Deadline Extended for “Handala Never Dies” International Virtual Cartoon Exhibition 2026

The deadline for the “Handala Never Dies” International Virtual Cartoon Exhibition 2026 has been extended to August 20, 2026, giving artists additional time to submit their work.

Organized by Cartoon Home Network International (CHNI), the exhibition is being held in memory of Palestinian cartoonist Naji Al-Ali, marking the 39th anniversary of his death.

Al-Ali is best known for creating Handala, the small barefoot figure who appears with his back turned and his hands clasped behind him. Over the years, the character became closely associated with Al-Ali’s work and with broader themes of displacement, resistance and Palestinian identity.

For the 2026 exhibition, artists are invited to approach Naji Al-Ali and his legacy through three areas: portraits and tributes to Naji Al-Ali, the spirit of Handala, and human rights and freedom.

Each participant may submit up to three works. Digital works and high-resolution scans of traditional artwork are both accepted. Files should be prepared at 300 DPI in JPG or PNG format.

Submissions should also include the artist’s full name, country, a short biography of two or three lines, and the titles of the works.

The exhibition will open online on August 28, 2026, through the official Facebook page of Cartoon Home Network International.

Entries should be sent to chni2016@gmail.com by the new deadline of August 20, 2026.

The deadline extension was announced by Fadi Abou Hassan, Editor-in-Chief of CHNI, following requests from artists seeking more time to participate.