SEGA and iam8bit have announced 35 Years of Speed: The Sonic Art Exhibit, a pair of special exhibitions celebrating Sonic the Hedgehog’s 35th anniversary through artwork inspired by the franchise’s history.
The exhibitions will feature original works from more than 30 renowned artists, with each creator reimagining memorable characters, worlds, moments, and personal memories from across Sonic’s 35-year history.
Historical artwork from SEGA’s archives will also be displayed, bringing pieces from Sonic’s past together with new interpretations created for the anniversary celebration.
The first exhibition will take place during PAX West weekend in Seattle from September 4 through September 6, 2026. It will be open daily from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM PT at 210 Gallery, located at 301 Occidental Avenue South, Seattle, Washington.
A second exhibition will follow in Los Angeles from September 26 through September 27, 2026. The Los Angeles event will also run from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM PT and will be held at ARK/8, located at 115 South La Brea Avenue.
Alongside the exhibitions, SEGA and iam8bit have launched The Sonic Fan Art Showcase, inviting artists and fans from around the world to contribute to a community-built visual celebration of the Sonic universe.
Participants are encouraged to reimagine iconic moments, characters, locations, stories, and memories from across Sonic’s history. Submissions are open to all regions through the official showcase website: https://sonic35.iam8bit.com
The submission period runs from July 8, 2026 at 9:00 AM PT through August 3, 2026 at 8:59 AM PT.
Entries will be evaluated evenly across four categories:
- Theme Adherence: 25%
- Creativity and Originality: 25%
- Technique and Execution: 25%
- Visual and Emotional Impact: 25%
Standout submissions will be selected for a “best of” visual showcase appearing through SEGA’s official website and social media channels. A smaller selection of fan artwork will also be displayed physically at the 35 Years of Speed exhibitions in Seattle and Los Angeles.
Artists must be at least 18 years old to submit. The submission agreement also states that artwork must be created without the use or assistance of artificial intelligence, including generative AI tools such as Stable Diffusion, Flux, and DALL-E.
Submissions are voluntary and will not receive payment, royalties, or other compensation. Artists whose work is selected for the exhibition will be notified and credited for their submission.
By entering, artists grant iam8bit permission to use and modify their artwork in connection with the exhibition and its promotion, documentation, and archival. The agreement also grants SEGA and its partners a perpetual worldwide license to use, modify, reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works from submitted artwork without additional compensation.
Submitted work must be original and must not infringe the intellectual property, privacy, publicity, or other rights of third parties. iam8bit and SEGA may also reject or remove any submission at their discretion.
The Sonic Fan Art Showcase gives artists an opportunity to become part of Sonic’s 35th anniversary celebrations while showing how the character’s worlds and stories have inspired generations of fans across different countries, cultures, and creative styles.
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