Do you want to see your art on a Villager puzzle in 2026? This is your opportunity to share your art and get feedback from a village of puzzle lovers. We’re looking for some talented Canadian women artists to share their art for consideration in one of three 2026 puzzle collections.
Last year, over 150 Canadian women artists shared their work, and together we’ve sold thousands of puzzles—supporting women-owned businesses across Canada.
If you’re considering submitting your art, here’s everything you need to know:
Competition Phases & Key Dates
Here’s the full timeline for submissions:
Phase 1: Puzzle Art Submissions
- Share your artwork on Instagram, tagging @villagerpuzzles and using #villagerartist2026
- Must be a post or reel (not a story), and your account must be public
- Deadline: share on Instagram by September 19, 2025 at midnight
Phase 2: Puzzle Art Voting
- Villager will shortlist the top 10 submissions on September 20, 2025
- Community voting runs until September 26, 2025 at midnight
- Winners will be contacted by September 30, 2025
- If selected for the spring collection, final artwork and signed licensing agreements are due October 15, 2025
Questions? I'll be hosting an Instagram live on Fri, Sept 5 at noon PT (1pm MT/2pm CT/3pm ET/4pm AT) to review all the details and answer your questions.
What’s In It for You?
Artists selected through this open call will:
- Have their art featured in one of Villager’s three 2026 puzzle collections (spring, fall, or holiday)
- Be featured on our packaging and website, with your name, bio, and story shared with customers across North America
- Receive royalties—a new, supplemental revenue stream for your art business.
- Expand your product offerings without the cost of sourcing or manufacturing
- Access a wholesale purchase program so you can sell puzzles of your own art, too
- Maintain ownership of your art – we license for the puzzle category while you can continue to use the art in other ways
Success Stories From Past Calls
This program has already supported some incredible artist careers:
- Amy Dixon - creator of Prairie Sky was our very first winner—her puzzle has sold 3,300 units so far
- Tara Younggren - artist for Dream Library and our 2024 call for art winner has sold over 2,000 puzzles
- Tabbetha Gasper - artist for Once Upon a Prairie was our runner-up in 2024, has sold 1,400 puzzles
Inspiration for 2026
We’ve created a Pinterest mood board full of ideas, but here are some subjects we’d especially love to see:
- Quebec sightseeing – strolling the streets of Old Montreal and Quebec City
- Tulip festival – rows of brightly coloured flowers
- Classic Canadiana – think Bay blankets, maple syrup, cozy mittens
- East Coast lighthouses – picture sweeping Atlantic landscapes
- Ice skating – complete with twinkle lights and winter décor
- Road trip adventures – long winding roads through the gorgeous landscape of Canada
- Christmasy, cozy scenes – exploring the beauty of Canada during the holiday season
- Indigenous art of Canada – traditional clothing, totem poles set against beautiful scenery
- Picnic season – pillows, blankets, flowers & food
- Modern cowgirl – think glitter, floral, fun
- Fall sightseeing – autumn leaves & cozy vibes
- Fireworks over a Canadian city – bright bold splashes of colour over city scape
What Makes a Great Puzzle?
Through years of trial (and many, many puzzles!) we’ve found that the best puzzle art has:
- Lots of detail and texture (keeps puzzlers engaged).
- Vibrant colour palettes and defined shapes.
- Gradients instead of flat white space, which make puzzling easier.
- Unique subjects that feel joyful, cozy, or inspiring.
- Commercial appeal—nature, landscapes, Canadiana, and storytelling scenes perform especially well.
- High resolution art - 300dpi, sized 50x70 cm, CMYK
- Horizontal art is a puzzlers' favourite
Ready to Join the Village?
This open call is about more than puzzles—it’s about building a supportive, creative community where women artists can shine. We can’t wait to see your work and share it with puzzlers across Canada.
✨ Submit your art by September 19, 2025—and let’s make something beautiful together.