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11th cartoonale ‘DE GEUS’ Belgium 2026

RULES

THEME: ACTIVE SENIORS
1. Organisor
The cultural association ‘De Geus’ organizes together with the department of culture and the library of Lebbeke, every two years a cartoon competition.
2. Participation
The competition is open to anyone aged over 18.
The theme “Active seniors” may be interpreted freely, but refers in particular to seniors who are actively engaged in sports, hobbies, travel, or other forms of active leisure activities.
3. Entries
– The submitted works may not have received an award and may not yet have been published in Belgium.
– . All graphic techniques are allowed. Text is not allowed.
– The cartoons are to be drawn on A4 format and 300 dpi (maximum of 3 MB per cartoon) for digital cartoons.
– Cartoons may not be produced using artificial intelligence.
– If it is later determined that an awarded cartoon was AI-generated, the award will be invalid.
– Cartoons sent by post need to have the name and address of the contestant on the back-side of each cartoon.
– Each participant can submit a maximum of 3 cartoons.
– Cartoons will not be returned to the contestants.
4. Deadline
Cartoons need to be submitted by August 15, 2026. They can be sent by email or post:
By email: contact@cartoonalelebbeke.be
clement.vlassenroot@skynet.be
Or by mail:
Clement Vlassenroot
Cartoonale Lebbeke 2026
Duivenkeetstraat 16
B-9280 Lebbeke

5. PUBLICATION RIGHTS
By entering the contest, the cartoonist agrees that his/her work will be exhibited as stated in these rules and be published in the catalog of the contest.
The copyright of the submitted works remains with the artist, but he/she consents to the use of these cartoons.
The prize-winning cartoons remain property of the organizers

6. Jury
The jury awards the prizes autonomously.
No correspondence with the jury will be allowed on its decisions.

7. Prizes
The jury will award three awards.
1st award: 1000 Euro
2nd award: 500 Euro
3rd award: 250 Euro


8. EXHIBITION AND AWARD CEREMONY
The results of the competition will be announced on Saturday October 24, 2026 in the gallery ‘De Fontein’. An exhibition of the selected works will take place in the gallery ‘De Fontein’ in Lebbeke on October 24, 25, 31, and 1,7 and 8 November.
9. Catalog
The catalog can be downloaded at the following address:
www.cartoonalelebbeke.be.
11. Agreement
By entering the contest, each entrant agrees to abide by these rules.

ENTRY FORM

 

    
       
 


53rd lnternational Humor Exhibition of Piracicaba|2026

REGULATIONS

1 - DATES

The 53rd Piracicaba International Humor Exhibition 2026, organized by the City Hall of Piracicaba/Secretary of Culture/National Center of Graphic Humor of Piracicaba, will follow the schedule below:

Entries: until June 21. Selection: July 18 and 19. Awards Ceremony: August 22. Opening: August 29. Closing: November 01.

2 - PARTICIPATION

a) Professionals and amateurs may submit original works that have not been previously selected or awarded at the Piracicaba International Humor Exhibition or other graphic events up to the registration deadline.

b) Works for all categories may be submitted via: MAIL/COURIER (see item 2.1), ELECTRONICALLY (see item 2.2), or IN PERSON

(2.3).

c) The theme and graphic technique are free.

d) Digital works must include the author's signature.

e) Original works and sculptures with humorous content must include the author's information on the piece.

f) Maximum dimensions allowed: paper originals* - 42 x 30 cm (A3), sculptures - 42 cm (height) x 30 cm (depth) x 30 cm (width).

*Original works may be made on paper or derivatives. Selected originals will be displayed in the exhibition design under protective acrylic.

g) Each artist may register a maximum of 03 works per category. The categories are:

CARTOON (graphic humor with universal and timeless themes), CHARGE (Editorial and Political Cartoon) (graphic humor with current journalistic themes). CARICATURE (graphic humor expressing physical traits and/or the character of a known personality).

STRIPS/COMICS (sequential graphic art. Attention: for Comics, stories with a maximum of 03 pages will be accepted).

SCULPTURE

(3D humor works). UNIMED HEALTH (for works addressing the theme of health).

THEMATIC - "AI vs HI" - exclusively for works addressing the "Artificial Intelligence X Human Intelligence" theme proposed by the organization:

Theme: AI vs HI – The Duel of the Century: Algorithm vs. Soul

On the global stage of culture and graphic arts, the Piracicaba International Humor Exhibition calls upon artists for the great clash of our era: the confrontation between Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence. While machines process billions of data points to mimic styles and patterns, graphic humor remains the last bastion of subversion, where creative "errors" and the "timing" of ironycannot be calculated. This year, we seek works that dive into this tension, exploring not only the impact of technology on artistic production but the essence of what makes us unique. We want to see the stroke that resists digital pasteurization, the biting critique of life's automation, and the celebration of human imperfection in the face of the code's coldness. The direction for artists from all over the world is clear: do not limit yourselves to the surface representation of robots or gears. What is expected is a profound reflection on authorship, ethics, the loss of cultural identity and, above all, the human capacity to laugh at our own creations. Whether through the satire of AI "hallucinations" or the exaltation of the neuron over silicon, the goal is to show that, in the art of humor, sensitivity and shrewdness are still tools that no algorithm can emulate. Challenge the system, subvert the prompt, and prove that true intelligence does not need electricity to illuminate the contradictions of the world.

i) Along with the submitted works, the artist must attach the registration form, filled out legibly and duly signed. A short CV and a

photo are also requested for cataloging in the CEDHU Piracicaba database. To ensure the work is original, it is suggested that the artist check specialized websites to confirm there is no coincidence of image, text, and/or situation with works already published.

If plagiarism is confirmed, the work will be automatically disqualified.

2.1 - By Mail:

53rd Salão Internacional de Humor de Piracicaba - Av. Maurice Allain, 454 - Engenho Central - CEP 13.405-123 - Piracicaba SP

BRAZIL.

IMPORTANT: Submitted works must be accompanied by the registration form duly filled out and signed by the author.

2.2 - Via Internet:

Registration on the official event website in JPEG format and 300 DPI (images attached all at once) at

http://salaodehumor.piracicaba.sp.gov.br.

IMPORTANT: Submitted files must be named as follows: artistname_country_category_number.

Example: paulosilva_brazil_caricature_01

2.3 - In Person:

At CEDHU – National Center for Documentation, Research, and Dissemination of Graphic Humor of Piracicaba - Av. Maurice Allain,

454 - Armazém 14A - Parque do Engenho Central - CEP 13.405-123 - Piracicaba SP BRAZIL, Monday to Friday during business hours

(9:00 AM to 4:00 PM).

3 – AWARDS

Purchase awards totaling R$ 82,500.00* (eighty-two thousand five hundred reais) will be granted as follows:

a) Five prizes of R$ 7,500.00 each, divided among the categories – Cartoon, Charge, Caricature, Sculpture, and Strips.

b) One prize of R$ 7,500.00 named “THEMATIC AWARD: Artificial Intelligence X Human Intelligence”, intended for works in any category addressing the theme proposed for the 2026 edition.

c) One prize of R$ 15,000.00 named GRAND PRIZE, chosen from the winners of the 5 base categories and the thematic prize.

d) One prize named "Alceu Marozi Righetto" Popular Jury Award of R$ 7,500.00, chosen by open electronic voting. The competing works will be selected from the honorable mentions chosen by the Selection Jury.

e) One prize of R$ 7,500.00 named PIRACICABA CITY COUNCIL AWARD exclusively for the Caricature category.

f) One prize of R$ 7,500.00 named UNIMED HEALTH AWARD for works in any category exploring the theme of health.

*Individual and total prize values may be changed during the registration period until the day of the awards ceremony. Sponsored

categories may be canceled at any time.

In addition to the monetary value, winners will receive trophies created by Zélio Alves Pinto. Cash prizes will only be deposited into a bank account in the winner's name. Winners from countries facing economic embargoes with Brazil that prevent monetary transfers may only compete for honorary awards.

The award results may be contested up to one week after the Exhibition's opening, provided that appropriate evidence of any irregularities committed without the knowledge of the juries is presented. Should fraud or plagiarism be found in any winning work, the granted prize will be canceled. Cash prize amounts will only be deposited into a checking account in the winners' name, in compliance with the legislation established by the Municipal City Hall of Piracicaba, which is responsible for organizing the Piracicaba International Humor Exhibition. It is mandatory for the winning artist to have a checking account in their own name, and they must provide this information on the registration form. If a checking account is not provided within 02 (two) months from the date of the winners' announcement, the prize payment will be canceled.

Authors from countries facing economic embargoes of any nature with Brazil that preclude the transfer of monetary prize values may only compete for honorary award nominations.

We are not responsible for the return or withholding of trophies by the Postal Service or national and international delivery companies. Only one shipping attempt will be made. Any fees or taxes imposed by government authorities for the collection of the trophy shall be the sole responsibility of the winning artist.

4 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

a) Registration implies acceptance of these regulations. Selected artists automatically grant copyright for reproduction and publication of their work(s) for event promotion.

d) Award-winning authors (including honorable mentions) transfer the Copyright Assignment of their work(s) in accordance with Law No. 9,610 of February 19, 1988, in a total, universal, and definitive manner to the Municipal Public Heritage.

g) Works identified as being generated entirely through the use of any type of Artificial Intelligence will be disqualified. In case of doubt, CVs and portfolios from previous years will be consulted. Files and history of the creation process may be requested.

 

    
       
 

 

Rules of participation

WHO CAN ENTER

Cartoonists operating in the 46 countries of Europe (as defined by the Council of Europe) plus Belarus and Russia.

If a cartoonist is physically unable to enter work, another cartoonist can nominate and submit a cartoon on behalf of a colleague.

Freelance cartoonists who produce work in print or online can enter the competition if their submitted work has been published by newspapers, magazines, or news sites during the allowed time frame.

WHAT CAN BE SUBMITTED

A maximum of three cartoons per participant.

If the work is part of a series, the submitter will be asked to disclose this in the entry form.

Cartoons with captions are submitted in the original language. An English translation must be provided in the entry form.

The work submitted must have its first publication date between July 2, 2025 and July 2, 2026, and must have been published in European media (Council of Europe plus Belarus and Russia).

The deadline for submission is 2 July 2026.

Works published by the Cartoon Movement will be accepted only if marked as “Editorial choice” by the Cartoon Movement’s editor-in-chief.

HOW TO SUBMIT

A participant must complete the questionnaire in the online form (active during the submission period) to provide the requested information and some background on the entry.

We will not accept cartoons submitted via email.

All the material must be submitted electronically. Cartoons must be submitted in JPEG format, with a resolution of 1080 x 1080 pixels minimum.

If a URL for the online publication of the cartoon is added, entrants are responsible for making sure the URL works and remains active until the Award winner is announced.

Judging procedure

After the entries have come in, they will be evaluated by the Panel of judges, in three rounds of voting.
The jury’s choices and the resulting shortlist will be published on the European Cartoon Award website.
The Panel of judges makes the final selection for the winner.

The following rules ensure a fair judging process:
(I) Jury members cannot enter the contest in the year they are judging.
(II) Each jury member, whether an ordinary member or chair, has one equal vote.
(III) Judges cannot abstain from voting at any stage of the judging process.
(IV) All proceedings and deliberations of each jury are conducted in confidence.
(V) If the jury members recognise they are personally involved in submitted work, through either a personal or professional relationship, they must declare their interest openly at the beginning of any discussions on the work.
(VII) The judges must select a winner and a runner-up, and possibly up to two honorable mentions. The award ceremony will take place on Nov 27 in The Hague (the Netherlands).

Shortlist

After the Panel of judges chooses the first preliminary shortlist, cartoonists can be contacted for additional material.

If you have any questions or want to recommend projects you have seen, email us at emanuele[at]europeancartoonaward.com

Due to the volume of emails we receive, we cannot guarantee a reply to all of them.
SUBMIT

 

    
       
 



 

WORLD PRESS CARTOON OEIRAS 2026


ENTRY:
Concurso Internacional World Press Cartoon Oeiras 2026
Apartado 5039
1081-601 LISBOA · PORTUGAL
NO COMMERCIAL VALUE

1. FEATURES AND SCOPE OF THE SALON
a. World Press Cartoon Oeiras 2026 (WPC Oeiras 2026) comprises three categories: Editorial Cartoon, Caricature and Gag Cartoon.
b. Within Editorial Cartoon all works shall be considered that deal with specific news and current affairs issues and events.
c. Within Caricature, only caricature works in the strict sense are considered, with only humorous portraits being allowed.
d. Within Gag Cartoon, works shall be considered that deal with themes that are not directly related to current affairs issues.
e. Authors should submit to competition the works they consider to be of the highest level. However, this being an international salon, the organization draws attention that characters, themes, and events of a more universal outlook are the most suitable.
2. IDENTIFICATION OF WORKS AND AUTHORS
a. Each work submitted to competition is required to have one entry form and identification label, fully filled and readable.
b. Each entry form must be pasted on the back of the corresponding work.
3. ADMISSION OF WORKS
a. Only are accepted for competition the works that have been published between January 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026, in newspapers or magazines of regular publication and on sale to the public, or in online publications of recognized journalistic nature.
b. Authors may submit to competition up to six works, two for each category of the salon: Editorial Cartoon, Caricature and Gag Cartoon.
c. For works created by using traditional techniques, only the originals are accepted.
d. When elaborated by digital or mixed techniques, works in high resolution prints are admitted if signed by the author, and tehchniques and software used must be mentioned in the entry form.
e. Works carried out using Artificial Intelligence tools will not be accepted.
f. Format of the works cannot exceed the A3 European standard: 420 x 297 mm.
g. Works published on paper printed media must be accompanied by the full page of the respective press publication as well as the cover page of the newspaper or magazine in which the competing work was published.
h. Works published online must be accompanied by a print screen of the website page where they were published, with date and title of the publication clearly visible, and the access link must be included on the entry form.
i. Works with captions, subtitles or other words must be translated into English, and are to be included and readable on the entry form.
j. Works competing in the Caricature category must include on the entry form the portrayed character’s name, nationality, and media relevance.
k. Works must be sent to the address made available to authors by the
organization, with a deadline for receipt of June 20, 2026.
4. COPYRIGHT
a. The act of registering a work implies the formal transfer of the respective reproduction rights for non-commercial purposes.
b. The award-winning works and those distinguished with honorable mentions become the property of the WPC Oeiras 2026 organization, whose ownership belongs to WPC, Lda., implying the authors will automatically grant non-exclusive reproduction licences for non-commercial and commercial purposes, in accordance with the legal standards in force in the Portuguese legal system.
5. PACKAGING
a. The works must be sent in flat packaging, protected between two rigid cards.
b. On the package front, clearly visible, the following must be written:
SEM VALOR COMERCIAL / NO COMMERCIAL VALUE.
6. CONTEST
a. The WPC Oeiras 2026 organization, under guidance of the Salon´s Director, shall select the works to be included in the public exhibition and its catalogue.
b. Prizes and Honourable Mentions shall be awarded by a five-member international jury including the Salon´s Director, who chairs it.
c. The jury decisions are taken by majority vote and are not subject to appeal.
d. According to the assessment made on the quality standard of the competing works, the jury may not award all the expected prizes.
REGULATIONS

7. PRIZES
a. In total, 10 prizes will be awarded according to the following structure:
GRAND PRIX € 10 000
EDITORIAL CARTOON CARICATURE GAG CARTOON
1º PRIZE € 3000 1º PRIZE € 3000 1º PRIZE € 3000
2º PRIZE € 2000 2º PRIZE € 2000 2º PRIZE € 2000
3º PRIZE € 1000 3º PRIZE € 1000 3º PRIZE € 1000

 CARICATURE

1º PRIZE: € 3000

2º PRIZE: € 2000

3º PRIZE: € 1000

 

GAG CARTOON

1º PRIZE: € 3000

2º PRIZE: € 2000

3º PRIZE: € 1000

b. The prize value amounts are subject to subtraction of legal taxation as
valid at the time of its attribution.
c. The Grand Prix will be chosen from the 1st Prizes of the three categories of the Salon.
d. The author distinguished with the Grand Prix will receive only the value attributed to that prize, hence not accumulating with the 1st Prize value of the won category.
e. Prizes are symbol translated by a trophy and also authenticated by diploma.
f. Works distinguished by Honourable Mentions will be symbol translated by medals and also authenticated by diploma.
8. EXHIBITION AND AWARDS CEREMONY
a. The exhibition of selected works and the awards ceremony will take place in the municipality of Oeiras, Portugal, in the Autumn of 2026, on a date to be announced.
b. The winning authors will be invited to take part in the awards ceremony and inauguration of the public exhibition.
9. CATALOGUE
a. Participants with selected works for the exhibition will receive one copy of the catalogue as well as a participation certificate.
10. WORKS RETURN AND OTHER DISPATCHES
a. Authors distinguished with Honourable Mentions will be sent the symbol representation medals.
b. The competing original works will be returned to their authors, whether or not they are part of the exhibition, except those Prize awarded and the ones distinguished with Honourable Mentions.
c. Competing high resolution print works shall not be returned.
d. On the entry form, the author must indicate updated full data of his postal address, to be used for returning works and catalogue and certificate sen- ding, with info like name, street, door number, and other useful references like town, postal code, and country.
e. For this purpose, P.O. Boxes will not be accepted as postal addresses.
f. The WPC Oeiras 2026 organization will not resend packages returned by postal services, and therefore, authors should provide timely information on any possible change of address after sending their works to contest partaking.

send your works to
Concurso Internacional World Press Cartoon Oeiras 2026
Apartado 5039
1081-601 LISBOA · PORTUGAL
 NO COMMERCIAL VALUE
 deadline for receipt: 20/6/ 2026

ENTRY FORM DOWNLOAD

 

    
       
 


The 17th International George van Raemdonck Cartoonale, Boechout 2026, Belgium

REGULATIONS

The non-profit organisation International Humour in Art (IHA), in cooperation with the Municipal Council of Boechout, the Boechout Cultural Council, and Davidsfonds Boechout-Vremde, is pleased to announce the: 

THEME 2026 — "HAND" 

An ode to craftsmanship, skill, and authentic handmade work. For this edition, we deliberately return to the origins of cartoon drawing. 
 

FULLY ANALOGUE 

For the 17th edition, only original, hand-drawn works will be accepted. 

Digital creations, digitally coloured drawings, prints, or photographs of drawings are not permitted. 

Each participant must include a signed declaration on honour stating that: 

the work has been created entirely by hand; 

the concept was developed without the use of artificial intelligence (AI); 

the participant is the sole author of the work. 
 

SUBMISSION DEADLINE 

31 May 2026 

(Postmark serves as proof) 
 

PRIZES 

The following prizes have been confirmed (subject to change): 

€2,000 — George van Raemdonck Prize – Municipality of Boechout 

€1,000 — Boechout Cultural Council (subject to confirmation) 

€500 — Zeppo 

€300 — IHA 

€200 — KTHaes (best participant aged 70+) 

€150 — Davidsfonds Boechout-Vremde (best Flemish entry) (subject to confirmation) 

Additional prizes may be added and will be announced via www.iha.be. 
 

SUBMISSION & SHIPPING 

Address for all submissions 

IHA vzw 

Vremdesesteenweg 92 

B-2530 Boechout 

Belgium 
 

Number of works 

A maximum of 10 original works per participant. 
 

Format & material 

Small format, such as postcard size (A6 / 10 × 15 cm or US / 21 × 10 cm) 

On high-quality, sturdy paper 

Not folded, no passe-partout, no mounting 

No captions in or beneath the drawing 

Information on the back of each work 

First name and surname 

Full postal address 

Email address 

Telephone number 

Date of birth 

Title of the work (optional) 

Documents to be enclosed 

Signed declaration on honour (mandatory) 

A contact form with personal details (free format allowed) 
 

TECHNIQUE 

Any freehand drawing technique: pencil, pen, ink, charcoal, paint, mixed media, etc. 

Black-and-white or colour works are permitted 

No digital techniques, no digital colouring, no prints 
 

All submitted works must be original and hand-drawn; this is an essential condition. 
 

SELECTION AND JURY 

The jury will select from all submitted works a number of drawings for: 

the exhibition 

the catalogue 

the awards 

The jury's decisions are final and not subject to appeal. 
 

EXHIBITION 

The exhibition and award ceremony will take place in autumn 2026 at: 

Theatre Boechout Vooruit 

Sint-Bavoplein 17 

2530 Boechout 

Exact dates will be announced in due time via www.boechout.be and www.iha.be. 

Selected works may subsequently be included in travelling exhibitions in Belgium and abroad. 
 

CATALOGUE 

All selected artists will receive a digital catalogue (PDF). 

Artists who are selected and attend the opening will receive a free printed catalogue. 
 

RETURN OF WORKS 

Non-selected works will only be returned upon explicit request by the participant. 

Award-winning works become the property of IHA vzw. 

The organisation cannot be held liable for loss or damage during return shipping. 
 

RESULTS 

The results will be published on www.iha.be. 

Prize winners will be notified personally by email or telephone. 

Jury decisions are binding and not open to discussion. 
 

COPYRIGHT 

By participating, artists grant IHA and the organisers permission to reproduce their work for: 

promotion of the artist 

promotion of the competition 

publication in catalogues, posters, press, websites, and social media 

All other copyright remains the exclusive property of the artist. 
 

GENERAL CONDITIONS 

Submitted works must not have been previously awarded. 

Participation implies full acceptance of these regulations. 
 

CONTACT IHA vzw 

E-mail: info@iha.be

Phone: +32 474 48 88 25 

WEB: www.iha.be .
 

    
       
       
 


58th WORLD GALLERY of CARTOONS – Skopje 2026

Theme: Free Theme,Cartoons , Satirical Drawings , Comics/Strips (one-panel, non-verbal)

1. Title of the Competition

58th WORLD GALLERY of CARTOONS – Skopje 2026

2. Organizer

OSTEN – Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia

3. Organizational Phases

APPLICATION: until 31 May 2026

SELECTION + announcement of selected cartoonists: June 2026

ANNOUNCEMENT OF AWARDED CARTOONISTS: September 2026

OFFICIAL EXHIBITION & AWARD CEREMONY: November–December 2026, Skopje

4. Themes

Free Theme
 The authors may choose the topic and technique freely.

5. Accepted Categories

Cartoons

Satirical Drawings

Comics/Strips (one-panel, non-verbal)

6. Format & Number of Works

Format: A3 (42×30 cm) or A4 (30×21 cm)

Number of Works: Up to 5 per artist

7. Rules & Conditions

Works may be:

Original artworks (hand-drawn on paper or other media)

Digital artworks (printed, numbered and pencil-signed on the front)

Only new works that have not been previously published or awarded will be considered.

Works judged as identical or too similar to known works by another artist will not be evaluated.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the creation process leads to immediate disqualification.

If any rule violation is discovered after awarding, the organizer reserves the right to withdraw the award.

The Selector and Jury will give special attention to the visual expression of the artworks.

8. How to Submit

A) By Email (Digital Submission)

Send to: cartoons@osten.com.mk
Include:

Completed Application Form (scanned or electronic)

Artist’s photo

Short biography

Digital images of submitted works

B) By Postal Mail (Mandatory Step)

Send the original artworks or printed/signed digital works along with the printed and signed Application Form.

On the back of each work, write:
Name – Country – Title

Only works that arrive by post before 31 May 2026 will be judged.

9. Deadline

31 May 2026
 (Arrival date is decisive.)

10. Mailing Address

OSTEN – WORLD GALLERY of CARTOONS
8 Udarna Brigada 2
1000 Skopje
North Macedonia

⚠️ Please mark your package clearly:
NON-COMMERCIAL SHIPMENT / FOR EXHIBITION ONLY

11. Participation Fee

Choose one of the two options:

1) Participation WITHOUT FEE

Works remain in the OSTEN Collection

Works will not be returned

2) Participation WITH FEE: 20 USD

Non-selected works will be returned (shipping organized by the author)

Payment Details

Beneficiary: OSTEN DOOEL SKOPJE
Address: 8 Udarna Brigada 2, Skopje 1000, N. Macedonia
IBAN: MK07210701000702188
SWIFT: TUTNMK22
Bank: NLB AD SKOPJE, Majka Tereza 1, Skopje 1000, N. Macedonia

12. Selection & Jury Process

The Selector decides which artists go to the jury stage.

he International Jury evaluates selected works, chooses pieces for the catalog, and decides on awards.

Announcement Schedule

Selection Results: end of June 2026

Finalists: end of August 2026

Awards / Jury Decision: end of September 2026

Results will be announced on: osten.mk
Official FB page: World Gallery of Cartoons
and other media.

13. Catalog, Exhibition & Certificates

Works of Awarded Artists, Finalists, and Selected Cartoonists will be reproduced in the official catalog.

All selected works will be displayed at the official exhibition in Skopje.

Awarded artists receive:

Cash prize

Certificate

Printed catalog

Finalists receive:

Digital certificate

Catalog in PDF

14. Awards

GRAND PRIX for Lifetime Achievement

1500 USD + Sculpture
 (Chosen by the OSTEN Council of Ambassadors)

First Award

1000 USD + Plaque

Second Award

500 USD + Plaque

Five Third Awards

Plaques

Five Special Awards

Plaques

CICO Award (for a Macedonian cartoonist)

Plaque
(In honor of Vasilije Popovic – Cico)

15. Application Form Download

Official website (form available under World Gallery of Cartoons):
 https://www.osten.mk

16. Official Invitation

All participating cartoonists are warmly invited to attend the Exhibition Opening & Award Ceremony in December 2026 in Skopje.
 

    
       
 



38th Olense Kartoenale Cartoon Contest 2026 Olen Belgium

Deadline: September 10, 2026. Theme: The main theme is "the universe" . This year, Amnesty International is offering the best comic strip under the theme "Right to Freedom of Expression"... Artwork should be submitted in JPEG format with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi (2480 x 3543 pixels)... Dimensions including all passe-partout 21 x 30 cm (A4)... A maximum of five (5) works per subject...

1. Participation Comics

All candidates will be admitted regardless of nationality or age. There are two categories:

• Youth category up to and including 15 years old;

• Adult category: 16 years and over.

Both professional and non-professional artists are allowed to participate in this competition.

2. Theme

Visual Art & Design

The main theme is "The Universe" . This year, Amnesty International is offering the best comic strip under the theme "Right to Freedom of Expression".

3. Participations

• Submissions must be digital works. They should not contain an explanation of the drawing.

• Digital works must be submitted in JPEG format with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi (2480 x 3543 pixels).

• Dimensions including all passe-partout 21 x 30 cm (A4).

• Number of entries per candidate: maximum five for each theme.

• You must register your details via www.olensekartoenale.be.

• You can register to participate from July 1, 2026.

• Award winners must be able to provide a curriculum vitae and a photo of themselves within two (2) days of the organization's request.

4. Property Rights

The winning entries will become the property of the organizer or the theme sponsor. All selected entries may be used by the organizers to promote the competition and the village of Olen.

5. Evaluation

The jury is composed of artists, illustrators, and laypeople. The decisions made by the jury cannot be appealed.

6.  Comic Book Catalogue/Book

Selected works will be considered for inclusion in a catalogue. The authors of these works will receive a free copy of the catalogue at the awards ceremony or it will be mailed to them afterward.

7. Deadline: September 10, 2026

The deadline is September 10, 2026, at midnight. The registration form can be found at www.olensekartoenale.be, where you can also upload your artwork. Do not send your artwork to kartoenale@olen.be.
 

8. Price

For the adult category:

First prize: 1500 euros

2nd prize: 700 euros

3rd prize: 400 euros

4th prize: 300 euros
 

Bialogard City Prize (reserved for Polish participants): 200 euros

Amnesty International special price: 500 euros.

For the youth category:

Prize for best international work: 250 euros

Prize for the best Belgian work: 250 euros.

If no Belgian application qualifies in the youth category, the prize will be awarded to the second-highest-ranked international application in the youth category.

9. Awards Ceremony and Exhibition

The awards ceremony will take place on Friday, November 13, 2026, at approximately 8:00 PM in the council chamber of Olen Town Hall, 'De Meent', 2250 Olen. All participating artists are welcome. Only the winners will receive personal invitations.

A selection of cartoons will also be on display at the same address and can be visited every working day until the end of December 2026 during the town hall's opening hours:

o Monday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

o Tuesday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Wednesday 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

o Thursday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

o Friday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Main theme: "The Universe"

The cosmos began with an enormous crash coming from an unimaginable void.

Or perhaps from a single primordial atom, or initiated by an unknown entity that we conveniently call God.

In the end, it matters little, because astronomy, mathematics, physics, chemistry and philosophy provide no answer to the question of what existed before time and matter.

What is this nothingness from which something is born? It is beyond our imagination.

In this immeasurable universe, billions of stars dance and sway across countless galaxies, in clusters

They are cloud-like and spiral nebulae. They float among clouds of gas and black holes in an ocean of dark matter where planetary systems patiently revolve around their sun. Sometimes pregnant with life, in some form or another.

 

Amnesty International's theme: "The right to freedom of expression"

 

Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. It means that everyone has the right to form and express their opinions freely, without interference, and across borders. This includes the right to seek, receive, and share information and ideas through any form of communication, including speech, the media, the internet, and art. It covers all kinds of expression, from political opinions and satire to artistic works and personal viewpoints.
 

Visual Art & Design


In democratic societies governed by the rule of law, freedom of expression is broadly protected. Critical, difficult, or controversial opinions—and forms of artistic expression, including drawings—are an integral part of this protection, fostering open debate and encouraging reflection within society.

However, this right is not unlimited. Speech that incites hatred, discrimination, or violence, or that could cause serious harm or panic, can be legally restricted. Freedom of expression therefore comes with responsibilities. At the same time, a key principle is that opinions should generally be expressed freely, with restrictions usually being applied afterward rather than through prior censorship. Thus, freedom of expression remains a vital foundation for pluralism, critical debate, and creative freedom.

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