The prestigious JAGDA International Student Poster Award 2026, organized by the Japan Graphic Design Association, has officially opened submissions for young designers from around the world. Recognized as one of the leading international poster competitions for students, the award aims to discover emerging creative talent and encourage the future development of graphic design through the universal language of visual communication.
Each year, the competition invites students to explore contemporary social and artistic themes through the powerful medium of the poster. For the 2026 edition, participants are challenged to create original works based on the theme “Harmony.” The word “Harmony” must appear within the design, either independently or as part of a slogan or body text, allowing designers broad creative freedom while maintaining a shared conceptual focus.
Competition Details
Eligible works must:
- Be created between August 2025 and July 2026
- Follow the official B1 vertical format (728 mm × 1030 mm)
- Be entirely original
- Avoid any use of stock images, illustrations, or photographs
In addition to works specifically created for the competition, school assignments, graduation projects, and posters previously submitted to other competitions are also accepted.
International Jury and Exhibition
The judging process consists of several stages, beginning with online screenings and culminating in a final evaluation of printed posters by an international jury composed of leading designers and visual communication professionals.
Selected works will advance to the final round and be exhibited publicly, giving participants valuable international exposure within a highly respected professional platform.
Awards include:
- Grand Prix
- Gold Award
- Silver Award
- Bronze Award
- Jury Awards
- Special Awards
Winners will receive certificates and commemorative prizes.
Eligibility
The competition is open worldwide to:
- High school students
- College students
- University students
Entries must be submitted individually.
Entry Fees
- 1 poster: 1,000 Japanese Yen
- Series of 2 posters: 2,000 Japanese Yen
- Series of 3 posters: 3,000 Japanese Yen
Schedule
- Entry period: 1 May – 31 July 2026
- First and second screenings: August 2026
- Announcement of selected works: 27 August 2026
- Submission of printed posters: 10–11 September 2026
- Final judging: Late September 2026
- Announcement of winners: 8 October 2026
- Exhibition: 25 November – 7 December 2026
- Catalogue publication: 25 November 2026
JAGDA emphasizes that posters possess the unique ability to combine text and imagery into an immediate visual language capable of crossing borders and cultures. Through this award, the organization hopes to encourage deeper international understanding and inspire young designers to communicate global issues through powerful graphic expression.
For full details and application guidelines:
JAGDA International Student Poster Award 2026 Official Website
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