Our 2026 List Design Contest is open to all! Like last year, the community will vote on a winner and also judges will vote for their choice, giving you two chances for a winning ticket.
Not good at coding? Your design only needs to change the images on the default theme or a premade layout to qualify, so you only need to focus on that if you want. Using the tutorials and layouts linked above, that is made easy although we hope you do more like changing colors and fonts! If you reskin the default layout or premade designs there are still many categories you qualify for, including Best Theme (best reskin of the default) and Best Customized Template (best remake of a premade layout).
Want to make an original design? That's the spirit! Start here. It will take a while, but you can win several unique categories with an original design!
How to Enter
Post in this topic before September 10 2026, specifying which list design(s) you would like to enter:
a) anime list; b) manga list; c) both list designs.
You don't need to have your list design ready when you post!
Until September 10 2026, you are free to modify your list design(s), or edit your post changing your registration.
Make sure you read the rules and guidelines below, to ensure your list design qualifies for this contest.
Rules and Guidelines
1. Each user can enter 1-2 list designs, using either their anime list, manga list, or both. Classic and modern styles are both allowed. If you enter with both lists, each list must have different designs.
If you have multiple accounts, you are still one user- choose one account to enter with.
2. You can enter any of the following kinds of list designs:
* a re-skin of the default list designs (change the wallpapers, colors, font-size, add custom CSS etc, it's your choice).
* a re-skin of a premade custom layout made by someone else- however you must change all the images (wallpapers/banners/etc). You can make any other custom CSS changes.
Feel free to make any other changes to any layout you're using whether it be yours or a premade layout from someone else. Our CSS extensions and tutorials can show you how to change images, make other changes, and we give you codes to improve your designs.
If your layout looks too similar to one of the MAL themes or custom layouts it will be disqualified.
3. You cannot use a private layout that someone else has made as your entry or as the base of you entry; i.e. no stealing. Borrowing codes from a private layout is not allowed either. Private refers to designs that have never been donated for public use. Refer to this link for public donated premade layouts you can use and borrow codes from.
4. Your list designs must be available for public view on September 10 2026. If your list entry is still set to private on that date, it can be disqualified.
To ensure contest integrity, I may disqualify your entry if you display bad behavior/cheating/etc in other forums. Cheating in the contest and/or rallying groups to vote for you in the contest will disqualify your entry.
One year recently we had like 50 entries, so if there's many this year, judges may narrow down to a smaller amount (5-8?) before the community votes on their favorite design!
Need help or extensions/customization for your list?
We want everyone to do the best they are capable of, so I'm also providing many resources for you here. We have several videos below to guide even a newcomer on how to make a list layout! I also have links to many extensions you can add to your list and tutorials on adding custom features: https://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=1499059
Make an original list layout * step-by-step guide on making your own design * ten minutes of bonus tips and useful links
Make a custom layout theme!
* Uses the popular Shelter and Clarity layouts
* Change layouts to any anime, manga, or game theme with pics you download!
* Over 20 premade layouts ready: (click here)
Restyle your list's pictures and colors * change wallpapers and banners * add the preview pics (covers) * change list table transparency and color * fix issues with wallpapers and preview pics * made for all list types
Advanced customization for lists * learn the free tool List Designers use! * make LIVE edits! * find codes and fix your own problems * make original layouts
All CSS Codes * A demo of all popular CSS code * How to get all CSS codes * Includes property and selector codes
Frequently Asked Questions
Click the spoiler for answers to FAQs in list design contests:
Do I have to be nominated to register?
No- anyone is free to register.
Can I nominate another user?
You can ask them to enter or let them know about the contest- but they need to register themselves here in order to enter.
What if I registered but want to drop out?
Then please edit your registration post indicating you wish to drop out.
What if I registered but want to change what list(s) I entered?
Then edit your registration post indicating what list you are entering.
Do the cover pics for titles (DVD/manga covers) on my list design count as the images on a premade layout?
No.
I have a preferred browser and/or resolution for my layout.
During member's choice voting, screenshots of each layout will be displayed. If you have a preferred layout resolution, let me know ahead of time in your registration post so we can try to accommodate how you want your list viewed.
Any other questions can be asked in this topic.
Good Luck to All Participants!
Shishio-kunSep 11, 11:30 PM
This topic has been locked and is no longer available for discussion.
c) both the anime and manga list designs.
If the list styles are deemed too similar to count as a 'different' design, then priority would be for the a) anime list.
Theme: OldSchool RuneScape
Base: Modern List Design Default Theme
Note: works best on Chromium browsers like Brave and Opera, some features don't work on Firefox.
As it's my first css project, it's not very elegant, but I feel like it captures the spirit of the game. I added in a few custom themed window views that no one else can see, like a quest completion scroll that pops up instead of the 'Do you want to set this anime as completed' window, or the 'rate this episode' popup, as well as support for extra info display fields and such.
If you want to use the style for yourself, you can find the Github link for the project code here. The code was too long to put within MAL, so I'm importing it from github using jsdeliver. You can try it out yourself by just copy-pasting the "MAL IMPORT CODE" as the Custom CSS for any modern list style.
Change: Template used- Dark transparent version with Extended Table of [CSS- MODERN] โญ Minimal Dashboard layout by 5cm ~ Compact and convenient! .
I simply moved the footer section with credits and copyright info to the right and oriented it vertically so the list looks endless without the footer section interrupting it.
Also changed the wallpaper to a cuter lo-fi gif.
Thanks for participating in our long ongoing yearly list design contest! Best of luck, and we can't wait to see beautiful and creative designs this year!
You've earned the competitor ticket and I'll give you the participant ticket ahead of time and in case you can't vote later - both made by me personally for this event! :D
Thanks for participating in our long ongoing yearly list design contest! Best of luck, and we can't wait to see beautiful and creative designs this year!
You've earned the competitor ticket and I'll give you the participant ticket ahead of time and in case you can't vote later - both made by me personally for this event! :D
I had some great ideas in mind but wasn't able to fully realize them due to a combination of limited skills and time constraints. I feel I could have done much more, but for this year, I have decided to stop here. If anyone can help me adjust my grid's starting position and make the background transparent (as the method on the tutorial site isn't compatible with my other CSS elements), I would greatly appreciate it; otherwise, this will be my final submission. Still, I enjoyed it a lot.
Summary to what I have changed:
The updated CSS transforms the MAL theme from default to a blue Great Wave style. It features a custom background, cursor, header, and cover image, along with animated status underlines and blue buttons and footer. Most notably, the anime list is converted from a table into a poster grid with larger images, hover zoom effects, transparent glass-like cards, rounded corners, and subtle blur effects. Hovering over the anime status section triggers a bouncy animation, and hovering over the anime titles changes their color. There are additional enhancements throughout the list, which I encourage you to explore directly.
Thanks for participating in our long ongoing yearly list design contest! Best of luck, and we can't wait to see beautiful and creative designs this year!
You've earned the competitor ticket and I'll give you the participant ticket ahead of time and in case you can't vote later - both made by me personally for this event! :D