Support and promote
editorial cartoons in Europe
The European Cartoon Award (ECA) was founded in 2019 to encourage cartoonists in their vital role and stimulate conversations about Europe. Presented annually by Studio Europa Maastricht, the award recognises the impact of cartoons on societal dialogue. In 2026, the ECA will be partnering with the Museum for Sound & Vision. The ECA’26 and Cartoons Day are supported by the City of The Hague, and Stimuleringsfonds voor de Journalistiek.
Quality journalism is of vital importance to healthy democracies – and cartoonists play a crucial role in this system of checks and balances. Their creations are the hallmark of an open society: often just a single image, they hold up a mirror, make change negotiable and induce public debate.
Cartoons are an important part of an open debate, of questioning both old ideas and introducing new ones. Yet, more than any other form of journalism, cartoons are feeling the strain of the shrinking space for freedom of expression.
To encourage cartoonists to continue their essential task, Studio Europa Maastricht and the European Press Prize have launched, in 2019, the European Cartoon Award, worth €10,000.
