Top Art Competitions 2026
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
Apr 26, 2026
Information
Werner Deutsch Prize for Young Art
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Digital /
Painting /
Drawing /
Photography /
Video /
Printmaking /
Installation /
Performance /
Sculpture /
Textile Art /
Ceramics
Reward
Eligibility conditions
No students
Born between 1991 (included) and 2008 (included)
Resident of
Netherlands
Resident of
Nordrhein-Westfalen (DE),
Rheinland-Pfalz (DE)
For artists who have completed professional training at an academy or art college in the region, i.e. in the Rhineland or in Westphalia or in the neighboring Netherlands, whose graduation was not more than five years ago.
Deadline
Apr 26, 2026
Information
Royal Scottish Academy - MacRobert Art Award for Painting
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Painting
Reward
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
Prix Art Ensemble
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Digital /
Painting /
Drawing /
Photography /
Video /
Printmaking /
Installation /
Performance /
Sculpture /
Textile Art /
Ceramics
Theme: Participatory art
Reward
4 x:
Eligibility conditions
Resident of
France
Deadline
Apr 27, 2026
Information
Reimi/c rronovteta re issrop teeaiyyepn t-segovbe nnace rvjsa zca ntocv r
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Digital /
Sound /
Painting /
Drawing /
Photography /
Video /
Printmaking /
Installation /
Performance /
Sculpture /
Textile Art /
Ceramics
Theme: yernveZrvnrenoiogat tmi
Reward
Flight in a Airbus ZERO-G
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
Deadline
Apr 28, 2026
Information
cunap ot ri-iea zll
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Digital /
Painting /
Drawing /
Photography /
Video /
Printmaking /
Installation /
Performance /
Sculpture /
Textile Art /
Ceramics
Theme: n uLait
Reward
Residency
Eligibility conditions
Resident of
France
Deadline
Apr 30, 2026
Information
Nalrdrolaisfa vfncaitnkpf e nnieimkj jactdreisrca hwnrae-ptcuer raap rpecoa
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Performance
Reward
Eligibility conditions
Resident of
New York (US)
For New York City-based artist working in performance art
Deadline
Apr 30, 2026
Information
P eralisuueuuetzicrprrpa t
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Digital /
Sound /
Painting /
Architecture /
Drawing /
Photography /
Video /
Printmaking /
Installation /
Performance /
Sculpture /
Textile Art /
Ceramics /
Music
Reward
Eligibility conditions
No students
Resident of
Oberösterreich (AT)
Deadline
Apr 30, 2026
Information
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Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Digital
Theme: toir gtwklDraAi
Reward
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
Deadline
May 1, 2026
Information
Ze e vuspaspirpa tlai nfllireohiwsl
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Digital /
Painting /
Drawing /
Photography /
Video /
Printmaking /
Installation /
Sculpture /
Textile Art /
Ceramics
Theme: yoJ
Reward
Eligibility conditions
Deadline
May 1, 2026
Information
Rbeu dsias /fztotpetwsoukrvenntraacsd bil-rlate tvageeuzie g nlr rmsa
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Digital /
Painting /
Drawing /
Photography /
Video /
Printmaking /
Installation /
Performance /
Sculpture /
Textile Art /
Ceramics
Reward
Eligibility conditions
Resident of
Salzburg (AT)
For artists with artistic relevance to Salzburg. Applicants must have a membership in the Salzburger Kunstverein
Deadline
May 3, 2026
Information
Rpezlei roereb u
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Digital /
Painting /
Drawing /
Photography /
Video /
Printmaking /
Installation /
Performance /
Sculpture /
Textile Art /
Ceramics
Theme: oetnrCCcunestrcit voe
Reward
Eligibility conditions
Resident of
Germany
Deadline
May 3, 2026
Information
Panescitree rzgoid
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Digital /
Painting /
Drawing /
Photography /
Video /
Printmaking /
Installation /
Performance /
Sculpture /
Textile Art /
Ceramics
Theme: nca hneieaeitltimtrgucen vpndmRo
Reward
Eligibility conditions
Resident of
France
Understanding spoken and written French is mandatory
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:
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.