About the Open Call

Basel invites illustrators from every country to take part in this international comic competition on the theme “Freundschaft – Friendship – Amicizia – Amitié”. The aim is to embed comics in public spaces and exhibition contexts as a contemporary art form. 20 selected works will be displayed as 2x2 meter flags on Basel’s Mittlere Brücke and shown in a physical exhibition at FANTASY BASEL. The competition is open to all creators of the ninth art, and 5 selection spots are specifically reserved for newcomers.

What is Offered

All 20 selected artists receive a standard remuneration of CHF 1,500, a travel allowance of CHF 500, and four one-day tickets for FANTASY BASEL 2026.

Requirements

Artists must submit a comic story of maximum two pages. Work must be original and not infringe third-party rights. The use of AI for assistance or production is strictly prohibited.

How to Apply

Submit work digitally via the online submission link: https://www.basel.com/en/events/fantasy-basel/submission-comic-competition-2026. Submissions must be maximum 2 pages in A4 or A3 format, .tiff files at 600 dpi, CMYK color space.