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 reminders and agenda
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Deadline
May 18, 2026
Information
Kunstverein Künstlergilde Buslat - Metamorphose
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Painting /
Drawing /
Printmaking /
Sculpture
Theme: Metamorphose
Reward
Exhibition
Publication
Eligibility conditions
Resident of
Baden-Württemberg (DE)
Deadline
May 21, 2026
Information
Haus am Kleistpark - Art Award
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Digital /
Sound /
Painting /
Drawing /
Photography /
Video /
Printmaking /
Installation
Theme: FRACTURE
Reward
Eligibility conditions
No students
Resident of
Berlin (DE)
Deadline
May 31, 2026
Information
Sonntag Grant for Photography / Replika Publishing
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Photography
Theme: Photobook
Reward
Publication
Book launch event hosted at Bildband Berlin
Eligibility conditions
For FLINTA (female, lesbian, inter, non-binary, trans, agender) artists
Deadline
May 31, 2026
Information
Kunst.Park Rumpenheim
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Digital /
Painting /
Drawing /
Photography /
Video /
Printmaking /
Installation /
Performance /
Sculpture /
Textile Art /
Ceramics
Reward
Exhibition
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
June 14, 2026
Information
Kallmann-Preis der Kreissparkasse
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Digital /
Sound /
Painting /
Drawing /
Photography /
Video /
Printmaking /
Installation /
Performance /
Sculpture /
Textile Art /
Ceramics
Theme: Portrait
Reward
Eligibility conditions
Resident of
Germany
Deadline
June 15, 2026
Information
Art Prize - 350th anniversary of Grimmelshausen's death
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Painting /
Drawing /
Printmaking
Theme: Simplicissimus reloaded. Modern art in dialogue with Grimmelshausen
Reward
Eligibility conditions
Resident of
Baden-Württemberg (DE),
Grand Est (FR)
For artists from Baden-Württemberg (DE) and Alsace (FR)
Deadline
July 31, 2026
Information
Karl Peter Muller Prize for Art Estates
Genre:
Art Competition
Art field:
Digital /
Painting /
Drawing /
Photography /
Video /
Printmaking /
Installation /
Performance /
Sculpture /
Textile Art /
Ceramics
Theme: Estates
Reward
Eligibility conditions
No students
Resident of
Baden-Württemberg (DE)
Artists, estate administrators, and heirs from the administrative district of Karlsruhe are eligible to participate.
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.