XXIII International Exhibition of the Arts of Humor 2026 Opens Call for Entries

Spain’s Prestigious Humor Exhibition Focuses on “The Battle Against Tobacco”

The Quevedo Institute of the Arts of Humor, part of the General Foundation of the University of Alcalá, has officially announced the call for entries for the XXIII International Exhibition of the Arts of Humor 2026.

This year’s exhibition will be organized under the theme “THE BATTLE AGAINST TOBACCO”, inviting cartoonists, caricaturists, and visual humor artists from around the world to address the global issue of tobacco through satire and artistic expression.

The competition is open to all professional artists over the age of 18. Participants may submit a maximum of five worksrelated to the exhibition theme. Accepted categories include cartoons, comic strips, and caricatures.

All submitted works must be signed and may be created using any artistic technique or medium. However, the maximum allowed size is A3 (297 × 420 mm), preferably in vertical format, as the official catalogue will follow these proportions.

In an important contemporary update to the rules, the organizers require participants to clearly state whether any artificial intelligence tools were used during the creative process.

The deadline for submissions is June 30, 2026.

Traditional artworks can be mailed to the following address:

General Foundation of the University of Alcalá
International Exhibition of the Arts of Humor
C/ Nueva, 4
28801 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

Digital artworks must be submitted in JPG or TIFF format with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi via email to miah@iqh.es. The organizers also recommend sending a printed and signed copy of digital works, including the copy number indication such as “Copy 1 of X.”

Artists are advised to strictly follow the submission deadlines to ensure proper planning of the exhibition catalogue and exhibition design.

The organizers also emphasized that physical submissions should be carefully packaged, preferably protected between two flat cardboard sheets. Shipping and customs costs are the responsibility of participants, and the organization accepts no liability for damage or loss during transportation.

A professional commission will review all submitted works and select the pieces to be exhibited at the XXXIII International Exhibition of the Arts of Humor, scheduled to take place between September and November 2026 in Alcalá de Henares.

Unless otherwise specified by the artist, selected works will become part of the permanent collection of the Quevedo Institute of the Arts of Humor. Artists wishing their works to be returned must write the word “Return” on the back of the artwork.

By participating, artists authorize the General Foundation of the University of Alcalá to reproduce and disseminate the submitted works for promotional and cultural purposes related to the exhibition and other humor-related activities, always with proper credit to the author.

Selected artists will receive a copy of the official exhibition publication. The final list of accepted works will also be published on the institute’s official website.

The organizers reserve the right to reject works considered to violate individual or collective rights. Participants remain fully responsible for the originality of their artworks and for any potential copyright or intellectual property disputes.

Participation in the exhibition implies full acceptance of all rules and conditions established by the organizers.

More information can be found on the official website of the institute: iqh.es