The Society of Illustrators is accepting entries for its 69th Annual Competition, an international illustration and animation competition organised in New York. Open to artists worldwide, the 2026 edition covers eight categories: Advertising, Book, Institutional, Editorial, Surface Design, Product Design, Animation and Uncommissioned. Submissions are reviewed by juries of illustrators, art directors, designers and other professionals working in the field.
The competition includes commercial illustration alongside independent creative work. Advertising, Book, Institutional and Editorial categories are intended for commissioned or published projects, while Surface Design and Product Design accept illustrations used on textiles, packaging, clothing and other products. Animation covers short films, commercials, games and music videos. The Uncommissioned category is for self-initiated projects, including personal illustrations, portfolio pieces and student assignments that have not been commercially published.
Artists can submit a single illustration or a series of images representing one project or a cohesive body of work. Digital submissions must be JPEG or GIF files between 1 MB and 10 MB; PDFs are not accepted. Animation entries require a static thumbnail and a publicly accessible video link. The entire submission and judging process takes place online. Ellen Weinstein chairs the 2026 competition, with David Elmo Cooper as co-chair, and selected artists will be notified in early December 2026.
Entry fee: $40 per single image or $80 for a series of five images, with an additional $5 per extra image. Society of Illustrators members pay $20 per single image or $50 per five-image series. Accepted entries are subject to a mandatory $95 exhibition and publication fee ($80 for members), plus framing and shipping costs. The SI Giveback Fund can cover one initial entry fee per eligible artist when funding is available.
Eligibility
Open to professional illustrators and animators worldwide, including students and newcomers entering the Uncommissioned category, with original work created or published between October 2025 and October 2026 that has not been entered in the previous Annual; commissioned categories require commissioned or published work, AI-generated or AI-assisted artwork is prohibited, animations must not exceed 10 minutes, and minors need parental or guardian consent to use the submission platform.
Prize
Gold and Silver Medals are awarded to the best works in each category. Approximately 400 selected works are exhibited at the Society of Illustrators Museum of Illustration in New York across two exhibitions. All accepted entries are reproduced in full colour in the Illustrators Annual book and included in the online gallery. Each exhibition is accompanied by a reception and awards ceremony, scheduled for spring 2027.