Top Art Competitions 2026

Discover current open calls for national and international art competitions.

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Deadline

Apr 6, 2026

Information

Art Prizes of the City of Linz

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Digital / Sound / Painting / Architecture / Drawing / Literature / Photography / Video / Printmaking / Installation / Performance / Sculpture / Textile Art / Ceramics / Music

Reward

3,600 €

Location

Linz
Austria

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Oberösterreich (AT)
Artists based in Linz (AT)

Deadline

Apr 8, 2026

Information

Liverpool Sculpture Prize

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Installation / Sculpture
Theme: Temporary Public Sculpture

Reward

2,500 £ + Exhibition

Location

Liverpool
United Kingdom

Eligibility conditions

Resident of United Kingdom

Deadline

Apr 11, 2026

Information

Icehotel 37

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Installation / Sculpture
Theme: Ephemeral art project made of snow and ice

Reward

38,400 Skr + up to 18,000 Skr travel refund

Location

Jukkasjärvi
Sweden

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Apr 12, 2026

Information

O awsidancf raaswrr mreestp

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Performance

Reward

30,000 CHF
5,000 CHF
4.000 CHF for seleted artists
Exhibition

Location

Hruciz
Switzerland

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Switzerland

Deadline

Apr 15, 2026

Information

pghprteoonm yzfraheorap iape rh-tf

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography
Theme: ireetdep mgSilenH

Reward

3,000 € + Exhibition

Location

A/.nufftmrkr
Germany

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Apr 15, 2026

Information

önabe ho -su rartsrtcrtnisirikwoadceloiqe

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Digital / Painting / Drawing / Photography / Video / Printmaking / Installation / Sculpture / Textile Art / Ceramics

Reward

Artworks Acquisition

Location

Lniz
Austria

Eligibility conditions

No students
Resident of Oberösterreich (AT)

Deadline

Apr 15, 2026

Information

Aadbmabpsiaiborrvmgtreo uk

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Digital / Painting / Drawing / Photography / Video / Printmaking / Installation / Performance / Sculpture / Textile Art / Ceramics

Reward

8,000 €

Location

Hmicun
Germany

Eligibility conditions

No students
Resident of Bayern (DE)
Exclusively for full-time artists. Employment may not exceed 50% of the regular weekly working hours applicable to the respective position.

Deadline

Apr 21, 2026

Information

Rhiinoaigpo ztrttpe iatocgppsswera lr royh

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography
Theme: iP totthPoaorr

Reward

Exhibition

Location

Onnodl
United Kingdom

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Apr 22, 2026

Information

Lotnep nngtomfdkpiyrnizylmt ge rpaertn rae oarc-ii

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Printmaking
Theme: akminriPtng

Reward

500 £ + Exhibition

Location

Ntied notf
United Kingdom

Eligibility conditions

Resident of United Kingdom

Deadline

Apr 22, 2026

Information

Irltt nsrdaapto erkfiwioavna f arinena

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Painting
Theme: aretalFttg&i eeriv Renr nptiaiaPeunsso

Reward

First Prize: 3,500 €
Second Prize: 1,500 €
Third Prize: 500 €

Location

Erpntwa
Belgium

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Apr 23, 2026

Information

Aairl olgcu iw dytiacsantr

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Digital / Painting / Drawing / Photography / Video / Printmaking / Installation / Performance / Sculpture / Textile Art / Ceramics

Reward

5,000 €

Location

Idlnbu
Ireland

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Ireland

Deadline

Apr 24, 2026

Information

Lgrp ie 3 aolykasndteohrheztnegeircrrni otru h

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Performance
Theme: ao0r i2iAb5t(nJipet)Uaemr0 :h

Reward

12,000 €
8,000 €
5,000 €
Exhibition

Location

Eulskarhr
Germany

Eligibility conditions

Born between 1987 (included) and 2008 (included)
Resident of Baden-Württemberg (DE)
For artists based in the Karlsruhe Technology Region

Deadline

Apr 26, 2026

Information

niorhrnrr cpts toyrsicae-maioadbro a tdcge twama talyaf

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Painting

Reward

20,000 £ + Exhibition

Location

Egnuhdrib
United Kingdom

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Scotland
Nationality: Scottish
Artists who graduated at least 10 years ago or have at least 10 years of substantive practice

Deadline

Apr 26, 2026

Information

Mrx rineee tlbasp

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Digital / Painting / Drawing / Photography / Video / Printmaking / Installation / Performance / Sculpture / Textile Art / Ceramics
Theme: artoryatactPpiir

Reward

4 x: 10,000 €

Location

Rispa
France

Eligibility conditions

Resident of France

Deadline

Apr 27, 2026

Information

Ypc iaee n az esta vr/tnoirnvernorcgyeste rv ajo-icbvipsooc nr etsrtm eae

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Digital / Sound / Painting / Drawing / Photography / Video / Printmaking / Installation / Performance / Sculpture / Textile Art / Ceramics
Theme: o eiyeotrrmegnnntrZiv av

Reward

2,500 € + Exhibition
Flight in a Airbus ZERO-G

Location

Ispar
France

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
French language skills required

Art Competitions – Prizes, recognition and exposure

Art competitions are great opportunities for artists, offering cash prizes along with the rewards of exposure and recognition. By validating your artistic practice, they increase your visibility in the art world. Art competitions can serve as a catalyst that accelerates an artist's progress to success. Visit our website to view the best current art competitions.

Are you looking for open calls for art competitions in a specific country or city? Check our carefully chosen selections:
FAQs: Art Competitions

Find the answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding art competitions here:

What is an art competition?

Art competitions are events where artists are invited to submit their work based on a particular theme or category. Organized by a variety of entities such as institutions, galleries, or other art organizations, these competitions aim to identify, acknowledge, and support talented artists. A panel of judges typically awards prizes, exhibitions, publications, or other forms of recognition to the best entries. Winning art competitions offers artists crucial exposure and recognition.

What are typical prizes of art competitions?

Art competitions offer artists a variety of prizes. These can range from cash awards, to opportunities in order to exhibit works and gain exposure. Some competitions also offer artist residencies, scholarships, as well as art supplies or equipment as prizes. Winners may have their work featured in a catalog, an art magazine, or on an online platform, increasing recognition and exposure. Ultimately, winning awards become a valuable addition to an artist's resume.

The list of art competitions on our website specifies in each case clearly what the “prize“ entails.

How does the judging process work?

The jury panel generally consists of a number of distinguished persons from the art world, who, over the course of several rounds, individually decide which applications to eliminate or pass on to the next rounds. Shortlisted works are then subjected to further scrutiny. The process concludes with the panel collectively deciding on the winners.

How do I apply for an art competition?

Most open calls for art competitions require artists to submit a comprehensive application, including a portfolio, an artist statement, and a resume. The number of applicants for art competitions is often high, especially for the more prestigious prizes. Therefore, your application needs be impactful, clear, straightforward, and inviting to review.

Do you need help in these matters? Check our online courses “How to make a portfolio” and “How to write an artists statement” which serve as step-by-step guides giving you all the tools you need to build a strong application for art competitions.