2027 MUSE Illustration Awards
2027 MUSE Illustration Awards is now open for entries!
Competition Details
Brief Overview
The MUSE Illustration Awards 2027, recently announced for entries, invites illustrators, studios, agencies, publishers and emerging creatives worldwide to submit original visual storytelling across commissioned, published, personal and experimental work in seventeen illustration disciplines.
Competition Details
The MUSE Illustration Awards 2027 is an international competition celebrating illustration and visual storytelling, welcoming commercial commissions, editorial projects, unpublished images and independent creative practice.
Two divisions distinguish established practitioners from developing talent:
➜ Professional - Experienced illustrators, studios, agencies and creative teams.
➜ Emerging - Students, recent graduates and early-career creatives, including independent practitioners.
Seventeen disciplines cover Advertising; Editorial; Publishing; Children’s; Animation & Motion; Book Cover; Product & Packaging; Science & Technology; Experimental & Personal; Site-Specific & Environmental; Entertainment; Fashion & Beauty; Portrait; Poster; Surface & Pattern; Character & IP; and Student Illustration.
Award distinctions include MUSE Illustrator of the Year - Professional, MUSE Emerging Illustrator of the Year and Category Winners of the Year, alongside scored entry awards:
➜ Platinum Winner - 85-100 points.
➜ Gold Winner - 75-84 points.
➜ Silver Winner - 65-74 points.
The jury considers Creativity & Originality; Concept & Visual Storytelling; Artistic Craft & Execution; Communication & Impact; and Context & Relevance, with winners announced on 16 April 2027.
Submission requirements
➜ Eligible work - Created, published, released, commissioned or substantially developed on or after 1 January 2023.
➜ Entry format - Submit one illustration or a cohesive project or related series; unrelated works should be separate entries.
➜ Written brief - Up to 350 words explaining the concept, purpose, audience and creative approach; include an English translation where necessary.
➜ Images - One primary image and up to seven supporting images, maximum eight; JPG/JPEG, RGB, maximum 4 MB each, recommended width at least 1,200 pixels.
➜ Motion work - A supporting video URL may be included and must remain accessible during judging.
➜ Credits and permissions - Provide accurate contributor details and the necessary rights or authorization.
Eligibility
Open worldwide to illustrators, artists, studios, agencies, publishers, brands and creative teams, with Professional and Emerging divisions; Emerging also includes students and recent graduates.
Benefits
Total cash prizes: US$4,700.
➜ MUSE Illustrator of the Year - Professional - US$2,000 and a complimentary MUSE Statuette.
➜ MUSE Emerging Illustrator of the Year - US$1,000 and a complimentary MUSE Statuette.
➜ Category Winners of the Year - US$100 for each of seventeen category winners.
➜ Winner benefits - Digital certificate, official winner badge, online showcase and profile recognition; promotional and editorial consideration varies by eligibility and distinction.
➜ Additional statuettes - Available to order; a complimentary statuette is included only with the two highest individual honors.
Entry fees
Fees per category entry (Professional / Emerging):
➜ Early Bird - US$35 / US$25 - 16 October - 19 November 2026.
➜ Regular - US$45 / US$30 - 20 November - 17 December 2026.
➜ Final - US$55 / US$35 - 18 December 2026 - 14 January 2027.
➜ Final Extension - US$65 / US$40 - 15 January - 25 February 2027.
Bundles: 5 credits - US$150 / US$100; 10 credits - US$275 / US$175. One credit covers one category submission. Applicable taxes or payment-related charges may apply.
