These 12 essential guidelines increase your chances of winning any art competition, so that you can get more recognition and credibility in the art world. Open up new art career opportunities, increase exposure, professional growth. Build your network and win prizes and career opportunities.
Cover Art Competition 2025
Eligibility: Open to all artists worldwide. Whether you're an emerging or established artist, this competition is an opportunity for anyone with a passion for art to showcase their creativity. One art work may be submitted per entry.
Medium: The competition is open to all artistic mediums, including digital art, painting, photography, illustration, and mixed media. Submissions must be original works suitable for a magazine cover design.
Entry Fee: the entry fee is €15-18 ($16-19)
Deadline: the final deadline is October 31st 2025
Prize: The winning artwork will be featured as the Cover Art for an upcoming issue of Anthology Magazine.A dedicated artist feature in Anthology Magazine.Exposure to a global art community and potential new opportunities in the art world.
A $500 USD cash prize to support your artistic career.
Eligibility: Open to professional and emerging artists worldwide.
Medium: Various, including painting, photography, sculpture, and digital art.
Entry Fee: Varies based on the number of entries.
Prize: Monetary awards and exhibition opportunities at World Art Dubai.
Submission Deadline: Typically early in the year; details to be confirmed.
Website: World Art Dubai​
Eligibility: International, with a focus on Arabic calligraphy artists.
Medium: Calligraphy in various styles, including modern and traditional approaches.
Entry Fee: Free.
Prize: Awards vary, often accompanied by exhibition opportunities and certificates.
Submission Deadline: Annual; next date to be confirmed.
Website: Dubai Culture.
Eligibility: Artists and designers influenced by Islamic traditions, residing in the Middle East or abroad.
Medium: Includes textiles, ceramics, installation, painting, and digital art.
Entry Fee: Free.
Prize: A substantial cash award plus exhibition opportunities at prestigious venues like the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Submission Deadline: Typically biennial
Website: Art Jameel.
Eligibility: Artists, both emerging and established, working globally.
Medium: Contemporary art across diverse mediums.
Entry Fee: Free.
Prize: Includes stipends for production and exhibition alongside global recognition.
Submission Deadline: Varies depending on the specific event (usually announced a year in advance).
Website: Sharjah Art Foundation.
Eligibility: Open to emerging artists from the Middle East and Africa, along with other global regions.
Medium: Various, including digital and traditional mediums.
Entry Fee: Free.
Prize: A total prize fund of £20,000; six regional winners receive £2,000 each, and one global winner receives £10,000.
Submission Deadline: Early in the year. (specific date depends on regional announcements).
Website M&C Saatchi Art for Change Prize
.
Eligibility: Open to all artists globally.
Medium: Fantasy art, including drawing, painting, and digital art.
Entry Fee: $20 per artwork.
Prize: Recognition in Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art, annual awards, and global exposure.
Submission Deadline: Typically in January.
Website: spectrumfantasticart.com
Eligibility: Open to artists across the GCC and globally.
Medium: Various, including traditional and digital art.
Entry Fee: None.
Prize: Grants, exhibition opportunities, and residencies.
Submission Deadline: Varies by program.
Website: Misk Art Institute.
Eligibility: Open to artists worldwide.
Medium: Any painting medium, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, and gouache.
Entry Fee: £10 per artwork.
Prize: £6,000 overall winner, £1,000 category winners, and more.
Submission Deadline: Annually, usually in February.
Website: jacksonsart.com
Eligibility: Open to all artists worldwide.
Medium: Portrait painting and drawing.
Entry Fee: $45 per artwork.
Prize: Cash prizes, scholarships, and exhibition opportunities.
Submission Deadline: Annually in February.
Website: portraitsociety.org
Eligibility: Open to artists around the world.
Medium: Illustration in various forms, including drawing and digital media.
Entry Fee: £30–£60 depending on the number of entries.
Prize: Global exposure, exhibition, and publication opportunities.
Submission Deadline: Early in the year (February-March).
Website: theaoi.com
Image section
Eligibility: Open to all artists globally.
Medium: Painting, drawing, and sculpture.
Entry Fee: $45 for up to 5 works.
Prize: Cash prizes, gallery exhibitions in New York.
Submission Deadline: Annually, around March-April.
Website: nyartcompetitions.com
Eligibility: Open to artists worldwide.
Medium: Contemporary art, including drawing, painting, and sculpture.
Entry Fee: $30 per entry.
Prize: Cash prizes, exhibitions in Venice, Italy.
Submission Deadline: Annually, typically in spring.
Website: itsliquid.com
Eligibility: Open to international artists.
Medium: Pastel drawing and painting.
Entry Fee: $40 for members, $50 for non-members.
Prize: Cash prizes, exhibition in New York City.
Submission Deadline: Typically in May.
Website: pastelsocietyofamerica.org
Eligibility: Open to artists worldwide.
Medium: All visual art mediums, including drawing, painting, and photography.
Entry Fee: $25 for each artwork.
Prize: Cash prizes, recognition by prominent art galleries, and global exposure.
Submission Deadline: Annually in May.
Website: americanartawards.com
Eligibility: Open to all artists globally.
Medium: Drawing, painting, and other visual art forms.
Entry Fee: £25 for one artwork, £32.50 for two.
Prize: Up to £6,000, along with gallery representation and exhibitions.
Submission Deadline: Annually, typically in early summer.
Website: sunnyartcentre.co.uk
Eligibility: Open to all artists internationally.
Medium: Painting, drawing, and sculpture.
Entry Fee: $45 for the first entry, $35 for additional entries.
Prize: Over $130,000 in cash prizes, plus exhibition opportunities.
Submission Deadline: Annually, with a typical deadline in June.
Website: artrenewal.org
Eligibility: Open to artists worldwide.
Medium: Drawing, painting, sculpture, digital art.
Entry Fee: $50 for one artwork, $90 for two.
Prize: Cash prizes, publication features, and art supplies.
Submission Deadline: Annually, usually mid-year.
Website: beautifulbizarreartprize.art
Eligibility: Open to artists worldwide.
Medium: All visual art mediums, including painting, drawing, and mixed media.
Entry Fee: Varies depending on the category.
Prize: Cash prizes, exhibition opportunities, and media exposure.
Submission Deadline: Annually (typically mid-year).
Website: theglobalartawards.com
Eligibility: Open to watercolor artists globally.
Medium: Watercolor painting.
Entry Fee: Varies depending on submission tier.
Prize: Cash prizes, exhibition opportunities, and global exposure.
Submission Deadline: Annually, typically mid-year.
Website: iwswatercolors.com
Eligibility: Open to all artists globally.
Medium: Painting, drawing, pastel, and mixed media.
Entry Fee: $35 per entry.
Prize: Cash awards of up to $2,500, publication features.
Submission Deadline: Annually (mid-year).
Website: artistsnetwork.com
Eligibility: Open to artists worldwide, aged 18 and older.
Medium: All forms of visual art, including drawing and painting.
Entry Fee: €55 application fee.
Prize: €50,000 grant to the winner, with exhibition opportunities.
Submission Deadline: Annually (usually in September).
Website: luxembourgartprize.com
Eligibility: Open to all artists globally.
Medium: All forms of painting and drawing.
Entry Fee: $14 for one entry, $24 for two.
Prize: Cash prizes, online exhibitions, and certificates.
Submission Deadline: Monthly competitions.
Website: lightspacetime.art
Eligibility: Open to all artists globally.
Medium: Painting, drawing, sculpture, and digital art.
Entry Fee: Free to submit.
Prize: Cash prizes, online gallery promotion, and exhibition opportunities.
Submission Deadline: Monthly.
Website: saatchiart.com/showdown
Eligibility: Open to artists internationally.
Medium: Painting, drawing, digital art, and technology-based art.
Entry Fee: $38 for two works.
Prize: $11,000 in prize money, global exhibitions, and exposure.
Submission Deadline: Annually, with varying deadlines depending on the category.
Website: lumenprize.com
Eligibility: Open to artists globally, focused on students and emerging artists.
Medium: Illustration, comic drawing, manga, and painting.
Entry Fee: Free.
Prize: Cash prizes, publication, and exhibition opportunities.
Submission Deadline: Annually.
Website: medibang.com
Eligibility: Open to all acrylic artists globally.
Medium: Acrylic painting only.
Entry Fee: $35 per entry.
Prize: Cash prizes, publication in Artists Magazine.
Submission Deadline: Annually (typically around October).
Website: artistsnetwork.com
Eligibility: Open to international artists of all levels.
Medium: Drawing, painting, photography, and mixed media.
Entry Fee: $45 for up to 3 images.
Prize: Cash prizes, magazine features, and gallery exhibitions.
Submission Deadline: Annually.
Website: createmagazine.com
Eligibility: Open to artists worldwide, primarily for watercolorists.
Medium: Watercolor painting.
Entry Fee: Typically free or low-cost.
Prize: Cash prizes, exhibition opportunities, and recognition.
Submission Deadline: Varies by country chapters, with global events annually.
Website: iwswatercolors.com
Eligibility: Open to artists worldwide.
Medium: Drawing, painting, and digital art.
Entry Fee: $60 per work.
Prize: $120,000 in total prizes, including cash and exhibition opportunities.
Submission Deadline: Held every two years.
Website: artolympia.jp
Eligibility: Open to international artists.
Medium: Painting (various mediums allowed).
Entry Fee: £30 per entry.
Prize: £25,000 grand prize, additional prizes for runners-up.
Submission Deadline: Biennially (every two years).
Website: johnmoorespaintingprize.com
Eligibility: Open to international artists aged 18 and over.
Medium: Drawing (primarily works in pencil).
Entry Fee: £15 for the first work, £5 for each additional work.
Prize: Cash prizes and the chance to exhibit in prestigious galleries.
Submission Deadline: Biannually.
Website: derwent-artprize.com
Eligibility: Open to artists internationally.
Medium: Painting, drawing, installation, digital art.
Entry Fee: Varies depending on the category.
Prize: Participation in the Biennale exhibition in Sydney.
Submission Deadline: Biennially (every two years).
Website: biennaleofsydney.art
Eligibility: Open to UAE residents and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nationals.
Medium: Contemporary art, including painting, installation, and multimedia.
Entry Fee: Free.
Prize: Significant financial prizes and exhibition opportunities at Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Submission Deadline: Typically biennial; check for updated dates.
Website: Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Winning art competitions is often about balancing artistic quality with strategic planning. By carefully researching, preparing, and presenting your work in the best possible way, you maximize your chances of success. Even if you don’t win every time, each competition is an opportunity to learn, grow, and gain exposure as an artist.
All the images, articles, video's and other forms of Intellectual Property have been registered by Copyright Agency CC Proof and have Copyright protection. All content is intended for personal use only and is not to be used commercially.