The Folio Book Illustration Award 2025 is now open for entries

The Folio Book Illustration Award is back for 2025, offering aspiring and established illustrators the chance to breathe new life into the iconic Brothers Grimm tale Rapunzel.

The award offers a cash prize of £2,500 plus £500 in Folio vouchers for the winning illustration and a chance for the winning artist’s work to be featured in an upcoming Folio book. Five runners-up will also receive £500 in Folio vouchers.

To be considered for the Folio Book Illustration Award submissions must be original artworks based on the set text. There is no entry fee and the competition is open to anyone aged over 18 who hasn’t been commissioned by Folio before.

The award is judged by Folio Head of Editorial, James Rose, Folio Fiction Editor Sophia Schoepfer, the 2024 winner Zack Rock, and bestselling author Erin Morgenstern (The Night Circus, The Starless Sea). The longlist will be announced on 15 July 2025, while the winners and runners-up will be revealed on 29 July 2025.

James Rose said that illustration is at the heart of everything at Folio. ‘We are lucky to work with an incredible range of artists from around the world, and we are passionate about discovering and fostering new talent, whether they paint in oils, carve wood engravings or create digital masterpieces.’

The deadline for entries is midnight (UK time) Friday 23 May 2025.

Find out how to apply here.