Picture This is an international illustration competition for unpublished and emerging illustrators who see picture-book making as an art form of image and storytelling.
Founded in 2014 by like-minded publishers and illustrators, the competition aims to give new illustration talent visibility.
Illustrators from all over the world take part, with national juries selecting the most promising entries.
Picture This offers makers a first platform and brings their work to the attention of international publishers and institutions through a catalogue and exhibitions – supporting illustrators as they take their first steps into the world of picture books.
The Picture This! 2026 winners are
THE NETHERLANDS & BELGIUM
Anika Johanna Pardijs, Su Ekin Demir, Wieteke Opmeer
THE UNITED KINGDOM
Agnieszka Zapala, Czacarri Muli, Windy Zhu
SOUTH AFRICA
Maricel Botha, Marli Lyon, Mone Van Rooyen
ITALY
Simona Naldi, Paola Abeni, Maria Antonietta Saputo
GERMANY, SWITZERLAND & AUSTRIA
Anca Trif, Susanne Hirche, Tanja Salomäki
Watch a PT! 2022 winner
One of the winners of Picture This! was Sacha Heemels. Publishing House Lemniscaat saw her potential and gave her the opportunity to work on her first picture book. That resulted in De maan is overal dezelfde and was shortly followed by her second picture book, Het knuffeltalent. Lemniscaat made a short documentary about the process. She gives some great advice for everyone who would like to join the competition!