About the Key Colors Award
Clavis Publishing, New York launches Key Colors, the two-yearly national contest for illustrators of children’s books. Only a children’s book, intended for children from 2 to 7 years old, can qualify for the award. A professional jury will judge the artistic, literary and child-oriented qualities of the works.
The winner receives 8,000 dollars and the winning work will be published by Clavis Publishing.
Apart from the winner, other entries may also be considered for publication by Clavis. The award and the resulting picture books will be largely discussed in the press and at book fairs abroad. For many illustrators this unique award is the start of a successful international career.
Key Colors 2026 is for illustrators based in the US and Canada. But no worries! Our Key Colors 2026 Worldwide competition will launch very soon!
Key Colors 2026 Worldwide: www.keycolours.com
Rules for participation
Here you can find the rules for participation. For more information about how to send in your work, Right click - download as to save the rules for participation on your device.
Regulations
❗ DEADLINE❗July 1st, 2026
Submissions will open in October 2025.
Previous winners
Key Colors Winners 2024
Key Colors Winners 2022
Discover all published Key Colors books
FAQ
Can I submit work from anywhere in the world?
This competition is only open to illustrators based in the United States and Canada.
Click here to enter the international competition.
Is it allowed to participate as a team?
Yes, it is. Illustrators can work together with authors.
How many pages does the story need to have?
The story must be told and illustrated in exactly 24 pages, or 12 double pages (spreads), starting on the left page. This does not include the cover, the end papers nor the title page.
Do I need to make a cover?
No, you don’t need to work out a cover.
What’s a mockup?
A mockup is a model of the book, a digital sketchbook. It contains the story in a draft version, which will be worked out at a later stage.
Which technique should I use?
You are free to choose the technique(s) you want.
Do I have to work out everything in color?
No, only 3 pages need to be completed in color and detail. You can finish all the pictures in color, but that’s not necessary. Three completed pictures are sufficient for the jury.
What size do the pictures need to have?
The book concept should have one of the following formats:
9.84 x 10.24 inches
11.42 x 8.27 inches (portrait or landscape)
9.25 x 12.80 inches.
How many times can I participate in the competition?
You can participate as many times as you want. There’s no limit.
Do I need to have experience in order to participate in the competition?
No, the competition is open to everyone, regardless of experience. The work you hand in must be completely original, though, and cannot already be made public.
Is there a longlist and a shortlist?
The jury selects a shortlist of 10 candidates. One of them will be the winner. This competition selects only one winner. The shortlist will be announced on our website and in the media.
When do I know who has won?
The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony, to which all candidates are invited. The winner will be announced in the media and the complete jury report will be available on this website.