A correspondent on the floor
The world, told through artists.
The Global Art Calendar and the stories behind it: every festival, fair, and open call worth knowing, free every week.
Get the weekly emailOwn history now. The banners said it across the floor at FNB Art Joburg, where fifteen African countries spent a week arguing, in paint and photographs, that the record of a place belongs to the people who live it. The same artists open the Global Art Calendar on Monday to find the next door, free.
FNB Art Joburg. Photograph by Khethiwe Tracy Gumede, ArtempireMJ correspondent in South Africa.
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The Global Art Calendar
What is open right now, worldwide: open calls, residencies, grants, fairs, and biennials. Each one verified before it is listed, refreshed weekly. Artists find the door to apply to. Travellers find the fairs and biennials to plan a trip around, by city, on Art Itineraries.
Closing soon
- Deadline 2026-08-23 Whitney Biennial 2026 Whitney Museum of American Art · New York, United States
- Deadline 2026-09-10 MacDowell Fellowship MacDowell · Peterborough, New Hampshire, United States
- Deadline 2026-10-04 Manifesta 16 Ruhr International Foundation Manifesta · Ruhr region, Germany
- Deadline 2026-10-16 Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture · Madison, Maine, United States
- Deadline 2026-10-18 Frieze London Frieze · London, United Kingdom
- Deadline 2026-10-25 AKAA: Also Known As Africa AKAA · Paris, France
Africa
- Biennial Dakar Biennale (Dak'Art) Secrétariat Général de la Biennale de Dakar · Dakar, Senegal Pan-African biennial of contemporary art held in Dakar since 1992; the 16th edition's theme is '(Anti)Fragility'. Deadline 2026-12-19Verified
- Biennial Bamako Encounters: African Biennale of Photography Ministry of Culture of Mali · Bamako, Mali Africa's first and largest biennial dedicated to photography and lens-based media, held in Bamako since 1994; 15th edition 'REFABULATION(S)'. Deadline 2027-01-26Verified
- Biennial Lagos Biennial Àkéte Art Foundation · Lagos, Nigeria Biennial of contemporary art staged across non-traditional urban spaces in Lagos since 2017; 5th edition 'The Museum of Things Unseen'. Deadline 2026-12-20Verified
- Fair AKAA: Also Known As Africa AKAA · Paris, France Paris-based contemporary art and design fair centred on Africa and its diaspora, held annually at the Carreau du Temple. Deadline 2026-10-25Verified
- Prize Norval Sovereign African Art Prize Sovereign Art Foundation with Norval Foundation · Franschhoek, South Africa Nomination-only prize for contemporary artists from Africa and its diaspora; US$25,000 grand prize and a finalists exhibition (5th edition at La Motte). Deadline 2027-02-26Verified
- Fair Investec Cape Town Art Fair Fiera Milano Exhibitions Africa · Cape Town, South Africa Annual contemporary art fair in Cape Town gathering galleries and artists from across Africa and internationally. Annual, typically mid-to-late February at the CTICC
- Fair 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair (Marrakech) 1-54 · Marrakech, Morocco Marrakech edition of the leading international fair for contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora, held at La Mamounia. Annual Marrakech edition, typically early February (also London and New York editions)
- Prize Absa L'Atelier Art Competition Absa with SANAVA · Johannesburg, South Africa Long-running annual visual-arts competition for emerging artists across Africa, awarding mentorships, residencies and exhibitions. Annual; submissions typically open spring (~April–May) across 12 African countries
- Grant Prince Claus Seed Award Prince Claus Fund · Amsterdam, Netherlands €5,000 awards to 100 emerging artists and cultural practitioners (1–5 years experience) from eligible Global South countries. Annual; call opens ~Nov/Dec with an early-January deadline (eligible: Africa, Asia, Latin America, Caribbean, Middle East, Eastern Europe)
- Biennial Kampala Art Biennale Kampala Arts Trust · Kampala, Uganda Contemporary African art biennial founded in 2014, presenting work by artists from across the continent. Recurs biennially in even years, typically in the second half of the year
- Biennial Stellenbosch Triennale Stellenbosch Outdoor Sculpture Trust · Stellenbosch, South Africa Triennial of contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora, first held in 2020. Triennial (every three years), typically South African autumn (Feb–Apr); next edition expected ~2028
- Open call RAW Académie RAW Material Company · Dakar, Senegal Tuition-free ~7-week experimental study programme in artistic and curatorial practice in Dakar. Roughly annual session; open call for up to ten fellows typically published mid-year
- Residency NIROX Artist Residency NIROX Foundation · Krugersdorp, South Africa 6–8 week residencies in a 30-hectare sculpture park in the Cradle of Humankind, with full board, studio and curatorial guidance. Rolling and by-invitation intakes through the year; some open calls
- Open call Thami Mnyele Foundation Residency Thami Mnyele Foundation · Amsterdam, Netherlands Competitive Amsterdam studio residency (since 1992) for African visual artists, with accommodation, studio, allowance and travel. Annual open call when active; three-month Amsterdam studio residency for African visual artists
- Open call 32° East Residency 32° East | Ugandan Arts Trust · Kampala, Uganda Kampala contemporary art centre offering studio residencies to East African and international artists. Residency calls recur roughly October–November each year
- Open call Black Rock Senegal Residency Black Rock Senegal · Dakar, Senegal Multidisciplinary coastal Dakar residency founded by Kehinde Wiley in 2019 for visual artists, writers and filmmakers. One fee-free open call per year for 1–3 month stays
- Residency Fondation H Residency / Prix Paritana Fondation H · Antananarivo, Madagascar Malagasy contemporary-art foundation supporting artists from Madagascar, Africa and the diasporas via residencies and a prize. Residencies largely by invitation; the annual Prix Paritana prize opens its own call each year
- Residency David Koloane Award Residency Bag Factory Artists' Studios · Johannesburg, South Africa Long-running Johannesburg residency organisation (Triangle Network); its flagship award offers a funded studio residency. Annual open call, typically announced mid-year; funded studio residency for a South Africa–based artist
Europe
- Biennial Venice Biennale: 61st International Art Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia · Venice, Italy 61st International Art Exhibition curated by Koyo Kouoh ('In Minor Keys'), with ~100 national pavilions across the Giardini and Arsenale. Deadline 2026-11-22Verified
- Fair Frieze London Frieze · London, United Kingdom Contemporary art fair in The Regent's Park, staged alongside Frieze Masters. Deadline 2026-10-18Verified
- Biennial Manifesta 16 Ruhr International Foundation Manifesta · Ruhr region, Germany Roving European nomadic biennial; the 2026 edition spans four Ruhr cities, siting work in disused post-war church buildings (free entry). Deadline 2026-10-04Verified
- Prize Turner Prize 2026 Tate · Middlesbrough, United Kingdom Annual £25,000 award for a British artist; 2026 shortlist exhibited at MIMA, winner announced 10 December. Deadline 2026-12-10Verified
- Fair Art Basel in Basel Art Basel (MCH Group) · Basel, Switzerland Flagship modern and contemporary art fair with 200+ international galleries. Annual, typically mid-June at Messe Basel
- Residency Rijksakademie Residency: Open Call Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten · Amsterdam, Netherlands One- or two-year Amsterdam studio residency with studio, work budget and stipend, selected via annual open call. Annual international open call, roughly 1 January – 1 February each year
- Residency Jan van Eyck Academie Residency: Open Call Jan van Eyck Academie · Maastricht, Netherlands ~11-month multidisciplinary post-academic residency for artists, designers, writers, curators and researchers. Annual call, typically published in autumn for the following year
- Residency Delfina Foundation Residency Programme Delfina Foundation · London, United Kingdom Themed, mostly funded residencies in London hosting artists, curators and writers from around the world. Thematic, seasonal residencies run via rolling open calls through the year
- Grant DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Programme DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) · Berlin, Germany ~20 fully funded one-year fellowships in Berlin for established artists in visual arts, film, literature and music. Annual; applications run roughly mid-October to mid-December
- Residency Cité internationale des arts Residencies Cité internationale des arts · Paris, France Furnished studio residencies in Paris offered through many partner programmes with production and living grants. Multiple partner-programme open calls across the year (3–12 month studios)
- Open call Künstlerhaus Bethanien: International Studio Programme Künstlerhaus Bethanien · Berlin, Germany 6–12 month international studio residency in Berlin with production support and connection to the city’s art scene. Direct open call roughly around spring; many places routed via partner institutions
- Residency Akademie Schloss Solitude Fellowship Akademie Schloss Solitude · Stuttgart, Germany 50–60 residential fellowships for international artists and researchers, with live/work studio and monthly stipend. Open call roughly every two years; next call expected ~2027
Americas
- Residency Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture · Madison, Maine, United States Nine-week summer residency in rural Maine for emerging visual artists across all media (application window for the 2027 programme). Deadline 2026-10-16Verified
- Residency MacDowell Fellowship MacDowell · Peterborough, New Hampshire, United States Fellowship offering private studios, lodging and meals up to six weeks across disciplines (Spring/Summer 2027 cycle). Deadline 2026-09-10Verified
- Fair Art Basel Miami Beach Art Basel (MCH Group) · Miami Beach, United States Major international modern and contemporary art fair at the Miami Beach Convention Center (VIP days 2–3 Dec). Deadline 2026-12-06Verified
- Biennial Whitney Biennial 2026 Whitney Museum of American Art · New York, United States The museum's flagship curated survey of contemporary American art (82nd edition); by curatorial selection, not open application. Deadline 2026-08-23Verified
- Residency ISCP: International Studio & Curatorial Program ISCP · Brooklyn, New York, United States Brooklyn studio residency for international artists and curators, with 3-month to 1-year stays. Flagship programme reviewed on a rolling basis year-round
- Residency Fountainhead Residency Fountainhead Arts · Miami, United States Month-long Miami residency for mid-career visual artists, with housing, airfare and an honorarium. Open call typically opens in summer for the following year
- Grant Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant Pollock-Krasner Foundation · New York, United States Unrestricted, need-based grants for painters, sculptors and artists working on paper. Rolling; applications accepted year-round
- Grant Creative Capital Award Creative Capital · New York, United States Unrestricted project grants plus support for experimental new works by US artists. Annual open call, typically in spring (project grants up to $50k)
- Grant Guggenheim Fellowship John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation · New York, United States Mid-career fellowships for artists, scholars and scientists in the United States and Canada. Annual; cycle opens late summer and closes ~mid-September (US and Canada)
- Fair ZⓈONAMACO ZⓈONAMACO · Mexico City, Mexico Latin America's largest contemporary art fair, with 200+ galleries. Annual, typically early February at Centro Citibanamex
- Fair SP–Arte SP–Arte · São Paulo, Brazil Leading Brazilian art and design fair, with ~180 exhibitors. Annual, typically April at the Bienal Pavilion
- Residency Fundación Casa Wabi Residency Fundación Casa Wabi · Puerto Escondido, Mexico Residency in a Tadao Ando–designed complex on the Oaxacan coast, pairing artists with surrounding villages. Open calls through the year (incl. partner-prize cycles); reciprocal community project required
- Residency Pivô: Arte e Pesquisa Pivô · São Paulo, Brazil Non-profit in the Copan building running a free research residency for artists and researchers. Annual open call for the free 'Pivô Pesquisa' research residency (semestral cycles)
- Residency Beta-Local: La Práctica Beta-Local · San Juan, Puerto Rico Artist-run organisation whose 'La Práctica' programme supports ~10 cultural workers each year. Annual cohort for the ~6-month residency/seminar
- Biennial Bienal de São Paulo Fundação Bienal de São Paulo · São Paulo, Brazil Major recurring survey of international contemporary art held in Oscar Niemeyer’s Ibirapuera pavilion. Latin America's oldest biennial (since 1951); next edition expected 2027 in Ibirapuera Park
Asia/Middle East
- Biennial Gwangju Biennale (16th) Gwangju Biennale Foundation · Gwangju, South Korea Korea's flagship contemporary art biennial (founded 1995); 16th edition 'You Must Change Your Life', directed by Ho Tzu Nyen. Deadline 2026-11-15Verified
- Biennial Busan Biennale 2026 Busan Biennale Organizing Committee · Busan, South Korea Contemporary art biennial held in Busan since 2002; 2026 edition 'Dissident Chorus'. Deadline 2026-11-01Verified
- Biennial Bangkok Art Biennale (5th) Bangkok Art Biennale Foundation · Bangkok, Thailand City-wide biennial across Bangkok temples, heritage sites and museums; 2026 edition 'Angels and Mara'. Deadline 2027-02-28Verified
- Fair Art Dubai Art Dubai · Dubai, United Arab Emirates The leading international contemporary and modern art fair in the Middle East. Annual; typically spring (April/May), with a MENASA focus
- Biennial Kochi-Muziris Biennale (6th) Kochi Biennale Foundation · Kochi, India Large recurring biennial staged in Fort Kochi heritage venues; the 6th edition was curated by Nikhil Chopra with HH Art Spaces. India's principal contemporary art biennial; runs across the winter into spring (most recent edition closed March 2026)
- Biennial Taipei Biennial Taipei Fine Arts Museum · Taipei, Taiwan International contemporary biennial at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Taiwan's flagship biennial (since 1998); next (15th) edition in 2027, curated by Cecilia Alemani
- Biennial Thailand Biennale Office of Contemporary Art and Culture (OCAC), Ministry of Culture · Phuket, Thailand Roving national contemporary art biennial (Chiang Rai 2023, Phuket 2025, Rayong 2027). Government-run biennial that rotates to a new Thai province each edition; next edition Rayong 2027
- Biennial Sharjah Biennial 17 Sharjah Art Foundation · Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Large-scale, multi-venue contemporary art biennial across the emirate of Sharjah. Biennial on an odd-year cycle; next edition (SB17) announced for 21 Jan – 13 Jun 2027 (no 2026 edition)
- Residency Khoj International Residency Khoj International Artists' Association · New Delhi, India Leading South Asian artist-led organisation running residencies, open calls and experimental programmes. Themed residency cohorts with periodic open calls through the year
- Prize Jameel Prize Art Jameel with the V&A · Dubai, United Arab Emirates International award for contemporary art and design inspired by Islamic tradition. Roughly biennial international award; open call typically in autumn ahead of each edition
- Grant Mophradat: Grants for Artists Mophradat · Brussels, Belgium Non-profit serving artists from the Arab world with grants and structured peer dialogue. Open call for artists from the Arab world, typically published in autumn
- Fair Dhaka Art Summit Samdani Art Foundation · Dhaka, Bangladesh Recurring non-commercial exhibition and research platform for South Asian and global contemporary art. Large non-commercial South Asian research platform, held roughly every two years (historically ~February)
- Open call Sharjah Art Foundation: Open Calls / Production Programme Sharjah Art Foundation · Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Rolling open-call grants supporting production of new work by MENASA-region artists. Rolling open calls through the year (production grants, short film, publishing) with varying deadlines
Browse the whole calendar, any time, beyond what we feature this week. By region: Africa, Europe, Americas, Asia and the Middle East. By type: residencies, grants, open calls, fairs, biennials, prizes.
Dates are confirmed before they are listed. Browse every opportunity on DISCOVER, or list yours.
Worth a trip
For the traveller: the fairs, biennials, and museum shows to plan around.
Nairobi, Kenya Peterson Kamwathi: Tabula Rasa 25 Apr 2026 to 23 Aug 2026 Venice, Italy Biennale Arte 2026: In Minor Keys 9 May 2026 to 22 Nov 2026 London, United Kingdom Frida: The Making of an Icon 25 Jun 2026 to 4 Jan 2027
Festivals · all the art worth crossing the world for · plan the trip · the world map
From the floor
The World Own history now: a continent telling its own story At one fair in Johannesburg, fifteen African countries made the same argument: the record of a place belongs to the people who live it. 
Art + Finance Five prizes at Cape Town, and two new ones show where the money is moving New prize categories are capital placing a bet before the market does. Two appeared at ICTAF 2026. 
Art + Finance The auction room is no longer discovering prices In 2016, guarantees backed 36% of New York’s Evening Sales. By 2025, it was 78%. 
Money Stories She was planting trees while the world called her dangerous Before the Nobel Prize, there was a woman planting trees alone. Money Stories begins with Wangari Maathai, and the long years before the world caught up. On the floor
From our correspondents at the fairs this season.
The newsletter
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Three ways in
The World The world, through its artists War, currency, migration, identity, carried by the people who make the art. DISCOVER The opportunity radar Open calls, residencies, grants, and fairs, gathered for the artists who want them. Art Itineraries The world through what people make in it Art travel for the culturally-curious, built around the calendar.