Deadline: 15-Feb-2026
Apila Ediciones, in collaboration with the School of Design of Aragón and supported by the Zaragoza City Council, has announced the Apila’s First Impression Award 2026. This is the fourteenth edition of an international illustrated children’s book competition. The award aims to support illustrators who have not yet published a book and to encourage graphic and literary creativity.
The main goal is to promote the production of children’s picture books by unpublished illustrators. The award includes a professional publishing contract with Apila Ediciones, which comes with a payment of €4,000. This amount represents 10% of the value of the first print run. The winning book will also be promoted and distributed internationally.
Illustrators from any country who are 18 years or older can apply. There is no limit to the number of projects submitted. Artists who have self-published a book with an ISBN are still eligible, as long as the book was not published by a traditional publisher or editorial services company. In collaborative projects, the unpublished requirement applies only to the illustrator. Submitted works must be free of third-party commitments and can be either original or based on stories that are not under copyright. Submissions must be in Spanish or English.
If the project is a collaboration, the €4,000 payment will be divided between the writer and illustrator based on their mutual agreement. The winner must transfer the publication and international rights of the book to Apila for a period of twelve years.
Only one project will be selected as the winner. Entries must not exceed 40 pages, which includes the title page, credits, and flyleaves. The front cover, spine, and back cover are not included in this count.
To apply, participants must submit digital files via email. The subject of the email should be labeled “LAST NAME_FIRST NAME_FIRST_PRINTING.” They must include a PDF file (up to 15MB) of the completed book or, at minimum, a layout with five finished double-page spreads and the remaining pages sketched. The file should be named “LAST NAME_FIRST NAME_BOOK.”
Applicants must also send a text or PDF file with their contact details, including email address, nationality, postal address, phone number, and optional links to their website or social media profiles. This file should be named “LAST NAME_FIRST NAME_DATA.” A third file should contain the illustrator’s full name and a signed declaration as required by the competition rules.
For more information, visit Apila Ediciones.
