Next ILLUST Award 2026 — Free Worldwide Illustration Contest by PIE International and COMICUP, ¥100,000 Gold Award and Publication in S Magazine
PIE International
PIE International is a Tokyo art-book publisher whose illustration magazines S and SS (Small S) have launched many careers in illustration, manga, anime and games. The Next ILLUST Award, run with Shanghai-based COMICUP, opens the magazine's submission tradition to artists worldwide working in Japanese-style 'ILLUST'.
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Entries are reviewed by illustrators Range Murata, Mai Yoneyama, sakusya2 and Zeen Chin with representatives of Kinokuniya USA, Kinokuniya Asia-Pacific, COMICUP and PIE's editorial departments; top entries are published in S Vol. 97 (Japan release 17 March 2027). Gold Award (1): JPY 100,000, 3-year CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO, a HUION Kamvas Pad 12 and a PIE book; Silver (2): JPY 50,000, 2-year CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO, Kamvas 13 and a book; Bronze (4): 1-year CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO, Inspiroy Frego M and a book; Judges' Award (9): a book. Copyright stays with the entrant. The 2025 edition drew 1,280 entries from about 31 countries.
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Anyone, regardless of age, profession or nationality; up to two original illustrations on a free theme, traditional or digital, about A4 size at 300 dpi. Characters must be created by the artist — no fan art. Works using AI-generated content (images or text), traced works or works infringing third-party rights are not accepted.
Dates & details
- Deadline
- 11:59 PM JST (online: S/SS website in Japan, COMICUP in China, PIE International Discord elsewhere)
- Results
- Results in S Vol. 97, 17 March 2027
- Costs to the artist
- None — online entry