International Virtual Cartoon Exhibition 2026 -Handala Never Dies-

Cartoon Home Network International (CHNI) has announced an international open call for the “Handala Never Dies” International Virtual Cartoon Exhibition 2026, organized to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the death of Palestinian cartoonist Naji Al-Ali.

The virtual exhibition invites cartoonists and visual artists from around the world to submit works honoring the artistic and intellectual legacy of Naji Al-Ali and the enduring significance of his iconic character, Handala.

The exhibition will open online on August 28, 2026, through the official Facebook page of Cartoon Home Network International.

According to the organizers, Handala emerged from the pain of the Nakba and continues to bear witness to the loss of a homeland while preserving the memory of its land, homes, and roads.

“Handala was born out of the pain of the Nakba, remaining a witness to the moment a homeland was stolen, carrying the memory of the land, homes, and roads—a voice for the voiceless.”

Exhibition Themes

Artists may submit works addressing one or more of the following themes:

Portraits and Tributes

Portraits, caricatures, and tribute artworks honoring the life, ideas, artistic career, and legacy of Naji Al-Ali.

The Spirit of Handala

Artworks presenting Handala as a symbol of resilience, resistance, justice, the right of return, and the continuing struggle against displacement.

Human Rights and Freedom

Cartoons and visual artworks addressing freedom, human dignity, justice, freedom of expression, and opposition to oppression and injustice.

Submission Guidelines

Each participating artist may submit between one and three artworks.

Both digitally created works and traditional hand-drawn artworks are eligible. Traditional works must be submitted as high-resolution scans.

Submitted artworks must meet the following technical requirements:

JPG or PNG format

300 DPI resolution

Suitable image quality for online exhibition

Artists must include the following information with their submissions:

Full name

Country

A short biography of two or three lines

Title of each artwork, where applicable

Submission Deadline

The deadline for submissions is August 10, 2026.

The International Virtual Cartoon Exhibition will officially open on August 28, 2026, marking the 39th commemoration of Naji Al-Ali.

Selected artworks will be presented through the official Facebook page of Cartoon Home Network International.

How to Submit

Artists should send their artworks and the required personal information by email to:

chni2016@gmail.com

The international open call was announced by Fadi Abou Hassan, Editor-in-Chief of Cartoon Home Network International.

About Handala

Created by Naji Al-Ali, Handala has become one of the most recognizable figures in Palestinian visual culture. Usually depicted as a barefoot child with his back turned to the viewer, the character represents displacement, resilience, resistance, justice, and the hope of returning home.

Through the “Handala Never Dies” exhibition, artists from different countries are invited to reinterpret this enduring symbol and contribute to an international visual dialogue on human rights, freedom, memory, and justice.