The Rube Goldberg Cartoon Contest®
About Competing Cartoon
This is where it all started for Rube! He was a cartoonist first, and he was the founding father of the National Cartoon Society. Draw your own Rube Goldberg invention cartoon and send it in to enter the competition. The top submissions for this contest will be announced on our website and at the Reuben Awards, the highest honor for a cartoonist and named after Rube.
--All ages are welcome - completely free to enter!
--Invention cartoons will be selected for the web gallery show
--Judged by the RGI team and members of the NCS
--Prizes include Visa gift cards, a Rube Goldberg print & more!
How to Enter
- DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATE: Illustrate your cartoon in whatever style you'd like, just make sure it accomplishes a clear task. Ages 17 & under compete in the Cartoonist Division, while ages 18 & older compete in the Illustrator Division.
- SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY: Take a picture of your physical drawing, upload your digital art, whatever you need to do. Please make sure your entry is uploaded as a JPEG or PDF.
Scoring Criteria
A panel of Rube Goldberg experts will subjectively judge your illustration. The main things we will be looking for are simple machines, humor, and creativity. A good cartoon is easy to follow and entertaining. See the rulebook for more helpful hints and specifications.
Copyright Notice and Legal Disclaimer: The 2026 Rube Goldberg Machine Contest® rulebook, including all rules, regulations, as well as the official 2026 annual task, is protected under copyright law, with all rights reserved. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or duplication of the rulebook, annual task, or its contents is strictly prohibited and WILL be subject to legal action.
