Next ILLUST Award 2026

Next ILLUST Award 2026 is a free international illustration contest organised by the Japanese art book publisher PIE International and the editors of Kikan S, the Japanese magazine about illustration and drawing, together with COMICUP in Shanghai. Anyone can take part, whatever their age, profession or nationality, with up to two original illustrations. The deadline is 30 November 2026.

The contest has no theme, and both digital and traditional media are welcome. The judges include working illustrators from Japan and abroad as well as the editors of Kikan S, PIE International's comic art team, Kinokuniya bookstores in the USA and Asia-Pacific, and COMICUP. The winning works are published in Kikan S issue 97, scheduled for March 2027.

The prizes combine cash with tools that illustrators actually use: drawing software subscriptions, pen displays and tablets, and books from PIE International. For artists working in anime, manga-influenced and contemporary character illustration, the contest is also a way to be seen by Japanese and Chinese publishers.

Who Can Enter Next ILLUST Award 2026?

The contest is open to everyone, regardless of age, occupation or nationality. No membership or registration on another platform is required: you enter through the official entry form.

It is particularly relevant to:

• Character and anime-style illustrators
• Digital painters and concept artists
• Traditional illustrators working in watercolour, ink or pencil
• Students of illustration and manga
• Illustrators who want to reach publishers in Japan and China

What Can You Enter?

Each person can submit up to two original illustrations. There is no theme, and any medium is accepted, analogue or digital.

Size and Resolution

Work should be roughly A4 (210 × 297 mm) or F3 (273 × 220 mm). A resolution of 300 dpi or higher is recommended. Because entries are made online, analogue work must be scanned or photographed; mailed entries are not accepted.

Entry Fees

Entering Next ILLUST Award 2026 is free.

What Do Selected Entrants Receive?

• Gold Prize (1): ¥100,000, a CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO two-device plan (36 months), a Kamvas Pad 12 and a PIE International book
• Silver Prize (2): ¥50,000, a CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO two-device plan (24 months), a Kamvas 13 (Gen 3) and a PIE book
• Bronze Prize (4): a CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO one-device plan (12 months), an Inspiroy Frego M and a PIE book
• Judges' Prize (9): a PIE International book
• Publication: top entries are featured in Kikan S issue 97

Winners living in mainland China receive a different painting software package in place of CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO.

Submission Requirements

Entries are made through the online form on the official Next ILLUST Award page. Prepare:

• Up to two finished illustrations as digital files
• A title for each work
• Your contact details

Important Rules

• Work must be original.
• Works made wholly or partly with AI-generated images or text are not eligible, and awards can be withdrawn.
• Traced work, or work suspected of being traced, is not eligible.
• Works that infringe copyright, portrait rights or other rights are not eligible.
• Work awaiting results in another contest can be entered, as long as that contest's rules allow it.
• Copyright stays with the artist.

When Will Entrants Be Notified?

The judges are the illustrators Range Murata, Mai Yoneyama, Sakusha2 and Zeen Chin, together with the Kikan S editors, PIE International's comic art editorial team, Kinokuniya USA, Kinokuniya Asia-Pacific and COMICUP. Results are announced in Kikan S issue 97, scheduled for release on 17 March 2027.

Things to Consider

• Two strong pieces beat one. You can enter two works; use both chances with finished, polished illustrations.
• Keep the process visible. Strict rules on AI and tracing mean it is worth saving sketches and layers in case they are requested.
• Scan traditional work carefully. Colour and detail are judged from your file, so scan at high resolution.
• Mind the time zone. The deadline is in Japan time, which is ahead of Europe and the Americas.
• Show your style clearly. Two works in a consistent style tell the judges more about you than two very different experiments.
• Free entry, big audience. The jury includes publishers and booksellers, so the contest is worth entering even if you do not win.

Enter the Competition

Interested in submitting your work?

Enter Next ILLUST Award 2026

For the entry form and the latest information, visit the official Next ILLUST Award page.

Looking for more open calls? Browse all competitions and opportunities on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: October 12, 2026