Reverse Bang Art Submissions 2026
Artwork Due: Wednesday, 14 January, 5:00 PM Central Time
Early submissions are welcome!
When you submit your art, please give the file your LJ, DW, or AO3 name. If you are submitting more than one prompt, please submit them separately and give the files your LJ, DW, or AO3 name, plus a number (1, 2, 3).
You are welcome to create as much art per prompt as you would like, but can only submit one piece of art per prompt for the claim. Please only send the one piece you want to submit for the claim for each prompt. While videos are welcome, please submit a still picture for the art claim. You may submit up to three separate prompts.
Even if you only submit one piece of artwork for a prompt, and there is currently no companion art, you are welcome to create accompanying pieces later and can update your submitted artwork as needed to go with the story.
As noted on the sign-up post, only ONE (1) banner per artist can contain crossover characters this year for the art claims (if a crossover story is written for any banner, it may be updated to include those characters if desired).
The art you submit for this challenge must be created by you. You may not submit someone else's artwork.
Please send submissions to ncischallenge@gmail (dot) com.
-Subject line: Artwork (number) by (your LJ, DW, or AO3 name)
Please include the following information in the body of your email when submitting your artwork:
Artist name:
LJ, DW, or AO3 name:
Categories allowed (Gen, Het, or Slash):
Pairing(s) allowed:
Crossovers allowed (if any):
Prompt (optional):
Not allowed (optional):
You may note "any" or "no preference" for the category allowed. For pairings, you can list one pairing only or as many as you wish if you want to give the author a choice. You can note that crossovers are not allowed. If crossovers are allowed, please note which crossover fandoms you are willing to work with. You may include a prompt if you would like. You are also welcome to note if there is something specific you do not wish to see in the story. You do not need to warn for things that are normally warned for, such as rape, non-con, major character death, graphic violence or torture, extreme kinks, BDSM, MPreg, gender-swap, any sexual situations involving minors, etc. We understand it's difficult for an artist to capture all of these, and things commonly warned for may be triggery to some people. Authors must ask the artist if they would be okay with any of the above before including them. Authors are allowed to send in questions about banners BEFORE the claims go live, so please check your email on Thursday or Friday, just in case.
The prompt summary is completely optional. If provided, like the art, it would be up to the author to interpret and write what they choose. Some writers like to have an idea of where to go, while others like to begin from scratch. If included, a short, general prompt would be best. I would not make anything too detailed. Just 1-2 words or sentences. It should not be a full storyline. It can also just be a suggestion for a scene to use, a starting point for the story or as simple as "happy ending" or "first time/kiss".
2026 NCIS Reverse Bang Schedule:
Author Sign-ups Open - Saturday, 15 November
Artist Sign-ups Open - Saturday, 15 November
Artist Sign-ups Close -Wednesday, 31 December Limited extension until Friday Jan 9th
Artwork Due - Wednesday, 14 January
Artwork Preview - Thursday, 15 January
Author Sign-ups Close - Friday, 16 January
Art Claims Open - Saturday, 17 January CLAIMS WILL BE CONDUCTED VIA EMAIL
Art claim will open at 17:00 GMT World clock, GMT, you can switch this to a 24-hour format if you
Rough Draft Due Date: Friday, 16 May
- We must receive your rough draft or hear from you by this date. If we do not hear from you or receive your rough draft by this date, your claim may be reassigned to a backup author.
Availability check and schedule posts - mid-May
Completed Stories and Art Due: 31 May (subject to change)
Posting Begins - TBA June (subject to change)
Progress check-ins are not mandatory, but we do appreciate hearing from our participants.
Check-In # 1: 14 Feb
Check-In # 2: 14 Mar
Check-In # 3: 11 Apr
Progress check-ins are not mandatory, but we do appreciate hearing from our participants.
Early submissions are welcome!
-Subject line: Artwork (number) by (your LJ, DW, or AO3 name)
Please include the following information in the body of your email when submitting your artwork:
Artist name:
LJ, DW, or AO3 name:
Categories allowed (Gen, Het, or Slash):
Pairing(s) allowed:
Crossovers allowed (if any):
Prompt (optional):
Not allowed (optional):
You may note "any" or "no preference" for the category allowed. For pairings, you can list one pairing only or as many as you wish if you want to give the author a choice. You can note that crossovers are not allowed. If crossovers are allowed, please note which crossover fandoms you are willing to work with. You may include a prompt if you would like. You are also welcome to note if there is something specific you do not wish to see in the story. You do not need to warn for things that are normally warned for, such as rape, non-con, major character death, graphic violence or torture, extreme kinks, BDSM, MPreg, gender-swap, any sexual situations involving minors, etc. We understand it's difficult for an artist to capture all of these, and things commonly warned for may be triggery to some people. Authors must ask the artist if they would be okay with any of the above before including them. Authors are allowed to send in questions about banners BEFORE the claims go live, so please check your email on Thursday or Friday, just in case.
The prompt summary is completely optional. If provided, like the art, it would be up to the author to interpret and write what they choose. Some writers like to have an idea of where to go, while others like to begin from scratch. If included, a short, general prompt would be best. I would not make anything too detailed. Just 1-2 words or sentences. It should not be a full storyline. It can also just be a suggestion for a scene to use, a starting point for the story or as simple as "happy ending" or "first time/kiss".
2026 NCIS Reverse Bang Schedule:
Author Sign-ups Open - Saturday, 15 November
Artist Sign-ups Open - Saturday, 15 November
Artist Sign-ups Close -
Artwork Due - Wednesday, 14 January
Artwork Preview - Thursday, 15 January
Author Sign-ups Close - Friday, 16 January
Art Claims Open - Saturday, 17 January CLAIMS WILL BE CONDUCTED VIA EMAIL
Art claim will open at 17:00 GMT World clock, GMT, you can switch this to a 24-hour format if you
Rough Draft Due Date: Friday, 16 May
- We must receive your rough draft or hear from you by this date. If we do not hear from you or receive your rough draft by this date, your claim may be reassigned to a backup author.
Availability check and schedule posts - mid-May
Completed Stories and Art Due: 31 May (subject to change)
Posting Begins - TBA June (subject to change)
Progress check-ins are not mandatory, but we do appreciate hearing from our participants.
Check-In # 1: 14 Feb
Check-In # 2: 14 Mar
Check-In # 3: 11 Apr
Progress check-ins are not mandatory, but we do appreciate hearing from our participants.