Whether you’re an established illustrator or just starting out, entering illustration competitions can be a good way to gain recognition, build your portfolio, and connect with the creative community. From prestigious international awards to specialised competitions celebrating a specific medium, there are opportunities for artists at every stage of their career.
Over the years, I have entered a few and won (or even got shortlisted) for even fewer. When you start out, it can be a big decision to enter competitions that have an entry fee. I’ve certainly felt the double blow of not winning AND having paid for the pleasure of entering when I wasn’t earning much. Ouch. The couple of times I got lucky and actually won something did do wonders for the ego but I’m not sure how much it progressed my career.
Having said that, you may be interested in throwing your hat in the ring, so I’ve put together a guide to some of the major illustration competitions for 2026, including details on eligibility, fees, and deadlines. Note that many of the deadlines are early in the year – January and February. But even if some deadlines have passed for this year, keep this list handy for next year’s submissions.
V&A Illustration Awards
CLOSED FOR 2026 – Deadline was 5 January 2026
The V&A Illustration Awards, hosted by London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, celebrate both published and unpublished illustration across multiple categories including Adult Fiction, Adult Factual, Illustration for Children, Advertising & Commercial, and Emerging Illustrator. This prestigious competition showcases cover art, editorial pieces, animation, and advertising illustrations published between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025.
Who can enter: Published categories are open to illustrators resident in the UK or those working for UK clients. The Emerging Illustrator category is specifically for unpublished illustrators residing in the UK or who studied there during 2024-25.
Entry fee: Free
More information: https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/va-illustration-awards
Post Wave Prize for Illustration (Picture Books)
CLOSED FOR 2026 – Deadline was 7 January 2026
The Post Wave Prize for Illustration is one of the newer illustration competitions, set to run annually by Post Wave Publishing UK Ltd, supported by Anxi County Historical and Cultural Research Association, Fujian Province, China. The inaugural 2026 prize focused on the theme “Time for Tea” and sought illustrators who could bring this theme to life with originality, heart, and strong storytelling through artwork.
Entrants submitted a book cover and one double-page spread of full-colour art for a children’s illustrated book based on the theme. The winner receives a substantial prize and unique opportunities including a creative trip to China’s Anxi County region, renowned for its tea culture.
Who can enter: Open to emerging and aspiring illustrators aged 18 or over who are not yet commercially published or commissioned in children’s books. Entries accepted from illustrators based anywhere in the world.
Entry fee: Free
Prizes: £3,000 (approximately $4,000), fully funded creative trip to Anxi County, China, and the opportunity to have work considered for publication. Highly commended entries receive a portfolio review with an Art Director from Post Wave Publishing.
More information: https://postwavepublishing.com/about/post-wave-prize-for-illustration/
Derwent Art Prize
CLOSED FOR 2026 – Deadline was 13 January 2026 at 5 pm
Run by Derwent (a pencil manufacturer) in partnership with Parker Harris, this international illustration competition celebrates innovation in contemporary pencil art and culminates in a London exhibition. If you work with traditional drawing materials, this is a cracking opportunity to showcase your skills.
The competition accepts two-dimensional or three-dimensional works made with coloured pencils, water-soluble pencils, pastels, graphite, or charcoal.
Who can enter: Artists aged 18 and over worldwide may submit up to six works.
Entry fee: £15 for the first work plus £5 for each additional submission (maximum of six works)
More information: https://derwentartprize.com
World Illustration Awards
Early-bird discount ended 9 January 2026 – Final deadline: 17 February 2026
The World Illustration Awards, organised by the Association of Illustrators (AOI) and the Directory of Illustration, celebrate contemporary illustration created since January 2025. With ten diverse categories ranging from advertising and book covers to science and technology, this illustration competition welcomes both commissioned and self-initiated work.
Categories include advertising, book covers, children’s publishing, design product and packaging, editorial, exploration (personal work), publishing, science and technology, site-specific, and animation.
Who can enter: Open worldwide to professional illustrators and newcomers, including students and recent graduates.
Entry fee: Approximately £34/€41/$43 for a single entry and £53/€64/$67 for multiple entries (early-bird discount has ended)
More information: https://worldillustrationawards.com
ADC 105th Annual Awards
Regular deadline: 23 January 2026 | Extended: 6 February 2026 | Final: 20 February 2026
Administered by the Art Directors Club (part of The One Club for Creativity), this long-running award honours craftsmanship and innovation across advertising, design, illustration, and packaging. With over a century of history, winning an ADC award is a fair achievement in the creative industry.
The competition covers an impressive range of categories, including advertising, architecture/environmental design, artificial intelligence, book design, brand and communication design, design for good, experiential design, gaming, health and wellness, illustration, interactive media, packaging, photography, typography, and more.
Who can enter: Open worldwide to advertising agencies, design firms, companies, and freelancers.
Entry fee: Fees vary by discipline and company size. For example, freelance advertising entries cost $100 per single entry or $150 per series during the early period, with fees rising at later deadlines.
More information: https://adcawards.org
Communication Arts Illustration Competition
Final deadline: 23 January 2026 (late fees apply after 9 January 2026)
This prestigious annual competition, hosted by Communication Arts magazine, celebrates outstanding illustration. Winners are published in the magazine’s Illustration Annual and featured online, providing excellent exposure for your work.
Categories include advertising, books, editorial, for sale (posters, prints, cards), institutional/corporate, motion and animation, self-promotion, unpublished personal work, and student work.
Who can enter: Open to illustrators worldwide. Eligible work must have been first published or produced between January 2025 and January 2026. Students can enter work created for school assignments.
Entry fee: Most categories cost $40 per single entry ($80 per series). Motion/animation entries are $90 per single ($180 per series). Student entries cost $20 per single or $40 per series, with higher fees for motion categories.
More information: https://www.commarts.com/competition/2026-illustration
Penguin Cover Design Award
Deadline: 29 January 2026 at 2 pm
Penguin Books UK’s competition encourages aspiring designers to create new covers for designated Penguin titles. This is a brilliant opportunity for emerging talent, with prizes including mentorship and design equipment. If you’re mad about book design and want to break into the publishing industry, this competition offers real-world experience and valuable connections.
Who can enter: Open to designers and illustrators aged 18 or over who are based in the UK or Ireland and have less than one year’s cumulative paid creative experience.
Categories: Two briefs – Adult Fiction and Children’s Fiction
Entry fee: Free
More information: https://www.penguin.co.uk/about/work-with-us/cover-design-award
Applied Arts Illustration Awards
Deadline: 30 January 2026
Applied Arts magazine’s annual awards celebrate excellence in both still and motion illustration. Winners’ work is published in the Applied Arts Annual and featured online. With an extensive range of categories, this competition caters to diverse illustration styles and applications.
Categories include advertising, cause-related, conceptual, corporate, digital album covers, editorial, environmental/spaces, fashion & beauty, gallery, packaging, portrait, poster, promotional (social media and retail), pro bono/charity, self-promotion, personal/unpublished, and various motion-based categories.
Who can enter: Open internationally to professionals and enthusiasts. Special “Small-Community” categories exist for Canadian creators, and a “Young Blood” category is available for creatives with three or fewer years’ experience. Students enter separate categories.
Entry fee: $40 for a single illustration ($65 for a series). Young Blood entries cost $30 per single ($55 per series). Motion categories cost $100 per short entry or $115 per long entry.
More information: https://www.appliedartsmag.com/illustration_awards
Next Generation Indie Book Awards – Children’s Picture Book Illustration
Deadline: 13 February 2026
The Next Generation Indie Book Awards is the largest international awards programme for indie authors and independent publishers, now in its nineteenth year. The Children’s Picture Book Illustration category specifically focuses on the book’s illustrations and the illustrator’s talents, welcoming both fiction and non-fiction picture books.
Winners have the opportunity to have their work considered for representation by leading New York literary agent Marilyn Allen of Allen Literary Agency, who has more than 25 years of sales and marketing experience with major publishers including HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Books, and Avon Books.
Who can enter: Open to all indie publishers worldwide, including university presses, self-published authors, and e-book authors. Books must be released in 2024, 2025, or 2026, with one of those years as the copyright date.
Entry fee: $80 for the first category entered, $65 for each additional category
Prizes: $100 cash prize and a gold medal awarded to the winner of the category. Finalist medals awarded to up to five finalists. Overall grand prizes of $1,500 for best Fiction and Non-Fiction books across all categories. Winners and finalists are listed in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards Catalogue and online.
More information: https://indiebookawards.com
Bologna Children’s Book Fair – Illustrators Exhibition
CLOSED FOR 2026 – Deadline was 3 November 2025
Now in its 60th edition, the Illustrators Exhibition at Bologna Children’s Book Fair is one of the most prestigious platforms for children’s book illustrators worldwide. This exhibition offers the rare opportunity to bring the work of both established and emerging artists to the attention of industry professionals during the fair and in the months that follow.
Each year, an international jury of renowned experts selects approximately 300 finalists, then makes the final selection of winners whose work is exhibited at the fair (13-16 April 2026) and published in the Illustrators Annual—a catalogue released in Italian, English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese and distributed worldwide. Following the fair, the exhibition embarks on a two-year international tour covering Japan, Korea, China, and other destinations.
Who can enter: Illustrators of any nationality born prior to 31 December 2008, whose artwork is intended for use in children’s books. Work may be unpublished or published after 1 January 2024.
Submission requirements: Five works in digital format, produced in any technique (traditional, digital, or mixed). Maximum artwork size: 50 x 70 cm.
Entry fee: Free
Special opportunities for winners:
- Finalists receive free admission to BCBF 2026 and at least one portfolio review with a publisher during the Portfolio Marathon
- Winners under 35 are automatically shortlisted for the International Award for Illustration Bologna Children’s Book Fair – Fundación SM (€15,000 prize plus publication opportunity)
- Unpublished winners under 30 compete for the ARS IN FABULA scholarship covering the entire Master’s course fee
- One illustrator is chosen to create the visual identity for Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2027
More information: https://www.bolognachildrensbookfair.com/en/focus-on/illustrators/the-illustrators-exhibition/
Nami Concours 2026
CLOSED FOR 2026 – Deadline was 10 October 2025
The Nami Concours is an internationally recognised picture book illustration competition held every two years on Nami Island in South Korea. Established to promote creativity and celebrate excellence in children’s book illustrations, this event has become one of the most prestigious platforms for illustrators around the world.
Participants submit a cohesive series of up to five illustrations that together form a visual story, showcasing their unique artistic voice and storytelling abilities. With no restrictions on theme, artists have the freedom to explore diverse concepts, styles, and narratives. What makes this competition particularly special is that the winning projects are recreated in 3D and brought to life for exhibition at the Nami Concours Gallery for two years.
Who can enter: Open worldwide to all picture book illustrators.
Submission requirements: Five illustrations that comprise one story. Maximum file size: 20MB total (RGB format, jpg/jpeg file).
Entry fee: Free
Prizes:
- Grand Prix (1 winner): Plaque and $10,000 USD
- Golden Island (2 winners): Plaque and $5,000 USD
- Green Island (5 winners): Plaque and $2,000 USD
- Purple Island (10 winners): Certificate and plaque
Shortlisted illustrations are exhibited during the Nami Island International Children’s Book Festival and included in the catalogue. Winners are announced in January 2026.
More information: https://namiconcours.com
Society of Illustrators – Awards & Call for Entries
Year Round Calls For Entries
The Original Art
An annual exhibit created to showcase illustrations from the year’s best children’s books published in the U.S. Submissions open May 2026
Members Open: About Face
Members of the Society of Illustrators are asked to create work for an exhibit based on a unique theme. Curated by Leslie Cober. Submissions open September 2026
Illustrators Annual
The premier showcase for illustrators, the Annual features the year’s best works. Open to artists worldwide, entries are considered by a jury then featured in an exhibition and printed book. Submissions open September 2026
Entry fee: Check the Society of Illustrators website for current fee structure
More information: https://societyillustrators.org/awards-calls/
Entering illustration competitions can feel daunting, especially when entry fees start to add up, but the potential rewards – from prize money and equipment to publication and industry recognition, can give your career a boost. Consider which competitions align best with your work, experience level, and budget.
For picture book illustrators specifically, competitions like Bologna, Nami Concours, and The Original Art offer opportunities to connect with publishers, agents, and the global children’s book community. These platforms can open doors to representation, publication deals, and international exposure that’d be hard to come by otherwise.
If you’ve missed the deadlines for 2026, bookmark this page and set reminders for next year. Many of these competitions run annually (or biennially) with similar timelines, so you can plan ahead and prepare your best work for submission.
Best of luck with your entries!
