Call For Illustrator Submissions: Feature Your Artwork At The NBC Stand, London Book Fair 2026 (10–12 March)

The National Book Council (NBC), a key advocate for the Maltese book industry, invites Maltese illustrators to submit their artwork to be exhibited at our stand during the London Book Fair 2026, held at Kensington Olympia between 10–12 March – by no later than 5 January 2026. As a public entity, the NBC plays a pivotal role in advocating for publishers, authors, editors, translators and illustrators alike. Our mission is to cultivate a passion for literature, advocate for all forms of literary expression and offer vital services to the industry, including international promotion.

The NBC has long championed illustrators, recognising their often overlooked role in the publishing industry. Previous initiatives include supporting the MCOI’s Annual for five years running, collaborating with Arts Council Malta on the From Illustration to Book exhibition, hosting workshops led by distinguished illustrators and featuring Maltese illustrators’ work at prestigious international book fairs such the London Book Fair.

Submission requirements

Illustrators are invited to submit proposals featuring published illustrations for display in a gallery of artworks at the NBC stand during the London Book Fair 2026. Only 10 artworks will be selected for the Illustrators Gallery; however, all illustrators who submit their work will be featured in the 2026 edition of the Literature from Malta, the NBC Foreign Rights Catalogue, distributed at international book fairs throughout the year.

Brief and details

The Illustrators Gallery at the NBC stand will showcase 10 artworks. This offers an exceptional opportunity to exhibit artwork to industry professionals (see image above for a visual representation of last year’s gallery space). The artwork will be printed as part of a full vinyl sticker wrap, requiring a print-ready high-res PDF or high-resolution tiff file.

Submit an artwork that represents your portfolio, in landscape format 891mm (wide) x 594mm (high) in 300 dpi, CMYK and pdf/tiff (no bleed needed), along with the following details:

Name of illustrator

Email address

Social media and/or website

Bio (not more than 50 words)

The space can be utilised as desired, potentially featuring more than one illustration. Refer to the attached image for inspiration.

Submissions Deadline

The application must be sent in through Submittable by no later than Tuesday, 5 January 2026. Applicants are to submit through this link.

The selection process for the featured artworks will be conducted by an adjudication board, which will meticulously review all submitted proposals to identify the most captivating and representative illustrations. With a focus on creativity and quality, the panel will select eight artworks that best showcase the diverse talent and vibrant artistic expression of Maltese illustrators. A collaborative approach will ensure a fair and comprehensive evaluation process.

If you have any questions, kindly email Ivania Attard on ivania.attard@gov.mt. 

Applicants are to submit their application through Submittable through this link by 5 January 2026