Contest Status
Contest Disciplines
Creative Quarterly (CQ) magazine has opened its 86th international juried competition, inviting participation from professionals and students.
The competition invites art directors, designers, illustrators, photographers and fine artists from around the world.
Winning work will be featured in the online Gallery and in the printed 2026 Creative Quarterly Annual. Winners will receive a complimentary eBook version and an award certificate.
The Standard competition covers five main disciplines – listed below. Professional and student entries are judged separately.
The 86th competition includes the following categories:
- Advertising (AD)
- Fine Arts (FA)
- Graphic Design (GD)
- Illustration (IL)
- Photography (PH)
- Portfolio — Work from your portfolio, personal or published
- Theme: Nature — The theme seeks flora and fauna images representing the interconnectedness of the natural world. Details of flowers, forests, wildlife and landscapes celebrating nature are welcomed.
Both published or self-generated work and student classroom or thesis work are accepted. AI-generated images are not accepted.
Eligibility is open to professionals, students and amateurs in all countries.
Selected winners and runners-up will be promoted through the online Gallery and social media. All winners will be listed in the year-end Annual, with runners-up also listed.
Creative Quarterly is an international journal promoting work in graphic design, illustration, photography and fine art.
Please check the official website for further information.
Creative Quarterly (CQ) 86th International Juried Competition – Entry Fees
Entry fees are structured by entrant type and entry type:
- Professional
- Standard Single – $35 for a single image
- Standard Series – $70 for a series of 2–5 related images
- Student
- Standard Single – $20 for a single image
- Standard Series – $35 for a series of 2–5 related images
- Theme: Nature
- $35 for up to 5 images
- $5 for each additional image
- Portfolio
- $35 for up to 5 images
- $5 for each additional image