About BIBF | BIBF International Illustration Awards

BIBF Illustrators Exhibition

The 31st Beijing International Book Fair (hereinafter referred to as BIBF) will be held at the Beijing National Convention Center from June 18 to 22, 2025. During this period, the award-winning works of the 2025 BIBF International Illustration Awards will be exhibited, with the illustration elements integrated into the book fair display, providing a better showcase for outstanding illustrators worldwide. The event will attract over 1,600 exhibitors from more than 70 countries and regions, along with an on-site audience of 200,000.

BIBF International Illustration Awards

BIBF International Illustration Awards is one of the thematic brands under the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF). The competition is open to professional illustrators and children who love illustration worldwide. International renowned illustration experts and domestic and foreign publishing institutions will be invited to form a professional judging team. The competition is divided into Professional and Children according to the age of the entrants, and the awards are subdivided according to the competition category. The excellent works will be exhibited at the BIBF International Illustrators Exhibition, and the touring exhibitions at home and abroad potentially. Winning illustrators will be invited to participate in the BIBF Illustration Night and the competition award ceremony and the BIBF International Illustration Forum held during BIBF. In addition to the exhibition activities, there will also be a variety of derivative activities such as exchanges between domestic and overseas illustrators and overseas study tours.

The 2024 BIBF International Illustration Awards attracted enthusiastic participation from illustrators worldwide. The Awards officially began accepting submissions on March 12, 2024. By April 30, the Professional Category had received 12,000 entries from 46 countries and regions, covering seven major fields: children's publishing, advertising, covers, science, editorial, product packaging, and the Specific Theme "Reading China". These entries showcased a diverse array of artistic styles influenced by different civilizations, cultures, and educational backgrounds. After a rigorous selection process by the Awards jury, 120 outstanding works were chosen. The Teenager Category also received an enthusiastic response, with over 1,400 entries submitted by young illustrators. Through multiple rounds of selection, over 300 works made it to the preliminary shortlist, and 49 were further shortlisted for the final evaluation. All award-winning works will not only be exhibited at the BIBF Illustrators Exhibition but also featured in the "BIBF International Illustration Awards Annual", providing a broad platform for global illustrators to showcase and promote their work.

The 2025 BIBF International Illustration Awards Professional Category aims to discover and showcase outstanding, creative, and promising illustration works worldwide, providing illustrators, creative agencies, and publishing industry professionals with a high-level platform for artistic exchange. The Professional Category encompasses seven major categories: children's publishing, advertising, cover design, technology, editorial, product packaging, and Specific Themes. It comprehensively showcases the diverse expressions and innovative potential of illustration art across different fields. By gathering works with diverse cultural perspectives and innovative styles, the Awards helps participants broaden their horizons in the international art arena, enhance their influence, and establish deep connections with top industry resources.

Eligibility: The Professional Category of this Awards is open to illustrators worldwide who are 19 years old or above. Participants may register as individuals or on behalf of institutions, publishers, or studios.

Submission Requirements: Submitted works must have been completed after 2022 (published or unpublished). Works must align with the themes and category requirements of the Professional Category and comply with the Awards' related regulations.

Note: Please choose between individual or institutional registration channels.

Children's Publishing

Illustrations created for children's picture books, storybooks, novels, educational books, and other children's publications.

Example:

Work: "The Little Lion Dance" Author: Dong Xinyu

Cover Design

Illustrations created for the covers of books, magazines, periodicals, albums, and other publications.

Example:

Work: "Hua Mulan: Heroic Girl" Client: SendPoints Cultural Industries (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd.

Editorial

Illustrations designed for news reports, columns, literary features, and periodical content.

Example:

Work: "Quiet: The Power of Introverts" Author: Liu Jiatong

Advertising

Illustrations created for advertising campaigns, including print ads, digital media, social media promotions, and animated advertisements.

Example:

Work: "Posters of China's Five Great Mountains" Author: Ou Zhuopeng

Work: "Simple Cosmology" Author: Sun Yiming

Product and Packaging

Illustrations created for commercial purposes, including products, brands, logos, and packaging.

Example:

Mattia Riami 意大利-BOTTLE AS A CANVAS_Mattia Riami 1.jpg

Work: "Bottle as a Canvas" Author: Mattia Riami

Technology

Illustrations related to the fields of science, medicine, or technology.

Example:

Anne Crausaz-Une nuit au jardin 1_00.jpg

Work: "A Night at the Garden" Author: Anne Crausaz

Work: "Deep Within" Author: Zhang Ruiyi (Nanjing University of the Arts)

7. Specific Theme

(Tentative)

The 2025 BIBF International Illustration Awards has expanded the Teenager Category (ages 13–18) based on the previous Children Category, leveraging BIBF's professional resources to provide a platform for young artists worldwide to participate and showcase their talents. This year, a new touring exhibition section has been introduced, aiming to bring outstanding teenage illustration works onto the international stage for broader recognition and appreciation. The Awards will feature a jury panel composed of world-class illustrators and experts in children's education, ensuring professionalism and fairness in the selection process.

Award-winning works will be showcased at the BIBF International Illustration Exhibition, accompanied by an official award ceremony. Additionally, winning participants will have the opportunity to take part in overseas touring exhibitions and study tour programs, allowing them to immerse themselves in international illustration art scenes and experience the richness of cross-cultural artistic exchange.

Eligibility: The Teenager Category of this Awards is open to children aged 18 and under worldwide who are interested in illustration. Entries may be submitted individually or on behalf of an institution.

Submission Requirements: Submitted works must have been created after 2022 (published or unpublished).

Group Divisions: 4–8 years, 9–12 years, 13–18 years.

Picture Book

Themes are not restricted. Children are encouraged to unleash their imagination and creativity. Submissions should reflect contemporary characteristics, embody a child's perspective, and demonstrate artistic quality and innovation.

Submission Requirements:

Submit image files of a complete picture book or handmade book, including the cover, inner pages, back cover, text, and illustrations.

Online submissions must include at least five pages, excluding the cover and back cover. The text content of the picture book can be in Chinese or English. No restrictions on materials used.

Note: Submitted works must have been created after 2022 (published or unpublished).

Work: "The Amazing Big Tree" Author: Wu Shanglin

Work: "Ancestral Worship" Author: Xue Ruohao

Specific Theme — "Gift of Nature"

The specific theme for the 2025 BIBF International Illustration Awards is "Gift of Nature". The specific theme is jointly initiated by the BIBF International Illustration Awards and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Participants selecting this theme can use "Gift of Nature" as their creative focus, drawing inspiration from plants, animals, landscapes, and seasonal changes to illustrate the precious gifts nature provides to humanity.

Participants may reinterpret the beauty and wonder of nature or depict, through imagination, the deep emotional connections and interactions between humans and nature. Creators are encouraged to focus on the themes of nature's generosity and the responsibility of its protection, using their illustrations to convey an understanding of ecological harmony and hope for the future of our planet.

Submission Requirements:

Acceptable media include traditional Chinese painting, oil painting, printmaking, watercolor (or pastel), children's drawings, comic/cartoon art, sketches, and other mixed media for flat artworks.

Submissions must be in A3 size (297 mm x 420 mm) and can be either portrait or landscape orientation.

Note: Submitted works must have been created after 2022 (published or unpublished).