Young authors invited to retell ancient legends through comics in the "Tales of the Northern Winds" contest

The Russian State Library for Young Adults, with support from the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Russian Library Association, is holding the All-Russian Youth Contest for Illustrated Stories (Comics) "Tales of the Northern Winds". Its aim is not only to discover talented artists but also to make the cultural code of the Indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East accessible and relatable to young people today. Applications are open until 29 October.

"We aim to spark and strengthen interest in the region's cultural roots, which developed in harsh conditions long before civilisation reached these lands. The visual storytelling in these works will bring ancient tales to life and leave a lasting impression on everyone who encounters them. We invite talented creators from across the country to take part!" said the contest curator, Denis Lopatnikov.

Young creators aged 16 to 35 are invited to enter the creative contest. Entries are accepted in four categories. "Best Graphic Adaptation" allows entrants to retell a myth or legend faithfully in their own visual style. "Best Graphic Interpretation" invites participants to offer a bold perspective on an ancient story and show that a familiar myth can be told in a new way. To enter "Old Hero — New Tale", participants must place a character from an existing myth or legend in a new setting: the distant future, a realistic present, a mysterious past or an imagined world. "Best Wordless Graphic Story" requires entrants to tell a captivating story entirely through pictures, without a single line of dialogue.

One winner will be selected in each category. The best creators will receive graphics tablets, books from the contest's partners and other commemorative prizes. Winners will also have a chance to join the professional community: the jury may recommend the best entrants for membership of the Union of Writers of Russia or the Union of Literary Authors of Russia. Articles about the winners and their works will be published in "Dumai" ("Think") magazine and the online newspaper "Territory L", and their works will also be displayed in a themed exposition at the Russian State Library for Young Adults.

The contest jury is chaired by Askold Akishin, a leading figure in Russian comics. The panel includes artists, editors, scriptwriters and cultural experts. Judging will be rigorous but objective, taking into account the plot, artwork, style, development of the theme, compliance with the requirements and the creator's distinctive voice.

To take part, entrants must devise and draw a comic inspired by the myths and legends of the North, comprising two to six A4 pages. The work must be entirely original: AI-generated drawings will not be accepted. Entrants must save their work in high quality as a PDF, JPG or PNG file, specify the title of the myth or legend on which it is based, and register for the contest by 29 October 2026.

From 2 to 27 November, the jury will assess the entries and draw up a longlist and a shortlist of finalists. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on 22 December. Do not miss the chance to write your name into modern mythology by breathing new life into ancient tales. Full details are available on the contest website.

The Russian State Library for Young Adults and the National Centre RUSSIA support each other's projects and initiatives under a cooperation agreement signed in 2025, which aims to revive school and university students' interest in literature. In particular, the Russian State Library for Young Adults has traditionally supported the National Centre RUSSIA's original projects: the International Symposium "Inventing the Future", the video essay contest "Dreams of the Future" and the All-Russian Science Fiction Literary Award.