balanced system that reflects genuine community sentiment.
Categories and Criteria for 2026
The updated structure encompasses a diverse range of awards that celebrate freeware, payware, hardware, art, innovation, community contributions, and long-term achievements. Each category has been reviewed for clarity and relevance, ensuring that work across all major areas of flight simulation is represented.
All entries are evaluated according to shared principles:
- Release Period: Products or projects must have been released or received a significant update within the previous calendar year.
- Availability: Entries must be publicly available to the community.
- Platform Relevance: Submissions should be intended for use within flight simulation software or hardware.
- Quality & Impact: The work should demonstrate excellence, usability, and meaningful contribution to the simulation experience.
- Fair Play: Only original work is eligible.
- Community Focus: Positive and lasting impact on the community is a key factor.
These are the categories for the Flight Sim Awards of 2026:
- Best Freeware Tool or Utility
- Best Freeware Aircraft (Per Sim)
- Best Freeware Scenery (Per Sim)
- Picassonissimo Award – Best Aircraft Painter
- Best Customer Support
- Best DIY Hardware
- Rising Star Award
- Innovation Award
- Community Contribution Award
- Outstanding Hardware
- Best Aircraft Add-on (Per Sim)
- Best Scenery Add-on (Per Sim)
- Outstanding Product Update
- Hover Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award
The next Flight Sim Awards ceremony will once again take place during the Captain’s Dinner at FlightSimWeekend on Friday 20 March 2026.
You can find more information about FSWeekend and the Captain’s Dinner here.
You can find more information and tickets to FlightSimWeekend and the Captains Dinner here.
If you are a content creator interested in participating in the nomination process, you can sign up here.
And yes, keep those checklists nearby and your excitement levels steady. The Flight Sim Awards 2026 are already lining up on the runway.
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OUR PARTNER - FSWEEKEND
The world of flight simulation touches down in Lelystad! Flight Sim Weekend is the ultimate gathering of simmers, developers, and aviation fanatics—where cutting-edge technology meets endless enthusiasm (and probably a few debates about which add-on or Simulator is the best). Get hands-on with the latest gear, connect with industry leaders, and experience the future of flight simulation.
And this year, we’re making things even more exciting: The Flightsim Awards 2026 will be presented live at the exclusive Captain’s Dinner on March 20, with a global audience tuning in via livestream.
Whether you’re a hardcore simmer or still trying to land without bouncing down the runway, Flight Sim Weekend 2026 is the place to be.
See you there!
Who’s Behind the Flightsim Awards?
Great question! Is it a secret society of elite simmers, meeting in a dimly lit hangar to decide the fate of the industry? Not quite—but close.
The Flightsim Awards 2026 are brought to you by the fine folks at cruiselevel.de, FSElite and Threshold—a mix of flight sim news veterans, industry insiders, and event organizers who have spent way too many hours in virtual cockpits.
Between them, they cover everything from breaking news to in-depth reviews, keeping the flight sim community informed, entertained, and occasionally triggering heated debates about [….] (insert you favourite topic). And now, they’re teaming up to finally give the best add-ons and creators the recognition they deserve.
So, if you’ve ever argued over your favorite airliner, raged at a botched landing, or marveled at a jaw-dropping scenery add-on—these are your people.
Let’s celebrate flight simulation, one award at a time. (And yes, we promise to be a little bit earlier next year.)
