The TLB Gift Exchange 2026 Collection is open for sign-ups
NOTE: Sign-ups close August 31st — find the collection here.
Other important dates:
Assignments sent out: No later than September 10th
Assignments due: October 21st, at midnight
Collection revealed: October 31st, ~2PM
Creators revealed: November 4th, ~8PM
What do we need to know for signups?
You may request 1-2 fandoms (The Lost Boys (1987) or The Lost Boys Musical), 1-10 relationships and at least one medium (Fanart, Fanfic, and/or Podfic). You can also request Any, which means you are requesting gifts for any of the nominated relationships for that fandom.
You can offer 1-2 fandoms, each with 1-10 relationships. You can also offer Any, meaning you're willing to create a gift for any nominated relationship in that fandom.
In your additional details, make sure to include any DNWs. These are things you Do Not Want, i.e., things that would ruin a gift for you and which your creator must avoid.
You can also use the additional details box to list likes, prompts, and anything else that might help your creator make a gift you will enjoy. You can also provide a link to a letter posted on your Dreamwidth, Tumblr, etc.
You are only guaranteed a gift if you request at least three distinct relationships, but if you ask for fewer than three relationships, you'll still go out for pinch hits. You'll also have the option to add more requests. The collection will not open until everyone who has requested at least three distinct relationships has a gift.
If you shame or harass other participants, or if there are signs that you have deliberately caused problems in past exchanges, the mod will delete your signup.
How does the matching work?
You will match on at least one fandom, one medium (fic, art, or podfic), and one relationship within that fandom.
If none of your offers match any requests at the time signups close, I'll contact you, and you'll have 24 hours to add relevant offers. If that time elapses, or if you choose not to add any offers, I'll delete your signup.
What are the rules for assignments?
Assignments are only guaranteed to match on one fandom, one relationship, and one medium.
Minimum work requirements for fic and art are one fic of 500 words or one piece of original art that is not on lined paper. (Manips are okay for treats, but they do not fulfill your assignment.) The minimum requirement for podfic is a recorded work of at least 500 words. The work you post must match a medium, fandom, and relationship requested by your recipient.
Works should remain anonymous during the collection's anonymous period. Do not post your work elsewhere, link to it under your name, or put your name anywhere on the AO3 page until after creators have been revealed. Artists may sign their work, and audio recordings may include identification of the podficcer.
What if I can't finish my assignment?
In that case, please default by going to your AO3 assignments page and clicking the "default" button on your assignment. You don't have to contact the mod or explain why you've defaulted. Life happens! If you default, you may still get a gift, but you won't go out as a pinch hit if your creator also defaults.
What about treats?
Treating is allowed and encouraged! In addition to giving gifts to a specific person, you can also post gifts to the collection (i.e., gifts that don't have a listed recipient).
If your AO3 account was created after February 1, 2022 and you would like to receive treats, please make sure your account is set up to allow additional gifts: Go to Preferences and click "Allow anyone to gift me works."
I encourage people who do not want treats, and who have not enabled their account to be open to treats, to specifically mention that in their additional details.
Find the collection here.