The World Illustration Awards, presented by the Association of Illustrators (AOI) in partnership with the Directory of Illustration (Di), showcase great work being made by illustrators all over the world today.
WIA focuses on supporting and celebrating creativity, by connecting illustrators with their peers and the global illustration industry.
The World Illustration Awards (WIA) are on a roughly two-year cycle. The Call for Entries opens in December and runs until mid February, announcements are made from May. Once the Winners are announced later in the year, all winning projects go on tour to be exhibited around the world for the next year.
WIA rewards excellence, offering cash prizes to our overall winners, plus a range of valuable benefits to our category winners, shortlist, and longlist. Find out more.
Award Winners will be announced in September 2024.
Awards: 1 Overall Professional Winner (Cash Prize of £2000) 1 Overall New Talent Winner (Cash Prize of £1000) 4 Cross Category Winners (Various Prizes) 20 Category Winners (one New Talent and one Professional per category) 20 Highly Commended Projects (one New Talent and one Professional per category) 200 Shortlisted Projects 500 Longlisted Projects
What are the key dates?
1 December 2023 – call for entries opens
3 January 2024 – early bird offer ends (midnight UK time)
extended to 22 February 2024 – deadline to enter
March – May 2024 – judging
May 2024 – longlist announced
July 2024 – shortlist announced
September 2024 – winners announced
November 2024 – touring exhibition available for hire
The Association of Illustrators has run a juried illustration competition since 1976. The World Illustration Awards, presented in partnership with the Directory of Illustration, has been going strong and growing since 2015.
The World Illustration Awards is a global celebration of illustration: WIA focuses on supporting and celebrating creativity, by connecting illustrators with their peers and the global illustration industry.
The Awards are split into two groups: New Talent and Professional. All work, commissioned or self-initiated, is accepted across the ten categories as long as it has been created within the past year before the Call for Entries closes. Each year, the awards are independently judged by an international panel of 30 judges who select the 500 project strong Longlist, 200 shortlisted projects, and their Category Winners and Highly Commended. Each category has one New Talent and one Professional Winner and Highly Commended.
Many projects are shared on our extensive socials from the Call for Entries stage onwards, putting a spotlight on the fantastic illustration work being created globally today. The selected projects are showcased online and promoted to the industry.
Testimonials
WIA brings an opportunity for global exposure and connecting with new commissioners/artists around the world. It’s a lovely feeling to get to celebrate a body of work that was extremely challenging.
Ollie Hirst, WIA2023 Winner AOI Members Award
To be selected alongside hugely creative and talented illustrators is amazing, and I love the spectrum of vibrant styles that were entered. It’s exciting to have my work shown to a wider audience.
Linda Baritski aka SEASONOFVICTORY, WIA2023 Shortlist Advertising Category
Being shortlisted for WIA2023 means a lot to me and is a recognition of my artistic exploration in illustration. It is a kind of encouragement and affirmation, which gives me a lot of confidence!
It is such an honour to be shortlisted and to be selected alongside all those talented artists. It is also very rewarding to receive recognition for my work.
The World Illustration Awards are presented by the UK-based Association of Illustrators (AOI) in partnership with the USA-based Directory of Illustration (Di).
The Association of Illustrators is the professional body for illustration in the UK. Established in 1973, the AOI champions illustrators and the illustration industry with education, promotion and campaigning to achieve a thriving industry for us all. Memberships are available for illustrators, agents and colleges with discounts available for students and represented artists. The AOI is a not-for-profit company that is fully funded by its members, for the benefit of its members. As part of the partnership, the AOI selects one Member Award Winner who receives a free annual membership.
Workbook’s Directory of Illustration, the world’s leading illustration resource, is distributed free of charge to thousands of art commissioners who regularly hire freelance artists and animators. Advertising agencies, corporations and publishing companies depend on the searchable directoryofillustration.com website and annual printed Directory to find top talent for their campaigns and projects. In print, on-line and on social, we help artists successfully grow and sustain their professional careers. The Di sponsors the generous DI Award for Professional Shortlisted entries as well as the Overall Awards for WIA.
Who judges the awards?
The 30 WIA Judges are experts in their sectors, chosen to represent a global view on illustration. Find out who they are.
Advertising: Daniel Cobb is a freelance Creative Director, formerly with Havas Worldwide, USA
Editorial, sponsored by Procreate: Grace Molteni, Senior Designer, Mother Jones, USA
Publishing, sponsored by Rebelle: Pooja Desai, Art Director at Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, Australia
Site Specific: Neequaye Dreph Dsane, Visual Artist and Educator, Dreph, UK
What a pleasure it was to see such a broad spectrum of artists involved in this year’s awards. The artworks invoked real discussion between the judges and with such quality getting to a consensus from various perspectives was a rewarding challenge. Big UP to everyone that entered and congratulations to all the winners.
Steve & Emma Hayles (UPFEST), WIA2024 judges
What are the Categories?
The ten categories in the World Illustration Awards reflect the breadth of illustration being created today. Click on each image to find out more.
The World Illustration Awards is a global celebration of illustration.
The Association of Illustrators has run a juried illustration competition since 1976. The latest incarnation, the World Illustration Awards in partnership with the Directory of Illustration, has been going strong and growing since 2015.
WIA focuses on supporting and celebrating creativity internationally, by connecting illustrators with their peers and the global illustration industry.
The Awards are split into two groups: New Talent and Professional. All work, commissioned or self-initiated, is accepted across the ten categories as long as it has been created within the past year before the Call for Entries closes.
If you have any questions get in touch with the awards team [email protected]
The Association of Illustrators is the professional body for illustration in the UK. Established in 1973, the AOI champions illustrators and the illustration industry with education, promotion and campaigning to achieve a thriving industry for us all. Memberships are available for illustrators, agents and colleges with discounts available for students and represented artists.
Workbook’s Directory of Illustration, the world’s leading illustration resource, is distributed free of charge to thousands of art commissioners who regularly hire freelance artists and animators. Advertising agencies, corporations and publishing companies depend on the searchable directoryofillustration.com website and annual printed Directory to find top talent for their campaigns and projects. In print, online and on social, we help artists successfully grow and sustain their professional careers.
We offer various levels of sponsorship and are always open to tailor packages to your needs. You could sponsor one event, a whole category or something else that would benefit both you and the artist community. Download the sponsorship deck below to find out more or get in touch with [email protected].
