World Illustration Awards 2026 Longlist

Rui Ricardo

Around the World in 80 Chess lessons

Andrew Rimmer commissioned this illustration for a personal project called “Around the World in 80 Chess Lessons” – a virtual travel-and-chess journey where he learns from chess coaches in 80 different countries, blogging along the way. He’s building a vintage-style website for it and asked for a splash screen that captures that spirit of travel, culture, and classic design.

Edward Tuckwell

An Existential Threat

I was commissioned to produce an illustration for the ‘Debate’ section of the RA magazine based on the question “Does AI pose an existential threat to visual artists?”. Two artists or writers provide different perspectives, answering either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. The artwork had to reflect the philosophical, serious nature of the responses, and be even-handed so that it wouldn’t favour either side.

Smuggler’s Run

I was commissioned to produce a series of illustrations for a podcast about drug smuggling in Europe. Through a series of intense cases about cocaine in Denmark, journalist Frederik Kulager tells the story of the drug’s journey into the country — how it’s transported, distributed, and used. From ship to nose.

Julian De Narvaez

The Essential Kafka

This illustration was created for an edition that brings together a selected collection of Franz Kafka’s works, published by Wordsworth Editions Ltd. The image suggests references to several of Kafka’s writings through a mysterious and intriguing atmosphere, inviting the viewer to enter Kafka’s labyrinthine world—perhaps even becoming one of his characters.

The Prince Without Sorrow

This illustration was created for the book cover of The Prince Without Sorrow by author Maithree Wijesekara. The image suggests the main characters riding atop tigers as they move through the dense jungle, rendered in deep, intense blue tones.

Take a closer look at our artist’s work…

Rui Ricardo | Edward Tuckwell | Julian De Naravaez