28th International Open Cartoon Contest in Poland Announces “Drone” Theme

The Cyprian Norwid Regional and City Public Library in Zielona Góra, Poland, together with the Association of Friends of the Norwid Library, has officially announced the 28th International Open Cartoon Contest 2026.

This year’s competition theme is “DRONE”, inviting cartoonists from around the world to explore the subject through satire, humor, and visual storytelling.

Participation in the contest is free and open to adult cartoonists working either professionally or as amateurs. Artists may submit any number of original cartoons created using any technique. The minimum accepted size is A5 and the maximum is A3.

Works can be sent either by post or electronically. Digital submissions must be in JPEG format, with a maximum size of A3 and a resolution of 300 dpi, and should be emailed to:

cartoon.contest@norwid.zgora.pl

Postal submissions should be addressed to:

The Cyprian Norwid Regional and City Public Library
Aleja Wojska Polskiego 9
65-077 Zielona Góra
Poland

The deadline for submissions is 15 August 2026.

According to the regulations, only cartoons that have not previously received awards are eligible. Works containing hate speech, copyrighted material belonging to third parties, or commercial advertisements will not be accepted.

The competition jury will evaluate entries based on artistic quality, originality, interpretation of the theme, and humorous value. The results are expected to be announced by 10 September 2026, while the post-competition exhibition is scheduled for October 2026.

Awards

The organizers have announced the following prizes:

• First Prize: 5,000 PLN and a trophy
• Second Prize: 4,000 PLN
• Additional special awards and distinctions will also be presented, including awards for works created using traditional techniques.

The organizers also plan to publish a post-competition catalogue and hold an exhibition featuring selected works.

Copyright and Participation Conditions

By entering the competition, artists agree to transfer the economic copyrights of submitted works to the organizers free of charge and without territorial limitations. The organizers retain the right to publish, exhibit, archive, and promote the artworks in printed and digital formats, while moral rights such as attribution will be respected.

Important Dates

• Competition announcement: June 2026
• Submission deadline: 15 August 2026
• Jury deliberation and results: by 10 September 2026
• Post-competition exhibition: October 2026

Cartoonists interested in participating can download the official application form and review the complete regulations through the competition’s official websites.

The 28th edition continues the long-standing tradition of the Polish international cartoon competition, providing artists with an important platform to present humorous and thought-provoking interpretations of contemporary issues.