Free Open Calls For Artists 2026: No Submission Fee Opportunities

One of the most common searches artists make is "free open call for artists" or "open calls no submission fee." This guide explains what free-to-submit open calls are, why submission fees exist at some organisations, and where to find genuinely free open calls in 2026.

The quick answer

The Holy Art runs free-to-submit open calls across nine cities worldwide: London, New York, Tokyo, Paris, Milan, Athens, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Brighton. There is no fee to apply. You only pay an exhibition fee if you are selected and choose to proceed with exhibiting. Apply at theholyart.com/open-calls.

Understanding the difference: submission fees vs exhibition fees

These two get confused constantly, and the confusion costs artists money and opportunities.

A submission fee is what you pay just to have your work looked at. Some competitions and open calls charge £15 to £50 per entry, whether or not you are selected. If 2,000 artists apply and 30 are chosen, the organisation collects entry fees from 1,970 rejected artists. For many art competitions, submission fees are the business model.

An exhibition fee is what selected artists pay to cover the actual costs of exhibiting: venue hire, installation, lighting, promotion, staffing and the opening night event. You only pay if you are chosen and decide to go ahead.

The fairest model for artists is free submission with a transparent exhibition fee for selected artists. You risk nothing by applying, and you only pay when you are actually getting something: a real exhibition.

This is the model The Holy Art uses. Free to submit. Clear exhibition fees only for selected artists who choose to exhibit. And zero commission on any sales, so if a collector buys your work, every penny goes to you.

Free open calls at The Holy Art in 2026

The Holy Art runs open calls throughout the year across all nine of its cities. Every one of them is free to submit.

What you can apply for: physical exhibitions (your original work displayed in the gallery), digital exhibitions (your work displayed on screens at the venue and promoted online), and exhibitions in any of the nine cities regardless of where you live.

Who can apply: artists at any career stage, from first time exhibitors to established names, working in any medium, based anywhere in the world. Over 25,000 artists have exhibited with The Holy Art since 2020, many of them selected from their very first free submission.

The sister gallery Streeters Gallery also accepts free applications for its weekend group shows in London, Paris and New York, its Times Square big screen showcase and its London billboard displays.

How to spot open calls that waste your money

Not every paid opportunity is a scam, but some patterns should make you cautious.

High submission fees with huge applicant pools. If an organisation charges £30 per entry and openly boasts about receiving thousands of submissions, do the maths on what they earn from rejections alone.

Vague deliverables. If it's unclear what selected artists actually receive (where is the venue, how long is the show, who promotes it, who attends), the fee may be buying you very little.

Fees at every stage. Submission fee, then selection fee, then exhibition fee, then catalogue fee, then award consideration fee. Legitimate opportunities do not stack charges at every step.

No visible track record. Look for past exhibition photos, named artists, real venues and active social media. The Holy Art has six years of documented exhibitions, over 400 shows, and a community of 245,000+ you can verify yourself.

Why free submission matters for emerging artists

When submission is free, you can apply to every relevant opportunity without budgeting for rejection. You can submit different bodies of work to different calls and learn from what gets selected. And the organisation reviewing your work has an incentive to actually select and exhibit artists, because that is how they sustain themselves, rather than profiting from the volume of rejected applications.

For an emerging artist building an exhibition history, the ability to apply freely and repeatedly is worth more than almost anything else.

How to make the most of free open calls

Apply to multiple cities. Since The Holy Art submission is free, you can express interest in London, Tokyo, New York and Paris in the same year and build an international CV quickly.

Submit your strongest three to five works, photographed in natural light against a clean background.

Keep your description simple and honest. Two or three sentences about what you make and why.

Reapply if you are not selected. Selection depends on fit with each specific exhibition. A rejection is not a verdict on your work.

Frequently asked questions

Is The Holy Art open call really free?

Yes. Submission costs nothing. Exhibition fees apply only to selected artists who choose to proceed, and they are stated transparently before you commit.

Does The Holy Art take commission on sales?

No. Zero commission. If your work sells, 100 percent goes to you.

Can I apply to more than one city for free?

Yes. You can apply for any of the nine cities: London, New York, Tokyo, Paris, Milan, Athens, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Brighton.

What mediums are accepted?

All mediums: painting, photography, digital art, illustration, sculpture, printmaking, mixed media, textile and more.

Do I need experience?

No. No CV, no degree and no exhibition history are required at The Holy Art or Streeters Gallery.

How quickly will I hear back?

Most applicants hear back within a few weeks of submitting.

Apply for free today

The Holy Art: free to submit, nine cities worldwide, 25,000+ artists exhibited, zero commission.

Streeters Gallery: free to apply, weekend shows in London, Paris and New York, Times Square and London billboard showcases.

It costs nothing to be considered. Apply now.