TCBF 2026 Opens International Contest for New Comic Authors
The Treviso Comic Book Festival has opened its 2026 International Contest for New Comic Authors, inviting emerging creators from around the world to submit short comic stories exploring this year’s theme, “Relationships.”
Organized by Associazione Fumetti in Treviso in collaboration with Banca Prealpi San Biagio Credito Cooperativo, the competition forms part of the 23rd Treviso Comic Book Festival (TCBF) and is aimed specifically at authors who have not yet established a professional publishing career in comics.
The deadline for submissions is September 1, 2026, and participation is free.
Rather than defining “Relationships” narrowly, the competition leaves the theme open to interpretation. Stories may be fictional or draw on real people and events, giving artists considerable freedom to approach relationships in personal, social or imaginative ways.
Entries must consist of a complete comic story between two and four pages, submitted as a single PDF. Both black-and-white and color works are accepted, with no restrictions on drawing technique or visual style. If the work contains dialogue or other written text, it must be in Italian or English.
The competition is open to Italian and international creators who are at least 18 years old by the submission deadline. Artists may participate individually or as a group, but all members of a group must meet the competition’s definition of a beginner comic author.
Under the rules, eligible participants must not previously have held professional employment contracts as comic artists or writers, published ISBN-registered works through national or international publishers, or published comics in newspapers or magazines.
The rules do, however, allow comic-school students, artists who have contributed to fanzines or self-published projects, and creators who have participated in previous editions of the TCBF competition.
Each individual or group may submit only one work, which must be entirely original and previously unpublished. Tracing and reproduction of existing works are prohibited.
The competition also explicitly prohibits the use of artificial intelligence in submitted comics. Entrants must additionally keep their work unpublished until September 27, 2026, when the awards are scheduled to be announced.
A jury bringing together comic artists and writers, an editorial director and members of the TCBF team will evaluate the submissions.
The competition offers three cash prizes: €500 for first place, €300 for second place and €200 for third place. When a group wins a prize, its members will decide how the money is divided.
Winning comics will also be featured and promoted through TCBF’s social media channels. The jury may award special mentions, which will be announced alongside the winners during the September 27 award ceremony. Specially mentioned works are also expected to be published through TCBF’s channels.
With its short two-to-four-page format, the contest asks emerging creators to tell a complete story within a deliberately limited space — making narrative economy as important as drawing and visual storytelling.
Deadline: September 1, 2026
Theme: Relationships
Entry fee: Free
Eligibility: Beginner comic authors aged 18+ worldwide
Length: 2–4 pages
Languages: Italian or English
Prizes: €500 / €300 / €200
AI: Prohibited
More information and official competition website:
Treviso Comic Book Festival (TCBF)
Source:
TCBF 2026 International Contest for New Comic Authors – Graphic Competitions
