Top Art Competitions 2025/2026

Discover current open calls for national and international art competitions.

Log in to see all current opportunities

  • Clear overview of the best grants, prizes, residences
  • Search and restrictions filters
  • Personalized recommendation
  • Deadline reminders and agenda
  • Monthly cancellable

Deadline

Nov 19, 2025

Information

Silver Eye Center for Photography - Fellowship 26

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography

Reward

1,000 $ + Exhibition
1,000 $
500 $

Location

Pittsburgh
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Nov 20, 2025

Information

YICCA - International Contest of Contemporary Art

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

Reward

3,000 € + Exhibition
1,000 €
500 €

Location

Rome
Italy

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Nov 23, 2025

Information

Fondation François Schneider - Talents Contemporains

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

Reward

15,000 € + Exhibition
50,000 € production budget

Location

Wattwiller
France

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Nov 23, 2025

Information

Zi gatnumzer -gmetdespio r lmaa

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Digital / Video

Reward

5,000 € + Exhibition

Location

Nmicuh
Germany

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Bayern (DE)
For students who will be graduating within the next six months. and recent graduates up to two years after the end of their studies at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich.

Deadline

Nov 24, 2025

Information

E cr-tdicrwsdnanwn a mdgloo

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Digital / Video / Installation
Theme: aotgjPMripcn onipe

Reward

10,000 € + 20,000 € Project Budget

Location

Ahlsekurr
Germany

Eligibility conditions

No students
Application in German or English

Deadline

Nov 28, 2025

Information

Daaeefenor dlecwlg

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

Reward

10,000 €

Location

Na.
Ireland

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Ireland
Nationality: Irish

Deadline

Nov 28, 2025

Information

Tyoytarsean w e0 lrpi2rocc loeuo26o

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Painting / Drawing
Theme: -smerdatioare ed Wpbn aeap

Reward

500 £ + £500 of art materials
Vivid Watercolour Set & MH Merchandise Gift Card
Botanical Watercolour Set & MH Merchandise Gift Card

Location

Ooldnn
United Kingdom

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Nov 30, 2025

Information

Iaikautrnnrt ntargtugfe-sbbi s

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

Reward

5,000 € + Exhibition + Residence

Location

Uatttrstg
Germany

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Germany
For younger artists who have completed their studies

Deadline

Nov 30, 2025

Information

dralciwseaeh

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Painting / Printmaking
Theme: SEoelhn gice

Reward

5,000 € + Exhibition
3,000 €
2,000 €

Location

Rdlant n odneulu a
Austria

Eligibility conditions

Born between 1997 (included) and 2007 (included)
Resident of Austria

Deadline

Nov 30, 2025

Information

C tgphpouixmdé'the- i e drlaei va poia xlrarlgcee

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography

Reward

10,000 €
2,500 €

Location

Xaurclve
Luxembourg

Eligibility conditions

Resident of Luxembourg
Resident of Grand Est (FR), Walloon Brabant (BE), Saarland (DE), Rheinland-Pfalz (DE)
Nationality: Luxembourger

Deadline

Nov 30, 2025

Information

Ies t mrhieophn trzae

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

Reward

3 x: 1,000 $ + Online Exhibition + Letter of Recommendation + Interview
12 Finalists: Online Exhibition

Location

ryonekw
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Nov 30, 2025

Information

Pstrvoorcne fil sanmuooseieie rbl onriolbcpataa-

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

Reward

Publication

Location

Ivcnee
Italy

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Dec 1, 2025

Information

Smztimigaiaehnsano n

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography

Reward

2,500 $
500 $
500 $

Location

Noatsgwinh
United States of America

Eligibility conditions

Deadline

Dec 1, 2025

Information

RblseeenfkonlclfinfihtudÖtturt ugg u

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Painting

Reward

8,000 € + Solo Exhibition

Location

Gnrudeblo
Germany

Eligibility conditions

Born between 1990 (included) and 2007 (included)
Resident of Niedersachsen (DE)
for artists based or born in the business area of Öffentliche Oldenburg (formerly Land Oldenburg)

Deadline

Dec 1, 2025

Information

Udeivedasr e noreosoydrloiacdr wanfturio

Genre: Art Competition
Art field: Photography

Reward

15,000 € + Exhibition
5,000 €

Location

Earls
France

Eligibility conditions

Application through a gallery, art center or exhibition space

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.