Exciting Announcement of the 2nd KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA CONTEST for Aspiring Artists

Discover the Future of Manga: The 2nd KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA CONTEST

KADOKAWA Corporation, headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, has officially announced the launch of the 2nd KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA CONTEST. This international manga competition aims to uncover and support creators aspiring to become professional manga artists from around the world. The submission period will run from September 7, 2026, to February 28, 2027, with winners expected to be announced in May 2027.

Following the success of its inaugural event, the contest will continue to feature two categories: the "Manga Category" and the "Wordless Manga Category." Entries will be judged by KADOKAWA's experienced editors and contest officials. In addition to cash prizes, winners will receive invitations to a ceremony held in Japan and support from KADOKAWA’s editorial team to help facilitate their debut in manga publishing.

Background of the Contest’s Creation

KADOKAWA's commitment to discovering talent from around the globe is grounded in its mission of "Global Media Mix with Technology." They focus on delivering created intellectual properties (IPs) worldwide through technological means. As part of this initiative, KADOKAWA organized the first Wordless Manga Contest in 2024, encouraging creators to express stories without using dialogue or text. The following year, in 2025, to broaden participation, the Manga Category was introduced, allowing entries that included spoken dialogue. The KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA CONTEST was launched, receiving a remarkable response with 1,959 submissions from 118 countries and regions, due to the multilingual entry acceptance in five languages: Japanese, English, Spanish, French, and Traditional Chinese.

Supporting Creatives to Commercial Success

Winners of the contest will be paired with KADOKAWA editors who will guide them through the process of refining their work for commercial release. For instance, masterlynx, an artist from India, won the Silver Award in the inaugural Wordless Manga Contest. With editorial assistance, their entry was developed into a commercial project, leading to the launch of the series "Kung Fu Kanful" on the comic portal KADOKAWA in May 2026. KADOKAWA has also started providing support for the winners of the first KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA CONTEST to set them on their path to serialized publication.

Editor-in-Chief's Insight

In reflecting on the challenges faced by aspiring manga artists globally, Seikawa Noboru, head of the Overseas Manga Editorial Department, highlighted the lack of commercial outlets for creators outside Japan. Many foreign artists struggle to share their work with audiences due to market constraints in their countries.

To counter this, KADOKAWA seeks to facilitate the commercial debut of international talent, providing a supportive environment bolstered by experienced editors who can assist in the creation of high-quality projects. The growing recognition of the contest has been encouraging, as many aspiring creators describe it as motivation for pursuing their dream of debuting in Japan. As they look forward to the second edition of the contest, KADOKAWA aims to build an even larger bridge between global manga artists and readers.

Contest Details

- Application Period: September 7, 2026 – February 28, 2027
- Categories:

- Manga Category: Manga works featuring dialogue and speech bubbles. Submissions accepted in Japanese, English, Spanish, French, or Traditional Chinese.
- Wordless Manga Category: Manga works that tell a story without dialogue or text. Open to submissions regardless of language.

- Eligibility: Open to professionals, amateurs, individuals, teams, and corporations of any nationality and age (parental consent required for minors).
- Prizes: Gold Award: 10,000 USD; Silver Award: 5,000 USD; Bronze Award: 3,000 USD; Effort Award: 300 USD.
- Benefits for Winners: Invitations to an award ceremony in Japan and editorial support for striving towards commercial serialization.
- Submission Instructions: Applications must be submitted through the contest’s official site.
- Announcement of Results: Expected in May 2027.

Official website links:

About KADOKAWA Corporation

KADOKAWA is a comprehensive entertainment company involved in publishing, film, gaming, web services, education, and the operation of IP experience facilities, notably in Tokorozawa Sakura Town. Their strategy utilizes technology to create and deliver exceptional IPs worldwide through a global media mix. More About KADOKAWA