Our Contest Lists database of the best art contests is updated each month and contains information about a wide range of art contests including painting competitions, drawing contests, sculpture awards, photography prizes, and many other varieties of art competition. At Contest Lists we only list contests that have excellent and proven reputations in the industry. We don’t include scammers, meaning our lists are populated with trustworthy and legitimate contests. Make sure to contact organizers directly with any queries. Regarding fees: Many legitimate contests charge fees. However it is important to research each opportunity thoroughly to ensure you understand the terms and conditions of each contest.
Rolling Deadline
The Homiens Art Prize
Genres: All
Deadline: Always open (awarded every three months, on a rolling basis)
Prizes: The Homiens Art Prize, which awards over $12,000 USD annually to artists, is an internationally celebrated event that elevates art careers to new heights. The prize is open to all art forms and artists globally. Homiens celebrates their chosen artists across their media, exhibiting their art online where it is viewed by artists and collectors throughout the world. Each round, 3 winners and 12 finalists are exhibited as part of the Homiens seasonal exhibition program, and up to 200 artists are highly commended. Winners receive an optional interview and letter of recommendation. All entrants are considered for exhibition, and receive a certificate of participation.
Entry fee: $30
Eligibility: No restrictions
Enter here
PJAS Magazine Open Theme Competition
Genres: All
Deadline: Always open
Prizes: One entry will receive a $1,000 cash prize and feature in their upcoming issue
Entry fee: $10
Eligibility: No restrictions
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Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant
Genre: Painting, sculpture, and works on paper, including printmaking
Deadline: Always open
Prizes: Up to $50,000
Entry fee: None
Eligibility: Artists must be actively exhibiting their current work in professional artistic venues, such as gallery and museum spaces
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March 2026
The Archibald Prize 2026
Genre: Painting
Deadline: March 27, 2026
Prizes: $100,000 AUD; Packing Room Prize $3,000 AUD, People’s Choice $5,000 AUD
Entry fee: $50 AUD
Eligibility: Must be a portrait painted from life. Entrants must have resided in Australia or New Zealand for the 12-month prize eligibility period.
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Be Still Media Prize
Genre: All
Deadline: March 31, 2026 7:00PM EST
Prizes: $3,000 – $15,000
Entry fee: None
Eligibility: No restrictions
Enter here
April 2026
The Lillian Orlowsky and William Freed Grant
Genre: Painting
Deadline: April 1, 2026
Prizes: $5,000 – $36,000 and Exhibition
Entry fee: None
Eligibility: Of American Nationality and born between 1950 (inclusive) and 1980 (inclusive)
Enter here
Robert G. Wilmers Integrity Prize
Genre: Digital, Painting, Drawing, Photography, Video, Graphic, Installation, Performance, Sculpture, Textile Art, Ceramics
Deadline: March 31, 2026 at 9:00 pm EST
Prizes: Three recipients each receive $100,000
Entry fee: None
Eligibility: Must demonstrate integrity in leadership and service to community
Enter here
May 2026
Alpine Fellowship Visual Arts Prize
Genre: Digital, Painting, Drawing, Photography, Video, Graphic, Installation, Performance, Sculpture, Textile Art, Ceramics
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Prizes: £1,000 – £3,000
Theme: Joy
Entry fee: £10
Eligibility: 18+ and no AI
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Waverley Art Prize
Genre: Painting, Drawing, Graphic (Print and Mixed Media)
Deadline: 10 May, 2026
Prizes: $500 – $15,000 (AUD)
Entry fee: $45 (AUD)
Eligibility: Australian residents
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The Hopper Prize
Genre: All
Deadline: May 12, 2026
Prizes: $1,000 – $4,500
Entry fee: $40
Eligibility: No restrictions
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Lumen Prize
Genre: All
Deadline May 23, 2026
Prizes: $15,000 and $5,000 x 3, $2,000 x 1 (Student Prize)
Entry fee: $45
Eligibility: No restrictions
Enter here
June 2026
Artadia Award San Francisco
Genre: All
Deadline: June 1, 2026 (based on last year, TBC)
Prizes: $15,000 – $25,000
Entry fee: None
Eligibility: Californian (US) Residents who are not students, and have lived in San Francisco for at least two years prior to the deadline
Enter here
Cerco International Contemporary Ceramics Award
Genre: Ceramics
Deadline: June 11, 2026 (TBC)
Prizes: €2,000 – €6,000
Entry fee: None
Eligibility: No restrictions
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Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize
Genre: Drawing (made in or after January 2025)
Deadline: June 9, 2026 (5 p.m. BST)
Prizes: £2,000 – £10,000 and exhibition
Entry fee: £30 – £50
Eligibility: No restrictions
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The CIRCA Prize 2026
Genre: Moving Image, Performance, Sound, Dance, Poetry, and Digital Practices
Deadline: June 20, 2026 (TBC)
Prizes: £10,000 – £30,000 and public art commission
Entry fee: None
Eligibility: Early and mid-career artists worldwide who have not yet realised a public art commission
Enter here
Spring Innovate Grant for Art and Photography
Genre: All
Deadline: June 26, 2026 (TBC)
Prizes: 2 x $1,800
Entry fee: $35
Eligibility: 18+
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Madison Chautauqua Festival of Art
Genre: Painting, Drawing, Photography, Sculpture, Weaving, Folk Art, Jewelry, Fiber, Wood, Baskets, Clay, Glass, Paper, Printmaking, Mixed Media, Leather, and consideration of media not listed upon request
Deadline: June 30, 2026 (TBC)
Prizes: Best in Show, Best Presentation, First, Second and Third Place in Fine Craft and in Fine Arts, 2 Honorable Mentions
Entry fee: $25
Eligibility: US-wide, all work must be handmade and designed by the artist
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The Almenara Art Prize
Genre: Painting and Drawing
Deadline: June 30, 2026
Prizes: €500 – €10,000 and Exhibition, Residencies, and Art Materials
Entry fee: €45 (€29 for additional entries and youth category)
Eligibility: No restrictions
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Japan Illustrators’ Association (JIA) Illustration Award 2026
Genre: All
Deadline: June 30, 2026 (TBC)
Prizes: 100,000¥ – 500,000¥ and exhibition
Entry fee: 9,000¥ – 15,000¥
Eligibility: No restrictions
Enter here
July 2026
2027 Embracing Our Differences International Art Exhibition
Genre: All
Deadline: July 1, 2026 (TBC)
Prizes: $2,000 x 3 and Exhibition
Theme: Embracing Our Differences
Entry fee: None
Eligibility: Artwork must be horizontal (landscape orientation)
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Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2026
Genre: Representational art in all static mediums (5 award categories: Painting, Drawing, Photography, Sculpture, Digital Art)
Deadline: July 17, 2026 (TBC)
Prizes: $3,000 – $10,000 and Exhibition
Entry fee: $40
Eligibility: No restrictions
Enter here
Arte Laguna Prize
Genre: Digital, Painting, Drawing, Photography, Video, Graphic, Installation, Performance, Sculpture, Textile Art, Ceramics
Deadline: July 31, 2026 (TBC)
Prizes: €10,000 and Exhibition
Entry fee: €98 (under 35) or €122 (over 35)
Eligibility: No restrictions
Enter here
Form Photo Award 2026
Genre: Photography
Deadline: July 31, 2026 (TBC)
Prizes: Exhibition at SCOPE Art Fair in December 2025, during Miami Art Week
Entry fee: €35
Eligibility: 18+
Enter here
Henri Cartier-Bresson Creation Award
Genre: Photography
Deadline: July 31, 2026 (TBC)
Prizes: €35,000 and exhibition
Entry fee: None
Eligibility: Mid-career and established artists