The World Humor Awards (WHA) 2026 has announced the first winners of this year’s edition, unveiling awards across several disciplines ahead of the official ceremony to be held on 29–30 August 2026 in Fidenza and Busseto, Italy.
Recognized as one of Europe’s most distinctive international humor events, the World Humor Awards celebrates creativity beyond editorial cartooning by bringing together humorous literature, comics, cartoons, caricature and visual satire within a single festival.
This year’s first announcements include the winners of the Premio Guareschi 2026, Humor in Comics 2026, Cartoon WHA 2026, Caricature WHA 2026 and the WHA–ISCA Special Award.
Italian visual poet and writer Paolo Albani received the Premio Guareschi 2026, while Flemish cartoonist Pieter De Poortere was honored with the Humor in Comics 2026 award.
In the international Cartoon WHA 2026 competition, the Golden Trophy was awarded to Ángel Boligán (Cuba–Mexico), the Silver Trophy went to Fan Lintao (China), and the Bronze Trophy was presented to Hicabi Demirci. The Lepidus Excellence Trophy recipients were Engin Selçuk, Milko Dalla Battista, Manuel Arriaga, Fabrizio Fabbri, and Luc Descheemaeker.
Meanwhile, Matías Tolsà won the top prize in the Caricature WHA 2026 competition, while Łukasz Szostak claimed first place in the WHA–ISCA Special Award, organized in collaboration with the International Society of Caricature Artists.
Beyond the competitions themselves, World Humor Awards continues to distinguish itself as an international cultural event where exhibitions, conferences, literary awards and encounters between artists contribute to promoting humor as a universal artistic language.
Premio Guareschi 2026 Awarded to Paolo Albani
The Premio Guareschi, presented annually by the World Humor Awards to recognize outstanding contributions to humorous literature, has been awarded this year to Italian visual poet and writer Paolo Albani.
Albani is widely regarded as one of Italy’s most original contemporary humorists, known for blending experimental literature, linguistic playfulness and intellectual humor into a unique body of work.
He is editor of Tèchne, a journal devoted to literary curiosities and unconventional writing, and a member of OPLEPO (Opificio di Letteratura Potenziale), the Italian movement inspired by the tradition of potential literature.
Among his best-known publications are the remarkable encyclopedic works:
- Aga magéra difúra – Dictionary of Imaginary Languages
- Forse Queneau – Encyclopedia of Anomalous Sciences
- Mirabiblia – Annotated Catalogue of Unfindable Books
His bibliography also includes:
- Il sosia laterale e altre recensioni
- La governante di Jevons
- Umorismo involontario
- I mattoidi italiani
- Dizionario degli istituti anomali nel mondo
Through these books, Albani has explored the intersections of humor, language, literature and cultural history, often transforming forgotten curiosities and linguistic paradoxes into literary art.
A Master Who Reinvents Language Through Humor
In announcing the award, the organizers also recalled the celebrated words of Italian filmmaker and writer Cesare Zavattini, who once described Albani as:
“Above all, a humorist who shakes language and poetry—an acrobat of words who moves effortlessly between seriousness and wit, delighting critics, semioticians and readers alike.”
The Premio Guareschi jury recognized Albani not only for his contribution to humorous literature but also for expanding the expressive possibilities of language through imagination, irony and literary experimentation.
Humor in Comics 2026 Goes to Pieter De Poortere
The Humor in Comics 2026 award has been presented to acclaimed Flemish cartoonist Pieter De Poortere, creator of the internationally celebrated comic series Boerke, published worldwide under the title Dickie.
Born in Ghent in 1976, De Poortere began his career as a freelance illustrator in 2000, publishing in the Belgian magazines Humo and Focus Knack before making his breakthrough with the first Boerke album in 2001.
The debut volume immediately received the award for Best Dutch-language Comic Album of the Year, establishing the beginning of one of Europe’s most successful silent comic series.
Characterized by dark humor, visual storytelling and an innocent-looking protagonist placed in absurd situations, Boerke/Dickie has since been translated into thirteen languages, while the animated adaptation produced by De Hofleveranciers has been broadcast in more than ten countries.
De Poortere’s wordless comics have demonstrated a remarkable ability to cross linguistic and cultural boundaries. His work forms part of the permanent exhibition at the Belgian Comic Strip Center in Brussels, while a mural dedicated to Boerke was inaugurated in Paris in 2011.
In 2019, he joined Glénat’s prestigious Disney Tribute Collection, publishing Super Mickey, a humorous reinterpretation of Disney’s iconic character.
Alongside his comics, De Poortere has also produced numerous children’s books over the past two decades, including Lam, created for the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent during the Van Eyck Year, and Renée, dedicated to Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte.
By honoring Pieter De Poortere, the World Humor Awards recognized an artist whose silent storytelling has proven that humor can transcend language and connect audiences around the world.
Cartoon WHA 2026
Kindness and Courtesy – Reality or Appearance?
The theme of the international Cartoon WHA 2026 competition invited artists to reflect on the meaning of kindness, courtesy and social etiquette in contemporary society.
Participants explored the fragile line between genuine respect and superficial politeness, questioning whether modern courtesy remains authentic or has become little more than appearance.
Following the international jury’s deliberations, the winners were announced as follows.
🥇 Golden Trophy
Ángel Boligán (Cuba–Mexico)
Winning cartoon: La falsa reverencia
🥈 Silver Trophy
Fan Lintao (China)
🥉 Bronze Trophy
Hicabi Demirci
Winning cartoon: Pressure
Lepidus Excellence Trophy
The jury also presented five Lepidus Excellence Trophies to artists whose works offered particularly original interpretations of the competition theme.
- Engin Selçuk — La dentiera
- Milko Dalla Battista (Italy) — Nice to Meet You
- Manuel Arriaga (Spain) — Please!
- Fabrizio Fabbri (Italy) — Bon Ton 1800–2000
- Luc Descheemaeker (Belgium) — Welcome
Special Mentions
The jury further recognized the following artists with Special Mentions for the originality and quality of their contributions:
- Cristina Bernazzani (Italy)
- Seyran Caferli (Azerbaijan)
- Niels Bo Bojesen (Denmark)
- Pol Leurs (Luxembourg)
- Silvano Mello (Brazil)
- Safaa Odah (Palestine)
- Tawan Chuntra (Thailand)
- Raul Zuleta (Colombia)
Although they did not receive one of the main awards, their cartoons were singled out for their artistic merit and thoughtful interpretation of this year’s theme.
Caricature WHA 2026
Six Public Figures Reimagined Through the Art of Caricature
The Caricature WHA 2026 competition invited artists to reinterpret six internationally recognized personalities through the expressive language of caricature.
Under the theme “Six Characters Looking for an Author,” participants were asked to create original caricatures of the following personalities:
- King Felipe VI of Spain
- Jacinda Ardern
- Keanu Reeves
- Meryl Streep
- Usain Bolt
- Jasmine Paolini
Although every artist worked from the same six subjects, the resulting works demonstrated an impressive variety of artistic approaches, ranging from realistic portrait caricature to highly stylized visual interpretations.
The international jury evaluated each work for likeness, originality, technical execution and humor.
🥇 Golden Trophy
Matías Tolsà (Argentina–Spain)
Winning caricature: Jasmine Paolini
Matías Tolsà received the competition’s highest honor for his expressive interpretation of Italian tennis player Jasmine Paolini, combining strong portrait resemblance with an unmistakable personal style.
🥈 Silver Trophy
Iván Mata (Spain)
Winning caricature: King Felipe VI
Spanish artist Iván Mata earned the Silver Trophy for his caricature of King Felipe VI, praised for its confident execution and distinctive graphic language.
🥉 Bronze Trophy
María Picassó Piquer (Spain)
Winning caricature: Keanu Reeves
María Picassó Piquer completed the podium with a striking interpretation of actor Keanu Reeves, demonstrating both technical precision and expressive exaggeration.
Rino Montanari Special Prize
The jury also presented the Rino Montanari Special Prize, an award dedicated to one of Italy’s most respected caricature artists.
This year’s recipient was:
Angelo Ciaramella (Italy)
Winning caricature: Usain Bolt
His portrait of the legendary Jamaican sprinter was recognized for its dynamic composition and strong visual impact.
Special Mentions
The jury awarded Special Mentions to four additional artists whose works received particular appreciation during the selection process.
- Virginia Cabras (Italy) – Meryl Streep
- Eme Suepes (Spain) – Meryl Streep
- Emad Abdelmaksud (Egypt) – Meryl Streep
- Benny Nicolini (Italy) – Jasmine Paolini
Although these works did not receive one of the principal awards, the jury highlighted their artistic quality, originality and successful interpretation of the selected personalities.
WHA–ISCA 2026 Special Award
International Society of Caricature Artists Continues Its Collaboration with World Humor Awards
One of the most prestigious parallel events of the festival is the WHA–ISCA Special Award, organized in collaboration with the International Society of Caricature Artists (ISCA).
Reserved exclusively for ISCA members, the competition brings together professional caricature artists from around the world and has become an important international showcase for portrait caricature.
As in the main Caricature competition, participating artists interpreted the same six personalities:
- King Felipe VI
- Jacinda Ardern
- Keanu Reeves
- Meryl Streep
- Usain Bolt
- Jasmine Paolini
International Jury
The 2026 jury consisted of internationally recognized caricature artists representing three different continents:
- Lindsey Olivares (Spain)
- Glenn Ferguson (United States)
- Seul Ki Ahn (South Korea)
Their evaluation focused on portrait likeness, artistic interpretation, originality and technical excellence.
First Prize
Lukasz Szostak (Poland)
Winning caricature: Meryl Streep
Second Prize
Ben Bloss (United States)
Winning caricature: Meryl Streep
Third Prize
Svetlana Novikova (United States)
Winning caricature: Keanu Reeves
Together, the winning entries reflected the extraordinary diversity of contemporary caricature while demonstrating how a single subject can inspire remarkably different artistic interpretations.
Award Ceremony Programme Announced
The World Humor Awards organizing committee has also released the official programme for the 2026 award weekend.
Friday, 28 August
Artists and invited guests will arrive in Fidenza, where the event will begin with a cultural visit to the historic Rocca di Fontanellato.
Later in the afternoon, participants will visit Fidenza Shopping Park, where a selection of artworks from this year’s exhibition will be on display.
The day will conclude with a welcome dinner at Hosteria 1000, located beside Fidenza Cathedral.
Saturday, 29 August
Following a free morning and a shared lunch, the official World Humor Awards 2026 Award Ceremony will take place in the courtyard of Fidenza Town Hall.
An evening reception under the historic arcades will offer visitors the opportunity to meet cartoonists, caricaturists and invited guests participating in this year’s edition.
Sunday, 30 August
The final day will be dedicated to the Premio Guareschi celebrations in Roncole Verdi, near Busseto.
Guests will also enjoy an institutional visit to the Giovannino Guareschi Archive, followed by lunch at Alle Roncolerestaurant.
The festival will conclude later that afternoon with a farewell toast at the permanent World Humor Awards exhibition hosted by Fidenza Shopping Park.
According to the organizers, all winning artists have already been notified and will attend the ceremony as official guests of the festival.
Celebrating Humor Beyond Borders
Over the years, the World Humor Awards has evolved into much more than an international cartoon competition.
By bringing together literature, comics, editorial cartoons and caricature within a single event, the festival has established itself as one of Europe’s most distinctive platforms dedicated to humor as an artistic language.
The 2026 edition reflects this international spirit, recognizing artists from Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Palestine, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey and the United States, among many others.
Rather than focusing on a single discipline, the festival celebrates the many forms through which humor can inspire reflection, encourage dialogue and connect cultures across borders.
As the international cartoon community prepares to gather in Fidenza and Busseto at the end of August, the World Humor Awards once again confirms its role as a meeting point for artists, writers and creators who continue to explore the universal language of humor through drawing, literature and visual storytelling.
Source: https://www.worldhumorawards.org/
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