How many of these open calls are free to apply?

Free to apply: 2 of 17. A fee to apply or to take part: 8. Fee not stated by the organiser: 7.

What do these open calls provide?

Out of 17: travel: 1; production budget: 1; prize money: 14; exhibition: 9.

Can artists from any country apply?

No country or region limit in the terms: 15 of 17. Limited to residents or citizens of named countries or regions: 2 — each card names who may apply.

When is the next deadline?

87th International Photographic Salon of Japan: 31 October 2026. Closing within 30 days: 4. Open on a rolling basis: 0.

Art competitions in Japan, 2026–2027

31 Oct 2026

87th International Photographic Salon of Japan

The All-Japan Association of Photographic SocietiesJapan (National Touring Exhibition)

Competition

31 Oct 2026

Children's Art Competition: Peaceful Towns 2026

Mayors for PeaceInternational (Mayors for Peace member cities)

CompetitionFree to applyMayors for Peace President's Award and prizes

11 Nov 2026

Toyama International Glass Exhibition 2027 — ¥3,000,000 Grand Prize in a Free Open Triennial for Glass Art, Deadline 11 November 2026 (Japan)

Toyama Glass Art MuseumToyama Glass Art Museum, Toyama, Japan

Competition¥3,000,000 Grand Prize; ¥5,200,000 in prizes

24 Nov 2026

Art Award Otakanomori 2026 Sculpture Category — ¥200,000 Prize and Commission Funded Up to ¥500,000, Deadline 24 November 2026 (Nagareyama, Japan)

Nagareyama Otakanomori S.C. (Tojin Kaihatsu)Komorebi Street, Nagareyama Otakanomori station, Chiba, Japan

Competition¥200,000 Grand Prize; fabrication paid up to ¥500,000

29 Nov 2026

Life Design Art Competition No. 2 «Memories of a Place to Belong» — ¥500,000 Grand Prize and Purchase of 30 Works, Free Entry, Ages Under 40, Deadline 29 November 2026 (Japan)

Life Design Art (Tokyu Land / Tokyu E-Life Design / Charm Care)Entry online; exhibition at Yokohama Civic Art Gallery Azamino, Japan

Competition¥500,000 Grand Prize; ¥100,000+ other awards

30 Nov 2026

Next ILLUST Award 2026 — Free Worldwide Illustration Contest by PIE International and COMICUP, ¥100,000 Gold Award and Publication in S Magazine

PIE InternationalInternational (online); results published in S magazine, Tokyo, Japan

CompetitionFree to applyGold ¥100,000; 2 Silver ¥50,000; tablets, software

6 Dec 2026

Kyushu Geibunkan Young Artists Triennale 2027 — ¥500,000 Grand Prize for 2D Works by Japan Residents Aged 15–49

Kyushu GeibunkanChikugo, Fukuoka, Japan

Competition¥500,000 / ¥200,000 / ¥100,000

11 Dec 2026

IFDA 2027 International Furniture Design Competition Asahikawa "Origin" — Gold Leaf JPY 3,000,000

IFDA International Furniture Design Competition AsahikawaAsahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan

CompetitionJPY 3,000,000 / 500,000 / 300,000 + 4 × 100,000

13 Dec 2026

6th "Picture and Words" Exhibition (NOBUKO Art Fund Competition) — Grand Prix ¥500,000

NOBUKO Art Fund CompetitionTokyo (Matsuzakaya Ueno), Japan

CompetitionGrand Prix ¥500,000; NOBUKO Prize ¥300,000; 4 × ¥50,000

25 Dec 2026

The Adachi UKIYOE Award 2026 — Become an Eshi: Design a Contemporary Ukiyo-e Woodcut with Tokyo Artisans (up to ¥300,000)

The Adachi Foundation for the Preservation of Woodcut PrintingTokyo, Japan (meetings can be online)

Competition¥300,000 / ¥150,000 / ¥50,000 + woodcut production

25 Dec 2026

6th BrainBrunn ART AWARD 2027 — Solo Shows for Winners, Contemporary Art Open Call, Hachiōji (Tokyo)

BrainBrunn GALLERYHachiōji, Tokyo, Japan

CompetitionSolo exhibitions (Grand Prize and Excellence Prize)

29 Jan 2027

14th International Ceramics Competition Mino — The Possibilities of Ceramics

International Ceramics Festival MinoTajimi, Gifu, Japan (Ceramic Park MINO)

CompetitionGrand Prix ¥5,000,000

31 Jan 2027

Bilbo Picture Book Award (9th) — ¥1,000,000 and Book Publication, Free Entry, Postmark Deadline 31 January 2027 (Japan)

Bilbo Co., Ltd.Entry by post to Kochi, Japan; open to professionals and amateurs

Competition¥1,000,000 + publication (Grand Prize)

31 Jan 2027

3rd ISAC International Junior Music Competition 2027 (Ages 3–17)

Ise-Shima Art CompanyOrganised from Tokyo, Japan; performance video, open worldwide

CompetitionGold, Silver, Bronze or Encouragement certificates

2 Feb 2027

28th Kawakami Sumio Museum Woodblock Print Grand Prize 2027, Kanuma — ¥500,000 Grand Prize and Solo Show (Residents of Japan)

Kanuma City Kawakami Sumio Museum of ArtKanuma, Tochigi, Japan

Competition¥500,000 grand prize (purchase) + solo show

20 Feb 2027

Art Move Concours 2027 (32nd), Osaka — Open-Genre Art Competition with ¥300,000 Grand Prize and Solo Shows for 18 Artists

PC Art Promotion CouncilOsaka, Japan

Competition¥300,000 grand prize + solo exhibitions

1 Mar 2027

2nd ISAC International Lyric Competition 2027

Ise-Shima Art CompanyWorldwide; organised from Tokyo, Japan

CompetitionJPY 50,000 Grand Prize + ~35 Special Prize certificates

Art competitions in Japan

More open calls in Japan