Kamagurka, Karl, Kroll Win Press Cartoon Belgium Grand Prix
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The Press Cartoon Belgium has announced the winners of their Grand Prix for 2026. The prize is given to the best cartoons that appear in Belgian press or on social media. The theme of this year’s winers is war and the casualties of war. The first place winner goes to Kamagurka (Luc Zeebroek), second place to Karl (Karl Meersman), and third place goes to Kroll (Pierre Kroll).
First prize: Kamagurka
From the jury:
Several of these cartoons—including this one by Kamagurka—specifically highlight the fact that Israel is killing journalists with total impunity in this atrocious war. The jury selected this drawing as the winner because its style—at once striking and clear—highlights the contradiction between the banal slogan “No news is good news” and the reality on the ground. It is a clever yet cynical way of demonstrating that Israel is doing everything in its power to conceal the dire situation in Gaza. The message is, therefore, immediately clear.
The jury also emphasizes that this drawing symbolizes the pressure exerted on journalists worldwide and the growing erosion of press freedom. In Gaza, the situation is extreme: journalists are simply murdered, even when they are easily identifiable. Yet Donald Trump, too, constantly disparages journalists and pressures media outlets that do not align with his version of events. In other words, this drawing also serves as a condemnation of attacks on freedom of expression.
Second Place: KARL
From the jury:
With this drawing, Karl highlights the disparity in military power among the major global powers: the United States, China, Russia, and Europe. According to the jury, this constitutes a pertinent and highly artistic way of demonstrating that Europe continues to cling to “soft power,” while the other major powers abandoned it long ago.
Third Place: Pierre Kroll
From the jury:
With this award, the jury wishes to highlight the lack of media coverage surrounding this issue. The drawing perfectly illustrates the situation: the Afghan woman is not only imprisoned but also silenced. In reality, she is unable to exist—not even in confinement.
One detail that the jury noticed and particularly appreciated is the flies circling the man’s head. They symbolize that he is a repulsive individual and that the entire situation reeks of decay. They serve to reinforce the drawing’s message.
Finalists
The Press Cartoon Belgium reports that the contest fielded a short list of 520 entries from which 106 advanced to the nomination stage of 12 finalists. The three winners above will take home €5,000, €2,000 and €1,000 respectively. Below is the full list of finalists:
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