Biennial of Animation Bratislava 2026

Festival description:

The Biennial of Animation Bratislava—BAB 2026 (hereinafter “Festival”) is an international festival of animated films for children and youth organized by BIBIANA—The International House of Art for Children. The Biennial of Animation Bratislava is held under the auspices and with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic.

2026 Call for Entries

Eligibility: 

• Only animated films or films that contain animated parts will be included in the competition program of the Festival.
• The maximum length of films in the category of short films is up to 30 minutes, and they cannot be older than two years. 
• In the competition category of feature films, the minimum accepted length is 65 minutes, and the films cannot be older than two years.
• Only authors under the age of 15 can apply for the junior film competition, and their films cannot be older than two years.

Competition:

• Short animated film for children (up to 12)
• Short animated film for youth (up to 18)
• Animated feature film for kids and youth
• Junior (Films made by children)

• Regulations and submit via FilmFreeway
• Deadline: 31 March 2026

2024 Coverage

• The Biennial of Animation Bratislava In Crisis

Press Release

"On Monday, 25 March 2024, Zuzana Liptáková, the director of the Biennial of Animation Bratislava (BAB), was dismissed with immediate effect. The Minister of Culture of the Slovak Republic, Martina Šimkovičová, dismissed her without giving a reason, despite her being the first-ever director of BAB and BIBIANA, the international house of art for children, who was elected through a public selection procedure.

With concern, we observe the non-transparent actions of the current government, which are already affecting the field of art for children and young people. With this insensitive action, the Ministry is threatening the long-established credibility and international reputation of BIBIANA’s projects.

The new festival team, which has been preparing the 17th Biennial of Animation Bratislava since September, distances itself from the decision of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic and, for the reasons mentioned above, ends its involvement in the preparations of the festival.

The future of the festival and its content is unclear at the moment.

We would like to thank all our partners and friends, both at home and abroad, for their support.

Lucia Dubravay Trautenberger, BAB Executive Director
Andrej Kolenčík, BAB Program Director
Lívia Filusová, BAB Festival Production
Jana Vicenová, BAB Production Manager "

2022 Festival Coverage

• Award winners

2019 Coverage:

• Awards