Lens Fest: A Decade of Lenses and the Future of Computing

Lens Fest 2025 wasn’t just a milestone — it was a global gathering of creators, builders, and innovators who are shaping the future of augmented reality and AI by building with Snap.

This year, we celebrated ten years of Lenses and the incredible community that turned a playful idea into a global platform for creativity.

Over the past decade, you’ve transformed how people communicate, learn, and connect — bringing AR to classrooms, stadiums, art exhibits, and moments shared between friends. Lens Fest was our chance to celebrate you, and to imagine together what the next decade of creation will bring.

The energy, imagination, and spirit of this year’s event proved one thing: the future of AR belongs to the community building it.

The day began with a powerful keynote from Bobby Murphy, Snap’s Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder, who reminded everyone why Lens Fest is so much more than a conference — it’s a celebration of a shared vision.

He spoke about the journey from the very first Lens — joyful, weird, and culture-defining — to a decade later, where 400,000 developers have built more than 4 million Lenses that reach people around the world.

“Our mission has always been to build technology that brings people closer together — and you, our developers, make that possible every single day.”

His message was clear: Snap’s mission is to build technology that brings people closer together, and developers are at the heart of that mission.

Attendees were treated to an open Q&A with Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy, hosted by Resh Sidhu — a chance to hear directly from Snap’s founders about their vision for AR, community creativity, what’s next for Spectacles, and the path toward building computing that feels more human.

One of the most exciting parts of the day was celebrating the Lens Fest Awards. These awards honor the creativity and innovation of developers worldwide — from breathtaking visual effects to groundbreaking interactive experiences. Congratulations to all the winners!

• Best Engaging Lens: Hug Me Please by Mohamad El Asmar

• Best Artistic Lens: Dualooped World by Valerii Pidhurskyi

• Best Innovative Lens: Trajectory: The Object Liberation Front by Yegor Ryabtsov

• Best Utility Lens: Home Automation by Krunal Gediya

• Best Game Lens: Tower Defense by Krunal Gediya

• Best Snapchat Lens: Inner Portal by Ruya Baraz

• Best Spectacles Lens: Card Master by Harry Banda

A Decade of Innovation, A New Era of Possibility
At the center of everything we build — and everything our community dreams up — is Lens Studio.

This year marked its biggest evolution yet. Developers can now create with Blocks, modular AR components that can be shared and remixed by others. With the launch of Lens Studio for Mobile & Web, creation is no longer confined to the desktop — it’s portable, collaborative, and powered by AI.

Lens Studio isn’t just a tool — it’s an ecosystem built for exploration, collaboration, and creativity. It’s where ideas become Lenses, and where Lenses become movements.

Download Lens Studio and start building today.

A New Era of Computing
Specs aren’t just another device — they’re a new paradigm: a wearable computer built to make computing more human. In a world dominated by screens, Spectacles lift our eyes and integrate computing into the environment around us. Powered by Snap OS 2.0, Specs combine spatial intelligence and real-world awareness, turning everyday life into a living canvas.

What’s New for Developers

• Snap Cloud powered by Supabase — a new backend-as-a-service with APIs, secure storage, and vector embeddings to unlock richer, more dynamic AR/AI projects.

• Travel Mode and EyeConnect — features that make on-the-go and co-located AR experiences seamless.

• WebXR support and a rebuilt browser for immersive exploration.

• Commerce Kit for in-Lens payments.

Compact but mighty, Specs are the first true AR + AI glasses, built to connect us in real time at world scale.

Join the Spectacles Developer Program to help build the future with Snap.

Global Reach. Real Income. Endless Possibility.
This year, Snap made it clear: there has never been more opportunity to grow your career, monetize your work, and reach a global audience through the Snap ecosystem.

From subscription revenue to client work, from rewards to commerce — Snap is helping developers transform creativity into business:

• Lens+ Payouts — Apply now to unlock the ability to publish Exclusive Lenses for Lens+ subscribers and receive revenue share payouts.

• Camera Kit is now available to everyone — Take Lenses anywhere (apps, websites, AR mirrors) with optional Snap branding, and monetize through client projects.

• Top Performer Payouts — Through this program, previously known as the Lens Creator Rewards Program, developers have earned more than $1M for top-performing Lenses.

• Challenge Tags — introduced this year, a monthly, global competition that awards prizes for originality and technical excellence.

• Commerce Kit for Spectacles — enable payments directly inside Spectacles Lenses, from digital goods to premium features in real time.

Your creativity can be your career. And Snap is here to help you scale it worldwide.

Lens Fest 2025 wasn’t just a look back — it was a leap forward. A decade of innovation has led us here, but it’s the next decade that excites us most.

Thank you to every developer, creator, and partner who’s helped shape this journey. Together, we’re not just imagining the future — we’re building it.

We can’t wait to see what you’ll build next with Snap.

Relive the excitement of Lens Fest 2025 here.