SpookyJam 2026

It is a great honor to announce that the 10th annual SpookyJam will begin September 26th! What began a decade ago as a small community driven modjam has grown into a yearly tradition for so many of us. Over the years we have been amazed by the spooky, strange, and terrifyingly creative projects brought to life by our awesome community! We're incredibly grateful to everyone who has shaped SpookyJam into what it is today, and we look forward to seeing the tricks and treats our community will cook up this year!

This year participants will have from September 26th to October 28th to create and submit their entries. We're starting a little early this year to give everyone a bit more time to work on their spooky creations! We're also closing submissions a few days earlier so we can spend the end of October celebrating SpookyJam's 10th anniversary with the community!

SpookyJam is open to creators of all skill levels! If you've never made a mod before, SpookyJam is the perfect time to learn how! Modding has never been easier, and there are many teams looking for help with ideas, textures, building, and localization! Join our Discord for more info.

Prizes & Rewards

Participants who submit a valid entry before the end of the event will receive a commemorative Discord role, and a limited time swag item from CurseForge that will be revealed at a later date!

All valid submissions will also be included in the official SpookyJam modpack and server, giving them an extra spotlight in the community!

As an extra treat, there are several awards that celebrate standout achievements! These will be awarded after the event. The recipient will also receive a $25 USD Amazon Gift Card or an available equivalent alternative upon request.

👑

Haunted Crown

Best Overall

The mod that impressed us the most with a great concept and execution.

🍂

Autumn Vibes

Best Atmosphere

The mod that nailed the mood and ambience, perfectly capturing the vibe.

ðŸ‘ŧ

Chill Factor

Most Creepy

The mod that brought something creepy and sent chills down our spines.

ðŸĐļ

New Blood

Best First-Timer

The newcomer who delivered a confident and creative first submission.

ðŸŠĶ

Legacy

Best Update

The previous submission that has undergone an impressive transformation.

❓

Hidden Objectives

It's a mystery!

These awards are only revealed after the event has ended!

This year we are introducing three Hidden Objectives. To avoid influencing submissions, these awards are only known to the event organizers and will be revealed after the event has ended!

Anniversary Edition Spookypedia

Over the years SpookyJam has received so many wonderful submissions, and we wanted to find a way to preserve that history in-game. This year, we're creating a special 10th anniversary edition of the Spookypedia book that will contain every entry from SpookyJam's history, all the way back to the very first event! We are also reaching out to past creators to see if they would like to contribute some commentary and memories about their projects. This book will be available in the official modpack and will be given to players when they join a world.

Showcase World

This year we are creating the SpookyJam showcase world to celebrate the incredible creations our community has made over the years! The showcase world will feature builds and exhibits from various SpookyJam entries. It will also include some minigames, easter eggs, and much more to explore! The showcase world will be included with the SpookyJam modpack and will also be available to download separately.

We're inviting both returning creators and newcomers to submit structure files that show off your mod and add to the atmosphere of the map! There are several shapes and sizes of plots available, and we will be placing the submitted structure files into the map. More details on how to submit your structures will be coming soon!

Rules

  1. You may work on your entry from September 26th to October 28th. All code, textures, models, sounds, assets, and data must be created during this time window.
  2. Your entry must be a valid Minecraft Java mod. Data and resource packs that are packaged as mods are also allowed! We ask that every entry is compatible with NeoForge 26.1.2 so we can use all of the mods together in one modpack however this is not required.
  3. The theme of SpookyJam is celebrating the fall season. If you want to create something creepy, cozy, or just plain weird, as long as it fits the fall season it's fair game! Haunted houses, monsters, cursed relics, folklore, autumn adventures, and everything in between is welcome!
  4. Libraries and dependencies may be used within reason. You can also use 3rd party assets provided that they are available to everyone under an open source license or fall under public domain.
  5. Participants are not allowed to use AI for substantial portions of their submission. This includes any AI generated code, textures, project logos, soundtracks, documentation, or anything else that is part of the final submission.
  6. Teams are allowed and encouraged! There are no size limits but we recommend up to four. Teams are responsible for fairly dividing and distributing any prizes they win among their members.
  7. Your entry must not contain malicious code or act in bad faith. We expect everyone to be respectful and not ruin the event for others. Intentionally crashing the game, making it unplayable, or maliciously tampering with other submissions is not allowed.
  8. Submissions must be uploaded to CurseForge and pass review before the submission deadline. We encourage uploading your project as soon as possible, even if it's a beta, to ensure it is reviewed in time.
  9. Be respectful to other participants, event sponsors, and event organizers.

FaQ

Can I submit multiple entries?
Yes! You're welcome to submit multiple entries if you have more than one idea. Just remember to take care of yourself! SpookyJam is meant to be a fun and chill event, so don't push yourself too hard or let it become a source of unnecessary stress.
Can I join multiple teams?
Yes! You're welcome to participate on multiple teams, but we strongly recommend letting your teammates know. This helps everyone stay on the same page and avoid uncomfortable surprises along the way.
Can I support multiple mod loaders?
Absolutely! You can use any mod loader you wish, and supporting multiple loaders is completely up to you. Our official servers will be running NeoForge 26.1.2, but you're not required to use this version.
Can I use a tool like MCreator?
Absolutely, use whatever tools work best for you and help bring your spooky ideas to life!
Can I submit a data pack or resource pack?
Yes! Data packs and resource packs are welcome, but they must be packaged as a Minecraft Java mod and uploaded to CurseForge as a mod. We want everyone to be able to enjoy your creation alongside the rest of the SpookyJam entries.
Can I submit a mod from a previous year?
Yes! Previous SpookyJam submissions are welcome and may be included in our official modpack and server. However, they will not be eligible for most prizes and will receive less promotion than other submissions.
How should teams submit their projects?
Each mod should only be submitted once. The submission form will have space for you to mention team members and we will also check the team members on the CurseForge page.
Do I need to submit my project?
Yes! Your project must be submitted within the submission window. We can not find or track your submission without this.
Can I submit my entry to multiple events?
Absolutely! You can submit your entry to multiple events as long as you follow the rules for each one. There are usually a few other events happening around the same time as SpookyJam, and we encourage you to participate in as many as you like!
Can I submit an entry that was not intentionally created for SpookyJam?
Absolutely! Your project doesn't have to be made specifically for SpookyJam. As long as it follows our rules and fits the SpookyJam theme, you're welcome to submit it!

Sponsors

CurseForge

CurseForge

CurseForge provides hosting for mods, addons, and user content for many popular games such as Minecraft, World of Warcraft, and Among Us.

Nodecraft

Nodecraft

Nodecraft offers quality server hosting for many games such as Minecraft, Rust, and Factorio.