International Cartoon Competition in Bulgaria Announces Call for Entries

The municipality of Ardino and the Ardino Municipal Museum have officially announced a new international cartoon competition dedicated to promoting the region’s natural and historical heritage through the art of cartooning.

Organized under the theme “Ardino: Nature, History, and Beauty”, the competition invites professional and amateur cartoonists from around the world to creatively interpret some of Bulgaria’s most remarkable cultural and natural landmarks.

Among the highlighted subjects are the famous Devil’s Bridge over the Arda River, the ancient Eagle Rocks Thracian sanctuary, the Ardino Municipal Museum, the scenic meanders of the Arda River, and the Late Antique and Medieval fortress located at the mouth of the Borovitsa River.

The competition aims to raise awareness about the preservation of cultural and natural heritage while encouraging artists to engage with historical and environmental themes through visual satire and illustration.

Participants may submit up to three cartoons created in any technique, including black-and-white, color, or digital formats. The organizers emphasized that artworks produced using artificial intelligence will not be accepted and will be disqualified from the competition.

Submitted works may have been previously exhibited, provided they have not won an award in another competition. Entries containing racism, hate speech, religious discrimination, or abusive content will not be considered.

Digital submissions must be sent in JPEG format at 300 DPI resolution to:

📧 cc_devils_bridge26@abv.bg

The deadline for submissions is July 15, 2026.

Awards

🥇 1st Prize: “Golden Devil’s Bridge” special plaque and certificate
🥈 2nd Prize: “Silver Devil’s Bridge” special plaque and certificate
🥉 3rd Prize: “Bronze Devil’s Bridge” special plaque and certificate
📜 Honorable Mention: Certificate and local souvenirs

International Jury

The jury panel includes several notable names from the cartoon and illustration world:

• Valeri Alexandrov (Walex) – President of the Union of Bulgarian Cartoonists
• Zhivko Tenev
• Halit Kurtulmuş
• Ayhan Hayrula
• Taner Chobanov

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place in August 2026 during the traditional “Ardino Days” celebrations. Selected works will be exhibited at the foyer of the Rodopska Iskra Community Center and in Ardino’s city square.

Artists unable to attend the ceremony in person will receive their awards by mail.

Participants are required to submit their full name, short biography, phone number, email address, mailing address, and the official participation form together with their artworks.

🌐 Ardino Municipality Official Website