As the 2026 Golden Pinwheel call for entries drew to an end on 8 June, the CCBF-run illustration competition launched in 2015 once again confirmed it has won the confidence and attention of young illustrators all around the planet. During over two months submission period, we received widespread attention and participation from illustrators and children's book creators around the world.
This year's competition received a total of 2,100 submissions from 73 countries and regions on six continents. Among them, 60% of the submissions came from China and 40% from overseas countries and regions, once again confirming the growing scale and influence of the competition.
The top 10 countries and regions in terms of the number of submissions are China Mainland, Russia, Iran, Italy, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, USA & Egypt & Poland. Surprisingly, new illustrators from United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Myanmar, Tunisia, Venezuela, Armenia and Iraq were also added to the competition. In addition to individual submissions, 37 other publishers, design studios, industry associations and professional institutions from home and abroad participated in the competition, submitting works on behalf of 138 illustrators.
Young creators from around the world have contributed a wide array of submissions, showcasing diverse styles and richly varied themes. From whimsical fantasy worlds brimming with childlike wonder to deeply personal expressions of emotion and identity, the entries demonstrate a profound integration between contemporary illustration and children’s literature. Many works reveal a strong awareness of visual storytelling, combining artistic originality with narrative depth, while also reflecting the creators’ engagement with cultural heritage, social issues, and everyday life. Together, these submissions highlight the vitality and evolving possibilities of contemporary illustration in the field of publishing.
Since 15 June, the competition has been in an intense judging phase for the finalists. The jury of eight renowned industry professionals with different professional backgrounds includes Emily Gravett (UK), Lee Jee Eun (South Korea), Charlotte Moundlic (France), Ruan Yunting (China), and Sun Zhaozhi (China) will select finalists from valid submissions through a blind judging process.
Let's wait for the announcement of all finalist illustrators on September 3!
