2026 IRUDIKA RESIDENCES

The Irudika international professional illustration event is opening the application period for the ninth edition of its artist residencies, with the aim of promoting creativity in the field of illustration and graphic animation. The call for applications begins on 23 May and ends on 1 October 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

Irudika will select one person for each category and offer them a stay in creative spaces in Angoulême (France), Zapopan (Mexico), Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz between 2 March and 22 May. The person selected in the international illustration category will develop a personal illustration project and the image for the 2026 edition of Irudika.

The person selected in the animation category, a national call for entries, will develop a personal animation project and a piece lasting between 20 and 60 seconds, which will be used as a promotional video for Irudika 2026.

Each residency comes with a gross financial award of 2,150€, 1,000€ in copyright fees for the transfer of the opening sequence and poster, and another 1,000€ to cover travel expenses between the Basque Country and Angoulême, as well as accommodation during the different phases and exhibition materials. In addition, Euskal Irudigileak will award 150€ as remuneration for participation in the opening discussion of the residencies.

The residency concludes with the opening of the exhibition and presentation of the poster and animated promotional clip for Irudika in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

The Irudika residencies are made possible thanks to the support of Fundación Vital Fundazioa, Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), Fundación Bilbaoarte Fundazioa, La Maison des Auteurs d'Angoulême and La Casa del Autor de Zapopan, Mexico. Irudika is organised by the Professional Association of Illustrators of the Basque Country, Euskal Irudigileak, with the support of the Basque Government, the Provincial Council of Álava, Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council, the Spanish Ministry of Culture and Sport, and Artium Museoa, among many other collaborating entities.

For more information, you can download the rules here:

HOW TO PARTICIPATE?

REQUIREMENTS CALL FOR ILLUSTRATION

Candidates wishing to be considered for the grant must submit:

• - Completed application form.
• - Curriculum vitae + 3 representative illustrations by the author
• - Dossier (Between 2 and 5 pages). Description of the project to be undertaken during the residency, no more than 10,000 characters in length, and explaining the planned work, the theme, and techniques to be used. It may also be accompanied by drawings, sketches, or designs.
• - A motivation letter.
• - Valid identity card and certificate of residence or census.
• - Affidavit that the candidate is the sole author of the submitted works.
• - Projects must not involve the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence software at any stage.

Candidates should send their application to the following email address residencias@irudika.eus and including as the subject: Residencia Ilustración Irudika 2026.

REQUIREMENTS CALL FOR ANIMATION

Candidates wishing to be considered for the grant must submit:

• - Census registration certificate.
• - Curriculum vitae, attaching some of their most representative works produced between 2020 and 2025, lasting a minimum of 30 seconds and maximum of 10 minutes in mp4 format and no more than 100 Mb in size.
• - Description of the bumper project to be undertaken during the residency, no more than 10,000 characters in length,and explaining the planned work, the theme and techniques to be used. It may also be accompanied by drawings, sketches or designs.
• - A motivation letter.
• - Copy of the DNI, NIE, Passport or document accrediting the nationality or legal residence in Spain of the candidate.
• - Affidavit that the candidate is the sole author of the submitted works.

Candidates should send their application to the following email address residencias@irudika.eus and including as the subject: Residencia Animación Irudika 2026.

JURY:

- Kike Infame (Head of Irudika Residences)
- Tània Manzanal (Selected for the 2025 Animation Residency)
- Harriet Lenneman (Selected for the 2025 Illustration Residency)
More to be confirmed...

Institutons:
- Acción cultural Española AC/E
- Vital Fundazioa
- Maison des auteurs  
- Casa del Autor de Zapopán (México)
- Bilbaoarte Fundazioa