Annual Cartoon Contest
Rules and regulation 2026
1. Participation
All contestants will be admitted with no distinction made regarding nationality or age. There are two categories:
• Youth category up to 15 years inclusive;
• Adult category: 16 years and older.
Both professional and non-professional cartoonists are allowed to participate in this contest.
2. Theme
The main theme is ‘the universe’. This year Amnesty International offers the best cartoon with the theme 'Right to freedom of expression'.
3. Entries
• Contributions have to be digital works. They shouldn’t contain an explanation of the drawing.
• The digital works have to be sent in JPEG format with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi (2480 x 3543 pixels).
• Dimensions including any passe-partout 21 x 30 cm (A4).
• Number of entries per contestant: maximum five for each theme.
• You have to record your contact details through www.olensekartoenale.be.
• You can sign up your participation from 1 July 2026.
• The winners must be able to provide a curriculum vitae and a photo of themselves within 2 days after the organization's request.
4. Property rights
Prize-winning works will become the property of the organizer or theme sponsor. All works selected may be used by the organizers to promote the contest and the village of Olen.
5. Evaluation
The jury consists of artists, cartoonists and laymen. Decisions made by the jury cannot be challenged.
6. Catalogue/Cartoon book
Selected works will be considered for inclusion in a catalogue. The authors of these works will receive a free copy of the catalogue during the prize ceremony or it will be sent afterwards by mail.
7. Deadline: 10 September 2026
The deadline is 10 September 2026 at 12.00 AM midnight. The entry form you can find on www.olensekartoenale.be where you also can upload your works. Do not sent your works to kartoenale@olen.be.
8. Prizes
For the adult category:
1st prize: 1500 euro
2nd prize: 700 euro
3rd prize: 400 euro
4th prize: 300 euro
Prize of the city of Bialogard (only for Polish participants): 200 euro
Special prize Amnesty International: 500 euro.
For the youth category:
Prize for best international work: 250 euro
Prize for best Belgian work: 250 euro.
If no Belgian entry qualifies for the youth category, this prize will be awarded to the second highest ranked international entry in the youth category
9. Prize Ceremony and Exhibition
The prize ceremony will take place on Friday 13 November 2026 at approximately 20.00 h in the council room of the town hall of Olen 'De Meent' in 2250 Olen. Every participating artist will be welcome on that occasion. Only the winners are personally invited.
A selection of the cartoons will also be exhibited at the same address and can be visited all working days till the end of December 2026 during the opening hours of the town hall:
o Monday 09.00 u – 12.00 u 13.00 u – 16.00 u 17.30 u – 20.00 u
o Tuesday 09.00 u – 12.00 u
o Wednesday 09.00 u – 12.00 u 13.00 u – 16.00 u
o Thursday 09.00 u – 12.00 u
o Friday 09.00 u – 12.00 u
Main theme: ‘The Universe’
The cosmos began with an enormous bang from an unimaginable nothingness.
Or perhaps from a single primordial atom, or initiated by an unknown entity we conveniently call God.
In the end, it hardly matters as astronomy, mathematics, physics, chemistry and philosophy offer no answer to the question of what existed before time and matter.
What is that nothing from which something arises? It lies beyond our imagination.
In this immeasurable universe, billions of stars are dancing and swaying across countless galaxies, in star clusters and spiral nebulae. They float among gas clouds and black holes in an ocean of dark matter where planetary systems patiently revolve around their sun. Sometimes pregnant with life in whatever form it might be.
Theme Amnesty International: ‘The Right to freedom of expression’
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. It means that everyone has the right to form their own opinions and express them freely, without interference, and across borders. This includes the right to seek, receive, and share information and ideas through any form of communication, including speech, media, the internet, and art. It covers all kinds of expression, from political opinions and satire to artistic works and personal viewpoints.
In democratic societies governed by the rule of law, freedom of expression is widely protected. Critical, challenging, or controversial opinions—and artistic forms of expression, including cartoons—are an essential part of this protection, fostering open debate and encouraging reflection within society.
However, this right is not unlimited. Speech that incites hatred, discrimination, or violence, or that can cause serious harm or panic, may be legally restricted. Freedom of expression therefore carries responsibilities. At the same time, a key principle is that opinions should generally be expressed freely, with any restrictions usually assessed afterward rather than imposed through prior censorship. In this way, free expression remains a vital foundation for pluralism, critical debate, and creative freedom.
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