Illustration is at the heart of Folio. We work with incredible artists from around the world and love discovering new talent, whether they paint in oils, carve wood engravings or create digital masterpieces.

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.

Our judges are Folio Head of Editorial, James Rose, Folio Fiction Editor Sophia Schoepfer, and FBIA 2024 winner Zack Rock. Plus this year, we have a very special guest judge joining the panel. Bestselling author Erin Morgenstern (The Night Circus, The Starless Sea) will be bringing her unparalleled imagination and eye for storytelling to the judging table!

The winner will receive a £2,000 cash prize, plus £500 of Folio vouchers, and a chance for their work to be featured in an upcoming Folio book. Five runners-up will also receive £500 in Folio vouchers.

Important: Artwork must be based on the set text—submissions inspired by other sources will not be accepted. AI-generated artwork is inadmissible.

There’s no entry fee, and the competition is open to anyone over 18 who hasn’t been commissioned by Folio before.