International cartoon competition, Golden Hat 2026, Belgium

GOLDEN HAT 2026

The Golden Hat is an international cartoon competition associated with the Cartoon Festival Knokke-Heist, Belgium. The festival will reach its 65th edition in 2026, making it the oldest Cartoon Festival in the world. 

RULES 

PARTICIPATION 
All persons aged at least 18 years can participate in this international competition. Anyone who participates in this competition agrees to the terms and conditions of the regulations and the decisions of the jury. Belgian legislation on withholding tax on prizes won by foreign participants applies. 

Participation is free. 

The start date for submission is set at 01 September 2025. 

The deadline for submitting cartoons is 31 December 2025. 

DEFINITION 
A cartoon is a humorous drawing. This may be a caricature of a famous person, a parody of a real situation, or simply a picture of a funny situation. The cartoon may consist of one image or take the form of a short comic strip. No moving images allowed. 
THEME 
Participants are free to choose the theme of their entries. 
ENTRIES 
Regulations
• Maximum 5 submissions per person, black and white or colour. 
• The cartoons must not contain text. 
• Drawings can also be made digitally. 
• They must be packaged flat and not folded. 
• Works under glass, framed or in other materials will not be accepted. 
• They must not have been exhibited in Belgium or awarded in other countries. 
Entries 
• Digital entries: min. 2480 x 3500 pixels (A4 300dpi). Allowed file types: jpg jpeg eps tif psd pdf.
• Entries may only be sent by post after the form has been completed on the website and the form is enclosed with the entry. Dimensions min. 21 x 30 cm or max. 30 x 42 cm. The entrant’s name, first name and address must be written on the back of each cartoon. 
• Your participation is only valid if we have received your fully completed entry form on our website. 
• Entries are submitted at the expense of the entrants. 
• The selected cartoons wil be framed with a passe-partout for the exhibition. 
ORIGINALITY OF WORKS
The sender remains responsible for the originality of his work. Discussions and possible claims concerning all forms of plagiarism are the responsibility of the contributor.
OWNERSHIP RIGHTS
By participating, entrants grant the organizing body the right to use their entries as advertising for the “International Cartoon Festival” and the seaside resort Knokke-Heist (e.g. as cartoon book, catalogue, advertising in the press and other media, separate promotional printed works such as posters, leaflets, etc., promotional gifts by the city council and/or cartoon festival organizers, calendar).
JURY 
A professional jury will make a selection for the exhibition from the submissions received and will select 10 nominees. 

This selection will be checked for plagiarism after which the jury can decide to make a selection. 

The winners will be announced on the opening date of the festival.
OWNERSHIP BY ORGANIZING BODY
All submitted works shall become the property of the organizing body related to the cartoon festival.
You can ask for a return of the submitted items on your expence. Submitted works will be stored for maximum 2 years.
CARTOON BOOK
In collaboration with “Davidsfonds” Leuven, a cartoon book will be published, subject to budgetary and technical constraints. Selected participants will be entitled to one copy.
PRIZES
Golden Hat 5.000 € *
Silver Hat 2.000 € *
Bronze Hat 1.000 € *
Audience Award 500 €
* + flight and hotel accommodation in Knokke-Heist during the opening (one night).
PRODUCTION
City of Knokke-Heist / Culture House
Maxim Willemspad 1 , 8300 Knokke-Heist
Phone +32 50 63 04 30
cartoonfestival@knokke-heist.be
Golden Hat Registration Form on source (in languages): myknokke-heist. 

International Festival of humor and satire, In Vinica Veritas 2025, North Macedonia

The House of Culture „Tosho Arsov“ – Vinica

and the Council of the International Festival of humor and satire

„IN VINICA VERITAS“ announce 

COMPETITION

(In caricature)

Theme:  "The last person laughing..."
Conditions:
1. One author can take participation with 3 caricatures, but not more than 3.
2. The size of the cartoons should be A4 or A3, resolution 300 dpi.
3. The cartoons can be sent in their original version or via e-mail to: 
invinicaveritasfestival@gmail.com
4. The House of Culture provides the following awards:
– First prize: 300 euro
– Second prize: 200 euro
– Third prize: 100 euro
5. The works should be sent at the address: 

House of Culture "Tosho Arsov" – Vinica, ul. "Bel Kamen" 13, North Macedonia, indicated for the competition "In Vinica Veritas".
–  The works should be sent by 1st October 2025.
6. The prizes will be awarded to the authors at the opening of the exhibition of caricature, which will be held in the second half of October..

7. The festival organizer keeps the rights to use the awarded works at any time.
8. The received caricatures will not be sent back to the participants of the competition.
9. After the announcement of the results, the awarded works from the competition need to be sent in original form because only in that way it will be paid to you.

Person for contact: Blagica Stojanovska, phone number: +389 (0)33 361-150 
e-mail: invinicaveritasfestival@gmail.com

Municipal facility
House of culture
„Tosho Arsov“ – Vinica, 

Republic of North Macedonia. 

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Source: Dom Na Kultura Vinica

Theme in the 17th International Tourism Cartoons Competition 2025, Turkey: Şanlıurfa

(Click on the image to enlarge)

*

Participation Form is a must.

Deadline: 31 December 2025

More on tourismcartoon.org.

“Saint Anthony in Coimbra” Cartoon Contest, Portugal

RULES FOR THE "SAINT ANTHONY IN COIMBRA" COMPETITION

1. The competition is open to all artists of all ages, both professional and amateur; 

2. The deadline for submitting your illustration is: October 30, 2025. Works must be uploaded to the competition website in digital format, 300 dpi (maximum 4 megabytes), and the corresponding form must be duly completed; 

3. Each artist may submit up to five (5) works, and all techniques are accepted as long as the work is a Saint Anthony. However, all works must be digitized and submitted through the competition website; 

4. The competition organizers are responsible for selecting the works that will be included in the exhibition and catalog. 

5. Prizes and honorable mentions will be awarded by a seven-member jury. Decisions will be made by majority vote and are final. Six prizes and seven honorable mentions will be awarded, divided into two categories: adult and youth; 

6. Prizes 

ADULT Artists 

1. Prize: Trophy + diploma + €1,000 

2. Prize: Trophy + diploma + €750 

3. Prize: Trophy + diploma + €500 

7 Honorable Mentions: Trophy + diploma 

YOUNG Artists (up to 17 years old on November 28, 2025) 

1. Prize: Trophy + diploma + 3 comic books 

2. Prize: Trophy + diploma + 2 comic books 

3. Prize: Trophy + diploma + 1 comic book 

7 Honorable Mentions awarded with diploma 

7. The organization will inform all selected and awarded artists. The jury may decide not to award all the prizes; 

8. The act of submitting a work automatically implies the assignment of the respective reproduction rights for non-commercial purposes. The winning works become the property of the organization, implying the automatic assignment of all copyrights; 

9. All selected authors will receive the exhibition catalog and a certificate of participation; 

10. The competition awards ceremony will take place on November 28th; 

11. An exhibition of the competing works will also be inaugurated. 

12. For more information: geral@jfsao.pt 

13. Challenge your imagination and create a unique and creative setting with Santo Antônio in Coimbra. 

Good luck!

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Source: https://jfsao.pt/concurso-de-cartoons-santo-antonio-em-coimbra/ 

This text by GOOGLE TRANSLATE.

The 10th International Cartoon Exhibition, Cakovec 2025, Croatia

10th International Cartoon Exhibition, Cakovec 2025, Croatia

PARTICIPATION
Everyone can participate regardless of nationality, age, sex or profession.

CATEGORIES

Over 16 years / Up to 16 years

THEME: JAZZ

ENTRIES 

Participants may submit up to 2 works. 

Size of entries is A4 or A3 format (jpg 300 dpi) required. 

When submitting, each entry should have author's full name, country and the number of the entry. For example DAMIR NOVAK CROATIA 1, DAMIR NOVAK CROATIA 2 

All entries should be e-mailed to:  cartoondamir@gmail.com

TECHNIQUE 

Free

DEADLINE
05.10.2025 

The international jury will choose the cartoons. 

PRIZES FOR OLDER THAN 16 YEARS
First prize: 300 EUR, diploma and catalogue 
Second prize: 150 EUR, diploma and catalogue 
Third prize: 100 EUR, diploma and catalogue 
7 Special Mentions + catalogue 
PRIZES FOR YOUNGER THAN 16 YEARS
First prize: diploma and catalogue 
Second prize: diploma and catalogue 
Third prize: diploma and catalogue 
7 Special Mentions + catalogue 

OTHER CONDITIONS 

Caricatures created using AI technology will be automatically disqualified. Each author whose work is included in the exhibition will receive a catalogue. By participating in the exhibition, authors agree that their works may be used for the promotion of the exhibition (catalog, poster, media publication, etc.) without compensation to the author. 

CONTACT 

damir.novak3@gmail.com

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Source: Damir Novak. 

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First blogged 22.05.2025 22:00 

Updated 17.08.2025 01:30.

The 22nd International Comics and Cartoon Festival, Prizren 2025, Kosovo

(Click on the image to enlarge)

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Source: Gani Sunduri.

The 1st International Contest, Frog Graphic Humor 2025, Turkey

1st International Contest Frog Graphic Humor 2025

1. Any professional or amateur artist can participate in this contest. 

2. The themes of the contest are the characters FROG / STORK / CROCODILE / DUCK. 

3. Participants may submit a maximum of three works. The author certifies that the submitted works are original and are not the result of artificial intelligence. 

4. The works (only comic strips) can be created in any pictorial technique and must be in A4 format or proportional dimensions. 

5. For each work you should choose one of the characters depicted and create a comic story of one to ten pages, similar to the frog example. Zipped files (zip, rar, etc.) will not be accepted. 

6. Works can be without words or, if they include text, the text must be in English. 

7. Only works sent via email to thefrogfestival@gmail.com will be accepted, and in the second step, upload the works to the festival's Google page via Google link. 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XmD5vsJSxj8fCz9BA 

8. The deadline for submission is December 17, 2025. 

9. The email must include, in addition to the work(s), the participant’s name, surname, address, phone number, a short CV, and a photograph and/or caricature of the author. (NOT PDF). 

10. The decision of the Jury will be notified to the winner during the first two weeks of May 2026 by electronic mail and it will be published later to websites, Facebook and Instagram of Toy manufacturer frog and the frog festival and frog center www.frogwins.com and www.frog.center .

11. The works received, with the introduction of each artist, will be published independently as a book or brochure at the discretion of the secretariat, and will be offered with Frog products. 

12. Prizes & Awards 

First Prize: €350 (net) 

Second Prize: €250 (net) 

Third Prize: €150 (net) 

Additionally, 10 diplomas will be awarded. 

13. Accepted submissions that pass pre-selection will be immediately published on the frog festival Instagram and Facebook. 

14. All commercial rights, etc. of works received by the Secretariat belong to the Frog and the Frog Collection. 

Frog was created in the year 2022 by Alayin Rey. The character first appeared in the “Frog Wins” range.