GEAs Call for Entries, Categories and Online Entry

Kristopher Gasch of Fey Printing (right) accepts the 2024 GEAs Best of Show plaque from sponsor Mark Harpke of Fujifilm.

Annual Graphics Excellence Awards Competition

The 2026 Graphics Excellence Awards Competition is now closed. Start saving your best projects for the 2027 competition, which will open next January.

If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Flick at (262) 201-4730 or sflick@glga.info.

Call for Entries

Who Is Eligible to Enter?
Any company in the graphic arts industry that has a direct role in creating a printed piece may enter it in the GEAs, provided that the piece was made in one of the three states in our region (Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin). This includes printing and postpress companies, design firms, ad agencies, in-plant printing operations and trade houses. Students also may enter pieces that they create as a part of their graphic arts education coursework. NOTE: You do not need to be a member of GLGA to enter the GEAs.

How Many Pieces Can Be Entered? As many as you’d like! There is no limit to the number of entries from any one company or individual. The same piece may be entered into more than one category as long as it meets the criteria for every category in which it is entered. GLGA reserves the right to re-categorize any entry if it is determined that the entry may be judged more fairly by being placed in a different category.

How to Enter Select two un-mounted copies of the pieces to be entered for each category. Complete the easy online GEA submission form. Once you have submitted your projects online, we will send your project tags in PDF format by email within 2-3 business days.

Send entries to: Great Lakes Graphics Association Attn: Graphics Excellence Awards N27W23960 Paul Road, Suite 200 Pewaukee, WI 53072

Notification of Winners Best of Category, Best of Division, Award of Excellence and Certificate of Merit winners will be notified by mail or electronically after judging is completed. Best of Category, Best of Division, People’s Choice and Best of Show Awards will be presented at the Awards Celebrations in late May/early June 2026.

2026 Entry Fees An entry fee is required for each piece entered into the competition. The fee must be included when the entries are submitted. In addition to checks, GLGA accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express credit cards. The same piece entered in multiple categories pays an entry fee for each category it is entered in.

Number of Entries	Cost Per Entry – Members	Cost Per Entry – Non-Members
1-4	$45	$75
5-9	$39	$65
10-19	$30	$55
20+	$35	$45

2026 Important Dates

Deadline for Entry: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Judging: Thursday, March 5, and Friday, March 6, 2026

All entries must be in the GLGA office by the end of day on Wednesday, March 4. Judging begins first thing on the morning of the 5th, and your entries must be on the table when the judges begin their work.