Post Wave Prize for Illustration 2027

The prize is open to emerging and aspiring illustrators, aged 18 or over, who are not yet commercially published or commissioned in children’s books. Entrants may already be represented by an agent but must not have entered into a publishing contract or accepted an offer of publication from a publisher anywhere in the world in respect of any of their illustrations in the timeframe of the competition (i.e. October 2026 to March 2027). Self-published candidates (ie those whose work has been published without the help of a traditional commercial publisher) are eligible. 

Entries are accepted from illustrators based anywhere in the world, whose work adheres to the submission criteria provided by Post Wave Publishing UK Ltd, as set out below and in the Terms and Conditions.

We’re looking for illustrators who can bring the theme ‘A Bridge to Another World’ to life with originality, heart and a strong sense of storytelling through artwork. It could be a fantastical adventure in space, an insight into someone else’s life or an imaginative daydream. It may be something wildly unexpected or something quieter and closer to home, but your work should be imaginative, connect with children and show real artistic skill.

Entrants MUST submit a cover and one double page spread of full colour art for a children’s illustrated book of fiction or non-fiction based on the theme. Three supporting images may also be supplied but these are optional. The double page spread submitted should include an excerpt of text that supports the images. The text could be an original piece of writing, a collaboration with a writer or a piece of uncopyrighted text in the public domain (e.g. a traditional fairy tale). Please note that submissions will be judged on illustrations only and not text. Submissions should focus on appropriateness of content for the child reader and should adhere to the submissions and eligibility guidelines that have been set out.

The judges will be specifically looking for:

• Originality – The work shows fresh ideas, a personal style and an imaginative approach.
• Visual Storytelling – The narrative of the scene shown is clear and engaging.
• Artistic Skill – The use of color, line, composition, style and materials is confident and effective.
• Fit to Brief – The piece responds well to the brief and feels right for a young audience.
• Emotional Impact – The work is memorable and engaging.
• Inclusivity – We value thoughtful and respectful representation of cultures, identities, and experiences.

The winning entry, and any highly commended entries, will be chosen by a panel of judges comprising representatives of Post Wave Publishing UK Ltd, a representative of Anxi County Historical and Cultural Research Association, and prominent illustrators and industry experts. Judging will take place shortly after the closing date.  A shortlist will be notified on 1^st February 2027. The shortlisted entrants will be announced on 22^nd February 2027.  Shortlisted entrants will be asked to answer a few questions and to provide us with a headshot for social media use. The winner and highly commended entrants will be contacted on 1^st March 2027. Post Wave will contact the winner and the shortlisted entrants via email, so please ensure that your contact details are correct when you submit your entry. Please also ensure that you have added the email address for the prize: PWPrize@postwavepublishing.com to your address book/contacts to prevent any of our emails going to spam folders.

The winning entry, and any highly commended entries, will be announced on 10^th March 2027. The winning works will be displayed on the Post Wave Children’s Books stand at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2027.

The creator of the winning entry will win a monetary prize of £3,000 (approximately $4,000 based on exchange rate at the time of money transfer), and the opportunity to have their illustrations or work considered for publication. They will also be awarded a fully funded, creative trip to the Anxi County region of China, renowned for folk culture and particularly its tea culture. The highly commended entrants will win a portfolio review with an Art Director from Post Wave Publishing UK Ltd.

Entry files should be no larger than A3 size (297mm x 420mm / 11 inches x 17 inches). Ensure any fonts used are embedded within the file. Alongside your submitted entry of a book cover and a spread, entrants may also supply up to 3 digital images in support of the work. For example, images showing close-up details of your art, or images showing your creative process.

Entries should be supplied as JPEGs or PDFs only and must not exceed 10Mb in size in total. Please use the following file-naming convention:

Lastname_Firstname_BOOKCOVER
Lastname_Firstname_SPREAD
Lastname_Firstname_IMAGE_1
Lastname_Firstname_IMAGE_2
Lastname_Firstname_IMAGE_3

• 9.30am (BST) 1^st October 2026: Opening date for submissions
• 5.30pm (GMT) 4^th January 2027: Closing date for submissions
• 1^st February 2027: Shortlisted entrants notified
• 22^nd February 2027: Shortlisted entrants announced
• 1^st March 2027: Winner and highly commended entrants notified
• 10^th March 2027: Winner and highly commended entrants announced
• Bologna Children’s Book Fair – winner’s work to be displayed on the Post Wave Children’s Books stand