🇧🇪 The Golden Hat is an international cartoon competition associated with the Cartoon Festival Knokke-Heist, Belgium.
🎉 The festival will reach its 65rd edition in 2026, making it the oldest Cartoon Festival in the world.
📌 Rules
👤 PARTICIPATION
• All persons aged at least 18 years can participate in this international competition.
• Anyone who participates in this competition agrees to the terms and conditions of the regulations and the decisions of the jury.
• Belgian legislation on withholding tax on prizes won by foreign participants applies.
• Participation is free.
• The start date for submission is set at 01 September 2025.
⏰ The deadline for submitting cartoons is 31 December 2025.
✅ DEFINITION
A cartoon is a humorous drawing. This may be a caricature of a famous person, a parody of a real situation, or simply a picture of a funny situation. The cartoon may consist of one image or take the form of a short comic strip. No moving images allowed.
🎨 THEME
Participants are free to choose the theme of their entries.
🖼 ENTRIES - Regulations
• Maximum 5 submissions per person, black and white or color.
• The cartoons must not contain text.
• Drawings can also be made digitally.
• They must be packaged flat and not folded.
• Works under glass, framed or in other materials will not be accepted.
• They must not have been exhibited in Belgium or awarded in other countries.
📂 ENTRIES
• Digital entries: min. 2480 x 3500 pixels (A4 300dpi).
• Allowed file types: jpg jpeg eps tif psd pdf.
• Entries may only be sent by post after the form has been completed on the website and the form is enclosed with the entry. Dimensions min. 21 x 30 cm or max. 30 x 42 cm.
• The entrant’s name, first name and address must be written on the back of each cartoon.
• Your participation is only valid if we have received your fully completed entry form on our website.
• Entries are submitted at the expense of the entrants.
• The selected cartoons wil be tramed with a passe-partout for the exhibition.
📢 ORIGINALITY OF WORKS
The sender remains responsible for the originality of his work. Discussions and possible claims concerning all forms of plagiarism are the responsibility of the contributor.
⚖️ OWNERSHIP RIGHTS
By participating, entrants grant the organizing body the right to use their entries as advertising for the “International Cartoon Festival” and the seaside resort Knokke-Heist (e.g. as cartoon book, catalogue, advertising in the press and other media, separate promotional printed works such as posters, leaflets, etc., promotional gifts by the city council and/or cartoon festival organizers, calendar).
👨⚖️ JURY
• A professional jury will make a selection for the exhibition from the submissions received and will select 10 nominees.
• This selection will be checked for plagiarism after which the jury can decide to make a selection.
• The winners will be announced on the opening date of the festival.
📦 OWNERSHIP BY ORGANIZING BODY
• All submitted works shall become the property of the organizing body related to the cartoon festival.
• You can ask for a return of the submitted items on your expence.
• Submitted works will be stored for maximum 2 years.
📖 CARTOON BOOK
• In collaboration with “Davidsfonds” Leuven, a cartoon book will be published, subject to budgetary and technical constraints.
• Selected participants will be entitled to one copy.
🏆 PRIZES
🥇 Golden Hat: 5.000 € *
🥈 Silver Hat: 2.000 € *
🥉 Bronze Hat: 1.000 € *
👥 Audience Award: 500 €
* + flight and hotelaccommodation in Knokke-Heist during the opening (one night).
➡️ Golden Hat Registration Form:
https://www.myknokke-heist.be/en/golden-hat
🏛 Production
📍 City of Knokke-Heist / Culture House
Maxim Willemspad 1 , 8300 Knokke-Heist
📞 Phone: +32 50 63 04 30
📧 cartoonfestival@knokke-heist.be