Top Art Competitions 2025

Discover current open calls for national and international art competitions.

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  • Clear overview of the best grants, prizes, residences
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Deadline

Oct 10, 2025

Information

The Royal Institute of Oil Painters - Annual Exhibition

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Painting
Theme: Home

Reward

4,000 £
500 £
1,000 £ Winsor & Newton Fine Art Materials
Exhibition

Location

London
United Kingdom

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Oct 10, 2025

Information

29th Luis Valtueña International Humanitarian Photography Award

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography
Theme: Social inequities, injustices, and/or human rights abuses

Reward

6,000 € + Publication + Exhibition

Location

Madrid
Spain

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Oct 12, 2025

Information

National Gallery of Canada - Lacey Prize

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

Reward

50,000 CAD
20,000 CAD
20,000 CAD

Location

Ottawa
Canada

Eligibility conditions

No students
Resident of Canada
For non-profit organizations in Canada with a mandate to present contemporary visual art. In operation for at least two years

Deadline

Oct 15, 2025

Information

Pitmtearo eozur

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

Reward

15,000 € + Exhibition

Location

Naeniv
Austria

Eligibility conditions

Born between 1980 (included) and 2007 (included)
Resident of Austria
Resident of Trentino-Alto Adige (IT)
Nationality: Austrian
Applications are open to Austrian citizens and Italian German-speaking citizens born in the Province of Bolzano and persons who have been ordinarily resident in Austria for at least five years

Deadline

Oct 15, 2025

Information

Iet a ripnhkrez

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

Reward

500 $
150 $
Online Exhibition

Location

Nog dieas
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Oct 15, 2025

Information

Iazl ieorlaisgtnaetrippd nnpfou

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Painting / Drawing / Printmaking
Theme: edo BuyN -d

Reward

1,500 € + Exhibition + Publication
1,000 € + Exhibition + Publication
Under 30 prize: 500 € + Exhibition + Publication
7x: Exhibition + Publication

Location

Mreo
Italy

Eligibility conditions

Born between 1990 (included) and 2007 (included)

Deadline

Oct 16, 2025

Information

Ra pzeithr tair

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

Reward

100,000 $ + Exhibition + 15000 $ Production Budget

Location

Nahdhar
Saudi Arabia

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine
Nationality: Algerian, Bahamian, Comoran, Djibouti, Egyptian, Emirian, Iraqi, Jordanian, Kuwaiti, Lebanese, Libyan, Mauritanian, Moroccan, Omani, Qatari, Saudi, Somalian, Sudanese, Syrian, Tunisian, Yemenite, Palestinian

Deadline

Oct 17, 2025

Information

Ibnnrttn isigroiiutenau-rwe y ts cat ihst bea

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Painting / Drawing / Photography / Printmaking / Sculpture

Reward

2,000 € + Exhibition
1,000 € + Exhibition
500 € + Exhibition

Location

Eohebunrsa
Germany

Eligibility conditions

No students
Resident of Germany

Deadline

Oct 25, 2025

Information

R i hemppo pfyrcoeagfrhdeizrtehe rojla

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography

Reward

7,000 € + Exhibition

Location

Dolkwsroref
Austria

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Austria
Nationality: Austrian

Deadline

Oct 26, 2025

Information

Sgohtcnr eecppei&spxhriai o

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography

Reward

6,000 € + Exhibition

Location

Tionr
France

Eligibility conditions

Resident of France
Nationality: French

Deadline

Oct 26, 2025

Information

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Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography
Theme: SnArctei &ce

Reward

6,000 € + Exhibition

Location

Ntroi
France

Eligibility conditions

Resident of France
Nationality: French

Deadline

Oct 27, 2025

Information

Ro itmnasbvetopviecrrsi eatp ev o/ys rgtrn e aa ntcer yerzoecn-acsvojeni

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Digital / Sound / Painting / Drawing / Photography / Video / Printmaking / Installation / Performance / Sculpture / Textile Art / Ceramics
Theme: reovnntyt armoeZ verinig

Reward

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

Location

Sripa
France

Eligibility conditions

French language skills required

Deadline

Oct 28, 2025

Information

Ept aaarzib dr

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

Reward

1,000 £

Location

Oondln
United Kingdom

Eligibility conditions

No students
Resident of United Kingdom
Applicants must be currently enrolled in or have completed a post-secondary education at a UK institution

Deadline

Oct 30, 2025

Information

Td oiweuzaaleiroff cptnoenr

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Textile Art / Ceramics / Craft

Reward

Main Prize: 50,000 € + Exhibition + Publication
Special Mention: 5,000 € + Exhibition + Publication

Location

Adimrd
Spain

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Oct 31, 2025

Information

Wrserpbalteebdr-hr bndok unlhscf-ieasehiorsoi o toap

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography
Theme: ygdPtiBk oleaSof lupos-hhohPbre

Reward

8,000 €

Location

Ipsar
France

Eligibility conditions

For books published between October 2024 and October 2025

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.