Post Wave Prize for Illustration

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

We’re looking for illustrators who can bring the theme ‘Time for Tea’ to life with originality, heart and a strong sense of storytelling through artwork. Whether it features a joyful tea party, a quiet moment with a brew, or something wildly unexpected, your work should be imaginative, connect with children and show real artistic skill.

Entrants must submit a book 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. The double page spread submitted should include an excerpt of text that supports the images. The text can 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 the illustrations only and not the text. Submissions should contain appropriate content for the child reader.

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 colour, 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 diverse 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 China and Post Wave Publishing, 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 announced on 27^th February 2026. The shortlisted entrants will be contacted on 13^th February 2026. 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 entries will be contacted on 2^nd March 2026 and announced on 16^th March 2026. Post Wave will contact the shortlist and winner via email, so please ensure that your contact details are correct when submitting the entry.

The winning entry, and any highly commended entries, will be announced on 16^th March 2026. The winning work will be displayed on the Post Wave Publishing stand at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2026.

The creator of the winning entry will win a monetary prize of £3,000 (approximately $4000) 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 entries will win a portfolio review with an Art Director from Post Wave Publishing UK Ltd.

Entry files should be no larger than A3 size (11.5×16.5 inches/297x420mm) and supplied digitally. 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 processes.

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:
Insert your Lastname_Firstname_BOOKCOVER
Insert your Lastname_Firstname_SPREAD
Insert your Lastname_Firstname_IMAGE_1
Insert your Lastname_Firstname_IMAGE_2
Insert your Lastname_Firstname_IMAGE_3

• 1^st October 2025: Opening date for submissions
• 7th January 2026: Closing date for submissions
• January – February 2026: Judging
• 13^th February 2026: Shortlist entrants notified
• 27^th February 2026: Shortlist entrants announced
• 2^nd March 2026: Winner and highly commended entrants notified
• 16^th March 2026: Winner and highly commended entrants announced
• 13 –16^th April 2026: Bologna Children’s Book Fair – winner’s work to be displayed on the Post Wave Publishing stand