CityBeat is bringing back its Annual Manual, our guide to the people, places, experiences, traditions and wonderfully weird things that make Cincinnati Cincinnati.
This year’s theme is “For Cincinnati, By Cincinnati.”
And we’re taking that idea all the way to the cover.
Instead of telling an artist what Cincinnati is supposed to look like, we’re asking local artists and illustrators to show us what the city looks like to them.
Show us your Cincinnati
What does Cincinnati look, feel and sound like through your eyes?
Maybe it’s beautiful. Maybe it’s weird. Maybe it’s chaotic, funny, nostalgic or a little irreverent. Maybe it’s all of those things at once.
We’re looking for a colorful, bold and interesting piece of artwork that feels unmistakably Cincinnati — while still feeling like CityBeat.
Think alternative. Playful. Unexpected.
And yes, we love a good Cincinnati Easter egg. Your piece can hide references to neighborhoods, foods, buildings, characters, traditions, local lore, inside jokes or those very specific things only someone from Cincinnati would recognize.
But this is not a checklist.
You don’t have to draw the skyline. You don’t have to include the Roebling Bridge. There is no mandatory flying pig or plate of chili.
Unless, of course, that’s your Cincinnati.
What we really want is your interpretation of the city.
Make us look at it and think: “Yeah, that’s Cincinnati.”
What does the winner get?
CityBeat editors will select one submission to become the cover of the 2026 CityBeat Annual Manual.
The winning artist will receive:
- $200
- Their artwork featured on the cover of the 2026 Annual Manual
- A short feature inside the issue introducing the artist and their work
We’ll also select several runners-up whose artwork will be featured inside the Annual Manual.
How to enter
Submissions are open now through 11:59 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.
Artists should submit one original cover design along with their name, contact information, social media/website information if applicable and a short description of their piece and the Cincinnati references or inspiration behind it.
The technical stuff
We don’t want to box you in creatively, but there are a few things you’ll need to know before you start.
Size: The finished CityBeat cover measures 10.375 inches wide by 13.555 inches deep.
Artwork should be composed vertically.
CityBeat branding and cover text will appear near the top and bottom of the finished cover, so artists should avoid placing essential elements in those areas and leave enough visual breathing room for our design team to work with the piece.
File requirements: Submit artwork as a high-resolution JPG, PNG, PDF, TIFF or EPS file. Artwork should be created at the full cover dimensions or larger and at a minimum of 300 dpi for raster artwork.
Who can enter: The contest is open to artists and illustrators who live, work or study in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
Original artwork only: Entries must be the submitting artist’s original work and must not infringe on another person’s copyright, trademark or other intellectual property rights.
AI-generated artwork: Artwork created wholly or substantially using generative AI tools is not eligible. Digital illustration and other digital art-making tools are welcome, but the creative work itself must be the artist’s own.
Rights: Artists retain the copyright to their work. By submitting, entrants grant CityBeat permission to reproduce their submitted artwork in connection with the contest, including online, in print and on CityBeat’s social media channels. The winning artist and selected runners-up grant CityBeat permission to reproduce their artwork in the 2026 Annual Manual and in promotional materials related to the issue and contest. CityBeat will credit artists whenever reasonably possible.
Deadline: All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.
Cincinnati has been drawn, photographed, painted and explained in a million different ways.
Now we want to see yours. Submit below.
