Deadline: February 14, 2027
Apila's First Printing Award 2027
- Submission Deadline: February 14, 2027
- Open to illustrators worldwide aged 18 or over
- Participants must not have had a children's picture book published with an ISBN prior to June 30, 2026 (self-published books not issued through a publishing house or editorial services company are permitted)
- Projects must be written in Spanish or English
- Works must be original stories or adaptations of copyright-free works in the public domain
- All rights must be free of third-party claims
- Generative AI-assisted illustrations are not permitted
- The winning project receives a professional publishing contract with Apila Ediciones
- Cash prize: €4,000 (equivalent to 10% of the value of the first print run)
- Publication with international distribution
- If the project has separate writer and illustrator rights holders, the royalty share is divided according to their prior agreement
- The publishing contract grants Apila Ediciones publication and international rights management for twelve years
Apila's First Printing Award is an international picture book competition created by the renowned Spanish independent publisher Apila Ediciones, dedicated to helping emerging illustrators publish their first professional picture book. Organized in collaboration with the Aragón School of Design and supported by Zaragoza City Council, the award has become a respected gateway for creators who have not yet released a picture book through a traditional publisher to enter the international children's publishing market. The competition accepts complete children's picture book projects with flexibility in format (within stated page limits), with judging focused on visual storytelling ability and illustration quality. The winning project undergoes a full professional publishing process, with Apila Ediciones' editorial team assisting in production and arranging international distribution, providing illustrators with a complete professional pathway from creation to publication.
