Call for Entries Information
For more than 30 years, the Louie Awards have celebrated the very best in greeting cards, invitations, and announcements. Now it’s your turn to put your work in the spotlight!
We invite designers, artists, creators, and publishers from around the world to enter the 38th Annual Louie Awards, recognizing excellence in the greeting card industry. From unforgettable art and clever editorial to inspired design and exceptional craftsmanship, the Louie Awards honor the cards that capture life’s moments and spark connection.
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Entry Timeline:
- October 6 – January 14: Call for Submissions Open. Enter here.
- January 19: Cards samples due in the office.
- February 1 – February 19: Judging
- End of February/Early March: Finalists Announced
- September 2027: Winners Announced
How to Submit Entries
1. Determine Eligibility
2: Choose your category
View the full category list here. Many cards will fit into multiple categories, so you can decide which category you’d like to submit the card to. Each card can only be submitted once (with the exception of cards submitted as part of Rising Star, Writer of the Year and Artist of the Year).
3. Create or log in to your Award Force account
We use a platform called Award Force for entry submission as well as judging.
4. Submit your entries
Once you log in, go to My Entries and then click Start a New Entry. Fill out the form and click Add to Cart. If you want to submit multiple entries, you can either duplicate a previous one or start a new entry each time. Check out and pay for your entries.
5. Mail in your physical samples for judging
Because the first round of judging is done in person, we require everyone to send in physical samples of the cards to be judged. Review the mailing guidelines here. Physical samples are due in the office on Tuesday, January 19, 2027 but the earlier, the better. Once your cards are received, you will get an email letting you know.
If you don’t complete this step, your cards will not be judged and we do not offer refunds.
Cost to Enter
| Value Price – GCA MEMBERS ONLY | Early Bird | Regular | Late | |
| Oct 6 – 13 | Oct 14 – Nov 2 | Nov 3 – Dec 31 | Jan 1 – Jan 14 | |
| GCA Member Price | $60 (Buy 4, Get 5th Free) | $60 | $75 | $90 |
| Non-Member Price | N/A | $75 | $105 | $130 |
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Complimentary Entries for Diverse Makers
GCA is dedicated to diversifying the Louie Awards and highlighting makers and companies from underrepresented communities in our industry. We are offering two free Louie entries to any maker who self-identifies as part of the following communities: Black, AAPI, LGBTQIA+, Indigenous, Latinx.
These free entries can ONLY be used for the following categories:
- Celebrating LGBTQIA+
- Celebrating Latinx Culture
- Celebrating Black Culture
- Celebrating AAPI Culture
- Celebrating Indigenous Culture
To get a discount code to submit to these categories, check back here once entries open to everyone on October 14th.
Watch Informational Webinar
We hosted a webinar that covered a lot of important topics including category changes and Louie mythbusters. Check it out!
Call for Entries Close
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Have Additional Questions?
If you have additional questions that aren’t answered here, check out our Frequently Asked Questions page for more helpful information. Still don’t see your answer? Email gca@greetingcard.org.
We look forward to the Louie Awards every year. I love to see the beautiful work that comes from the designers and companies from across the country and around the world.
Become a GCA Member
Every GCA member saves on their Louie Awards card entries. But there are so many reasons to join. The GCA today represents nearly 200 American and international publishers from diverse businesses – ranging from young start-ups to established companies of all sizes, scopes and years in the industry – as well as suppliers that provide production services and product distribution at the wholesale level.