Illustrator in Residence 2026
Submissions are now open for the Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye 2026 Illustrator in Residence position, offering an emerging artist the opportunity to take part in Hay Festival 2026 and contribute work to the Festival's materials.
Programme cover illustration from Beth Suzanna, Illustrator in Residence 2023The residency facilitates and inspires visual storytelling in Wales and the wider UK, supporting artists in reaching a wider audience while emphasising the important role artists play in bringing words to life. The successful applicant will receive a fee of £3,500 for their work, plus an allowance for Festival expenses.
Who has held the residency before?
Five artists and illustrators have held the Hay Festival Illustrator in Residence position to date. View the previous artist and illustrator’s work.
What does the Illustrator in Residence do?
Between November and June 2026, the successful artist will:
- Create an image or artwork for the Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye 2026 programme cover
- Support the Hay Festival 2026 designers with assets for their marketing materials
- Support the Hay Festival merchandise team with assets for a limited range of merchandise, ensuring the artwork is suitable for various product formats
- Attend Hay Festival 2026 for and take part in programming while creating work to be shared online during the Festival
- Create an image or artwork for the Hay Festival Winter Weekend programme cover and support the designers with their marketing materials
Am I eligible to apply?
The residency is open to all artists and illustrators with an emphasis on those in the development stage of their careers. Applicants must be a resident in the UK.
How do I apply?
Please email your application to maxine@hayfestival.org and include:
- A CV and short biography
- A portfolio of recent work
- A brief outline of how you would approach the residency
- An outline of how the residency would assist your career development
Submissions close at 12.00 BST on Tuesday 21 October.
The judges reserve the right to request further information, including further examples of your work, at a later stage of the application process.
For any questions, please email maxine@hayfestival.org.
What happens next?
Submissions close at 12.00 BST on Tuesday 21 October 2025. Judges will review applications and aim to appoint the Illustrator in Residence by Tuesday 3 November 2025.