diff --git a/openpype/hosts/unreal/api/pipeline.py b/openpype/hosts/unreal/api/pipeline.py
index d396b64072..db5b121d14 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/unreal/api/pipeline.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/unreal/api/pipeline.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import os
 import logging
 from typing import List
+import semver
 
 import pyblish.api
 
@@ -21,6 +22,8 @@ import unreal  # noqa
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("openpype.hosts.unreal")
 OPENPYPE_CONTAINERS = "OpenPypeContainers"
+UNREAL_VERSION = semver.VersionInfo(
+            *os.getenv("OPENPYPE_UNREAL_VERSION").split("."))
 
 HOST_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(openpype.hosts.unreal.__file__))
 PLUGINS_DIR = os.path.join(HOST_DIR, "plugins")
@@ -40,6 +43,7 @@ class UnrealHost(HostBase, ILoadHost):
     name = "unreal"
 
     def install(self):
+        version = UNREAL_VERSION
         install()
 
     def get_containers(self):
@@ -111,7 +115,9 @@ def ls():
 
     """
     ar = unreal.AssetRegistryHelpers.get_asset_registry()
-    openpype_containers = ar.get_assets_by_class("AssetContainer", True)
+    # UE 5.1 changed how class name is specified
+    class_name = ["/Script", "AssetContainer"] if UNREAL_VERSION.major == 5 and UNREAL_VERSION.minor > 0 else "AssetContainer"  # noqa
+    openpype_containers = ar.get_assets_by_class(class_name, True)
 
     # get_asset_by_class returns AssetData. To get all metadata we need to
     # load asset. get_tag_values() work only on metadata registered in
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/unreal/hooks/pre_workfile_preparation.py b/openpype/hosts/unreal/hooks/pre_workfile_preparation.py
index 4ae72593e9..2dc6fb9f42 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/unreal/hooks/pre_workfile_preparation.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/unreal/hooks/pre_workfile_preparation.py
@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@ class UnrealPrelaunchHook(PreLaunchHook):
                 engine_path=Path(engine_path)
             )
 
+        self.launch_context.env["OPENPYPE_UNREAL_VERSION"] = engine_version
         # Append project file to launch arguments
         self.launch_context.launch_args.append(
             f"\"{project_file.as_posix()}\"")
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/unreal/plugins/publish/collect_instances.py b/openpype/hosts/unreal/plugins/publish/collect_instances.py
index 2f604cb322..db968330c6 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/unreal/plugins/publish/collect_instances.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/unreal/plugins/publish/collect_instances.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 import ast
 import unreal  # noqa
 import pyblish.api
+from openpype.hosts.unreal.api.pipeline import UNREAL_VERSION
+from openpype.pipeline.publish import KnownPublishError
 
 
 class CollectInstances(pyblish.api.ContextPlugin):
@@ -23,8 +25,10 @@ class CollectInstances(pyblish.api.ContextPlugin):
     def process(self, context):
 
         ar = unreal.AssetRegistryHelpers.get_asset_registry()
-        instance_containers = ar.get_assets_by_class(
-            "OpenPypePublishInstance", True)
+        class_name = ["/Script",
+                      "AssetContainer"] if UNREAL_VERSION.major == 5 and \
+                                           UNREAL_VERSION.minor > 0 else "OpenPypePublishInstance"  # noqa
+        instance_containers = ar.get_assets_by_class(class_name, True)
 
         for container_data in instance_containers:
             asset = container_data.get_asset()
@@ -32,9 +36,8 @@ class CollectInstances(pyblish.api.ContextPlugin):
             data["objectName"] = container_data.asset_name
             # convert to strings
             data = {str(key): str(value) for (key, value) in data.items()}
-            assert data.get("family"), (
-                "instance has no family"
-            )
+            if not data.get("family"):
+                raise KnownPublishError("instance has no family")
 
             # content of container
             members = ast.literal_eval(data.get("members"))