Season Poster Design Competition

2026 Winner

The Ravinia Women’s Board congratulates this year’s Ravinia Season Poster designer, Sarah Kurpiel.

The season poster’s concept and design are guided by the same vision behind the architecture of the Hunter Pavilion: the meeting of history and future, and music and nature. Kurpiel’s design combines bold lines, simple shapes, and vibrant colors to create a contemporary design rooted in Ravinia’s history. The shape of the trees was directly inspired by the stained glass windows in the historic Martin Theatre. As the tree trunks extend downward, they form piano keys, symbolizing the connection between nature and music.

Kurpiel will receive a $1,000 cash prize, and her design will be featured in the promotion of the upcoming 2026 Ravinia season, distributed among hundreds of Chicagoland stores and public spaces, and sold exclusively at the Ravinia Festival Shop.

On Sale March 12

About Sarah Kurpiel

Sarah Kurpiel is a self-taught picture book author/illustrator from Downers Grove, IL. Her recent books include More than a Tree, Snake’s Big Mistake, and A Little Like Magic, which received the American Library Association’s 2025 Schneider Family Book Award. Inspired by animals, nature, and moments of wonder in everyday life, Sarah hopes her work brings a bit of happiness into the world. During her years working as a librarian, she designed countless signs, flyers, and web graphics, deepening her personal interest in graphic design. Sarah has fond memories of visiting Ravinia with her family and friends.

Ravinia’s annual poster design competition is open to all artists, including students, each fall. The winning artwork is featured as a large-format printed poster and on other products sold in the Ravinia Festival Shop, as well as distributed among hundreds of Chicagoland stores and public spaces as a distinctive signature of the Ravinia season.

Since 1974, the Ravinia Women’s Board has sponsored this annual competition to craft the poster design that will represent the upcoming summer concert season. Over more than 100 years of history, Ravinia has always been a place where nature and music intertwine to create a shared experience that inspires each guest and the world around us.

For over 50 years, the Women’s Board has been heavily involved in fundraising for Ravinia, including as hosts of the annual Gala Benefit Evening, leaders of the Ravinia Festival Shop and Wintrust Chair & Table Rental operations, and creators of two best-selling Noteworthy cookbooks. The board’s work supports Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play^® music education and community engagement programs and Steans Institute professional artist training programs, enhances the beauty of the park with trees and sculptures, and much more!