The international Global Zodiac Design Competition Belgium is opening its call for entries for its 6th consecutive edition! Hosted by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Kingdom of Belgium, the Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchanges Center and the China Cultural Center in Brussels, organized by Atlas HiSEAS and co-organized by the China-Europe International Design Culture Association (CEIDA), the competition invites artists and creators from Belgium and across Europe to reinterpret the Chinese zodiac.
Participants can enter one of two categories: Graphic Design & Fine Arts (illustrations, posters, visual identity, IP characters, Chinese painting, watercolor, oil painting, printmaking, mixed media and more) or AI Design (digital art, static visuals or short videos created with artificial intelligence tools, accompanied by a short statement on the tools and process used).
2027 will be the Year of the Goat, a symbol of gentleness, kindness and prosperity. Each participant is invited to submit an original work inspired by this sign.
Since its launch in 2022, the competition has showcased its winners in several landmark venues in Brussels: exhibitions at the China Cultural Center, a projection on the façade of the Royal Museums of Art and History during the Bright Brussels Festival, and a presentation at Woluwe Shopping Center during the Chinese New Year celebrations.
Submission Requirements:
- All entries must be original, closely related to the competition theme, creative and visually engaging, and convey positive cultural values.
- The content and form of all entries, including text, graphics and images, must comply with the applicable laws, regulations and relevant policies of both China and Belgium. Entries must not contain insulting, racist or regionally discriminatory elements, pornography, violence, infringements of privacy, content unsuitable for public dissemination, or any other content contrary to public order or accepted standards of conduct.
- The content and form of entries must respect religious beliefs and sensitivities and must not infringe upon any third party's patent rights, copyrights, trademark rights, image rights, privacy rights or other lawful rights and interests.
- For visual arts (graphic design and fine arts) entries, the main content must be independently created by the participant. AI-generated content will not be accepted as the main visual component of the work.
- Submitted works must not contain the participant's name, organization or affiliation, including English names or pinyin abbreviations, or any other information that may identify the participant.
- Participants should retain the original bitmap or vector files of their works in formats suitable for media communication, printing and production, to facilitate subsequent promotion, exhibition or further application if selected.
Competition Statement:
- Participants must warrant that they have complete and sufficient intellectual property rights to their submitted works and that the works do not infringe upon any lawful rights and interests of third parties, including intellectual property rights, portrait rights, reputation rights and privacy rights. Any legal liability arising from a breach of the above warranties shall be borne by the participant.
- Copyright ownership, authorization for use, subsequent development of award-winning works, and the related rights and interests of outstanding works shall be subject to the copyright statement ultimately issued by the Organizing Committee of the Global Zodiac Design Competition and the relevant declaration documents submitted by participants.
- Participants' personal information will be collected and processed solely for competition-related purposes, including identity verification, entry verification, communication, organization of the judging process, and the issuance of certificates and distribution of prizes.
Free to enter, open to all creators based in Belgium and across Europe
Deadline: 30 October 2026
Submit entries to: [email protected]
A great opportunity to showcase your creativity through a competition with international reach, with selected works potentially featured during the 2027 Chinese New Year celebrations in Belgium.
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