14TH INTERNATIONAL ESKİŞEHİR CARTOON FESTIVAL 2026
“SOLIDARITY” INTERNATIONAL CARTOON EXHIBITION
Country: Türkiye
City: Eskişehir
Theme: Solidarity
Festival: November 2026
Artwork Submission Deadline: October 20, 2026
Participation: International
Technique: Free
Number of Works: One or more works
Size: A4 or A3
Submission: By email
Entry Fee: Not specified
Organizer: Aktiffelsefe Culture Association
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The International Eskişehir Cartoon Festival is a cultural event organized every two years by Aktiffelsefe Culture Association. The festival began in Istanbul and later continued in Eskişehir, bringing together cartoonists from many different countries through the universal language of art.
Previous editions have explored the themes Everyday Life (1997), East-West (2000), Water and Life (2003), Global Warming (2005), Intercultural Tolerance (2007), Energy (2009), Philosophy (2012), Volunteering (2014), World Heritage (2016), Black and White “Reconciliation” (2018), Differences and Similarities (2020), Migration (2022), and Human is a Bridge (2024).
The theme of the 14th International Eskişehir Cartoon Festival in 2026 is “Solidarity.”
Cartoonists are invited to participate in the festival by submitting works related to the theme “Solidarity.”
SOLIDARITY
Human beings cannot exist entirely on their own. Our lives are possible through the relationships we establish with other people and with nature. We need knowledge, care, support, cooperation, shared production, and sharing. Throughout history, humanity has been able to survive and develop by acting together, supporting one another, and building a common life for all living beings. Therefore, needing one another is not a weakness or a deficiency; it is one of the fundamental characteristics of being human.
However, solidarity is not simply about needing one another or acting together for our own interests. Working together and helping one another do not always constitute solidarity. What makes solidarity a virtue is being able to value another person’s existence and well-being independently of our own interests. It means being able to recognize another person’s needs, vulnerability, and difficulties; going beyond our own interests when necessary; and considering the common good.
In this sense, solidarity is the ability to care about the lives of others not only when they are similar to us or able to offer something in return, but also despite our differences. It is not only a relationship between people; it is also a capacity for establishing a relationship between human beings and nature.
Solidarity also means being able to take responsibility without expecting something in return. The relationship of “You help me, and I will help you” may be important in social life, but it does not fully explain the meaning of solidarity. Sometimes solidarity means being able to stand beside another person even when doing so will bring us no benefit.
Solidarity is not the opposite of being an individual. Taking responsibility for our own lives and caring about the responsibilities we have toward others are not contradictory. A person can stand on their own feet while also taking responsibility for the relationships they establish with others. Being able to stand independently does not mean that we do not need anyone.
The virtue of solidarity begins with recognizing this mutual interdependence. We need to understand that the knowledge, opportunities, and achievements we have are not solely the result of our own efforts; they also depend on the work and support of others and on the opportunities provided by the shared life around us. Therefore, solidarity is not merely helping another person; it is also feeling responsible for the world we share.
A strong society is measured not only by how successful its individuals are, but also by how much people can trust one another during difficult times and how well they can act together in the face of common problems.
For this reason, solidarity is not an expression of human weakness, but of our nature as relational beings. Recognizing that we need one another is the beginning of solidarity; recognizing that the well-being of others is not completely separate from our own transforms it into a virtue.
Solidarity is not a choice between “me” and “us.” It means that an individual can maintain personal responsibility while also accepting responsibility for the shared life of the community. It means going beyond accepting that we need one another and recognizing that we also have responsibilities toward one another.
Through this year’s exploration of the concept of “Solidarity,” Aktiffelsefe once again wishes to emphasize the idea of “A better human and a better world,” which it has been working to build for 35 years.
EXHIBITION AND FESTIVAL EVENTS
International Cartoon Exhibition
An international exhibition featuring cartoons submitted on the theme of “Solidarity” will be held in November 2026.
Symposium
A symposium on “Solidarity” will be organized with invited participants from the fields of art, science, and philosophy.
Additional Activities
Different activity areas related to the theme will be created within the exhibition space.
After the festival, the exhibited works will also be displayed in Aktiffelsefe branches and representative offices in Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Eskişehir, İstanbul, İzmir, İzmit, and Mersin, as well as at events organized by organizations abroad that cooperate with Aktiffelsefe Culture Association.
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
Theme
The theme of the exhibition is:
“Solidarity”
Works outside this theme cannot participate in the festival or exhibition.
The Festival Organizing Committee has the final authority in determining whether a work fits the theme.
The Organizing Committee operates under the chairmanship of cartoonist Tan Oral.
Technical Requirements
- The technique is free.
- Works may be black and white or color.
- Works must be A4 or A3 size.
- Works in other sizes may be evaluated, but they will not be eligible for exhibition.
- Artists may participate with one or more works.
HOW TO SUBMIT
Works may be submitted by email.
Email: contact@cartoonfest.org
Digital works must:
- be scanned at 300 dpi,
- be in JPEG format,
- be no larger than 2 MB.
File Naming
Files should be named as follows:
country_artistfullname_worknumber.jpeg
Example:
turkiye_alikorkmaz_1.jpeg
ARTWORK SUBMISSION DEADLINE
OCTOBER 20, 2026
All works must reach the Festival Organizing Committee no later than October 20, 2026.
RIGHTS OF USE
The usage rights of the submitted works belong to Aktiffelsefe Culture Association, provided that they are not used for commercial purposes.
The Association may publish and exhibit the works in Türkiye and abroad and use them in books, catalogs, magazines, and similar publications. It may also send them to other organizations for non-commercial publication or exhibition purposes.
The cartoonist retains all publication and financial rights to their work.
The exhibited cartoons will be compiled in a festival catalog. The catalog and related festival news may be published on the websites of Aktiffelsefe Culture Association and the Cartoon Festival.
CONTACT
Aktiffelsefe Culture Association – Eskişehir Branch
Public Relations Department
Vişnelik Mah. Gül Sok. No:18
26020 Odunpazarı – Eskişehir / TÜRKİYE
Phone: +90 222 220 51 66
WhatsApp: +90 553 167 26 93
Email: contact@cartoonfest.org
Website: www.cartoonfest.org
Questions may be sent by email or asked by phone between 09:00 and 19:30, both weekdays and weekends.
Important: Participants should check the official festival website before submitting their work to confirm the latest requirements and contact information. Dates, requirements, or submission procedures may be changed by the organizers.