The TABI CARTA Awards

TABI has been the home of the CARTA Awards since 2023.

See all the winners of the 2026 CARTA Awards:

2026 Awards

The mission

The CARTA Awards mission is to celebrate excellence in the tarot and oracle card community, specifically for Decks, and related Non-Fiction publications created in the previous calendar year. The aim of the CARTA Awards is to recognize the creativity and innovation in products related to the study of divination and the Esoteric Arts. By recognizing and celebrating this innovation, the awards contribute to the growth and evolution of the tarot community, and provides opportunities for creators to gain exposure to a wider audience. 

How does it work?

The five judges on the panel evaluate and review every entry and score them according to criteria that is specific to the category(ies) they entered. The score sheets are then submitted and tabulated to determine the highest scoring entries. From their combined scores, the judges will choose and present Winner and Runner-up awards to the highest scoring entries in each category. The judges also put forward a total of five entries from each of the Tarot, Oracle and the Publication categories for on-line public voting for the Peoples Choice Award, and five entries for the TABI Choice Award.

Who can enter?

Anyone who has created an original deck or non-fiction publication, and has legal rights to it’s publication in the previous calendar year, either self published or through a publisher, may enter. Please do read TABI’s AI policy, below, before submitting.

What can be entered?

Any original divinatory related deck or publication that has been published in the previous calendar year, and that has not been previously published. We ask that entrants include a photo of their Copyright Page so we can verify the publication dates. We do not accept second (or later) editions, or republications with some cards that have been changed, or decks that have been self published and then republished by a publisher. We also do not accept decks or publications created either entirely or in part using artificial intelligence.

TABI’s AI Policy

TABI Artificial Intelligence Policy Revised January 2026
Applied to the TABI CARTA Awards, beginning in February 2026

Our expectation is that creators and artists will produce their own work, rather than deliver AI-designed/executed work to TABI. This applies to submissions to the CARTA Awards and elsewhere, e.g. for our deck and book reviews. We recognize that AI is progressing rapidly and becoming more established throughout all aspects of daily life, and as the consequences for creators become more apparent, we may revisit this decision.

Any deck created, either wholly or in part, by using AI technology is prohibited from consideration for a TABI CARTA Award. Likewise, AI books, guidebooks, or other written materials will not be eligible for submission for a TABI CARTA Award. Any creator, producer, etc. who does not properly identify AI use in their CARTA submission will be immediately disqualified. Entry fees will not be refunded and any potential awards, if identified after the fact, will be rescinded and awarded to the first runner-up.

How do I enter?

If registration is open, you will see a link to the registration form on this page. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter to keep up with TABI and CARTA news.

What are the dates of registration?

This will vary from year to year, but generally on or around 1st February, through March 15th.

Is there a fee to enter?

Yes, there is a fee of £11 for each item and category you wish to enter. You can choose to enter one or multiple categories, as long as your submission complies with the guidelines of that category.

What are the categories that I can enter?

  • Best Tarot Deck: Any Tarot deck. (Publisher or Self-published)
  • Best Oracle Deck: Any Oracle deck. (Publisher or Self-published)
  • Best Self Published Tarot Deck Any Self Published Tarot Deck
  • Aspiring Debut Artist: Any Tarot or Oracle deck illustrator who has not previously illustrated a published a deck.
  • Aspiring Debut Author: Any author that has not previously been published.
  • Outstanding Artistic Achievement: Any illustrated Tarot or Oracle decks.
  • Best Publication Independent of a Deck: Any non-fiction publication that supports the study of divination and/or supporting esoteric arts that is not intended to support a specific deck.
  • Best Guidebook accompanying a deck: Any guidebook that is written as a guide for a specific deck.

What information will I need in order to register?

The registration form asks for the following information:

  • Your email address
  • Your name
  • Whether or not you are the creator or the publisher
  • Publisher’s Name, or Self Published
  • Product name
  • Which categories you would like to enter
  • Your PayPal address
  • Name of the artist
  • Name of the author
  • Date of publication and verification
  • Artistic medium used
  • Images of your product to upload for promotional purposes
  • Permission to use your images for promotional purposes
  • How you would like to be contacted
  • Mailing address to send an award to

What happens after I register?

We will check your registration form and contact you if we have any questions. Once everything is settled, the Treasurer will invoice your PayPal account for the category/categories you have requested. After the invoice has been paid, we will send you the addresses of the judges so that you can send your deck or publication to them to be judged. The images you provide may be used to promote your entry on the TABI Facebook page as well as the TABI Instagram and CARTA Pages.

How will my submissions be judged?

The judges spend months carefully reviewing each entry. We assess and score the packaging, card stock, artwork, guidebook, creativity, artistry, and readability. The judge’s scoresheets are submitted and tallied, and the top entries in each category are determined for the winners and runners-up. The top Tarot, Oracle and Publications categories are then submitted for the Public Choice Award via on-line voting. In addition, there is a vote on the TABI forum for TABI members.

How do I cast my vote in the People’s Choice Award?

You can vote in the People’s Choice Award here on TABI’s website.

The CARTA Awards ceremony

The Awards are announced in July. For 2026, the Awards Ceremony will be streamed LIVE on TABI’s YouTube channel @tabitarot at 7:30pm UK time. Entrants are encouraged to attend, and a link for the event will be emailed to all participants. Shortly after the Award Ceremony, our social media will be updated with the Winners and Runners-up. After the Awards are announced, the winners will be sent their trophies and or certificates to the mailing address provided on the registration form.

Questions?

You can email the CARTA Awards Co-ordinator from our Contacts page.