Experience the beauty of eastern North Carolina at its most colorful during Fall on the Roanoke, a multi-day plein air event celebrating the rich landscapes, history, and culture of Plymouth and Washington County.

Artists are invited to spend several inspiring days painting along the scenic Roanoke River, exploring centuries-old historic sites, quiet waterfronts, wildlife refuges, and breathtaking natural preserves. Whether your passion is architecture, landscapes, or wildlife, you'll find endless subjects to inspire your work.

Event details
October 21st - 24th, 2026
Plymouth, NC

Fees or awards
Housing will be provided in a historic home in Plymouth. Artists will have the opportunity to sell their artwork at the Oysters & Art Showcase on October 24th.

Celebrate the energy, emotion, and impact of color in the Vibrant Colors International Art Competition. Blue Koi Gallery invites artists worldwide to submit artwork that embraces bold palettes, striking contrasts, and expressive use of color. Whether your work is abstract or representational, traditional or contemporary, we welcome art that captivates, inspires, and leaves a lasting impression.

Fees or awards
Entry fee is $20. $150 cash award for first place. Exhibition feature, social media promotion, and certificate offered to finalists.

Raleigh Arts and the Block Gallery are seeking artists to submit works that relate to the theme “Celebrating the Greenways” for a group exhibition. This exhibition aims to bring attention to the importance of retaining and maintaining the Greenway System and vibrant network of public trails and open spaces.

Artists living or working in North Carolina are invited to submit their work for consideration by the September 4, 2026 deadline. The exhibition will be on view November 2026 through January 2027.

Location
Raleigh, NC

Fees or awards
No application fee.

International open call for Painters, Illustrators, Printmakers and Traditional 2D Artists. Prisma Art Prize opens its 20th edition, continuing its mission as an international platform dedicated to painting and two-dimensional artistic research.

Location
Rome, Italy

Fees or awards
€500 cash prize. €34 submission fee for 1 - 3 artworks, and €5 for each additional artwork up to 8 artworks total.

The AweSnapp Monthly Art Awards celebrates exceptional artists from around the world by recognizing creativity, originality, and artistic excellence. Each month, artists of all backgrounds are invited to submit their best work for the opportunity to gain international recognition and professional exposure. There is no theme, giving you the freedom to showcase the artwork that best represents your unique vision and artistic voice.

Fees or awards
Free to enter; $15 participation fee only after selection

The Gibbes Museum and Society 1858’s Prize for Contemporary Southern Art is awarded to an artist whose work contributes to a new understanding of art in the South. Presented annually, the Prize recognizes the highest level of artistic achievement and welcomes applications from artist working across any media. Artists who reside, work in, or are from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia are encouraged and eligible to apply.

Location
Charleston, SC

Fees or awards
$35 non-refundable entry fee; $10,000 prize

Summer 2026 open for submissions — Innovate Grant is thrilled to introduce our newly increased award amounts of $1,800. Innovate Grant awards (2) $1,800 grants each quarter, to one Visual Artist and one Photographer. Our newly increased $1,800 grants act as mighty sparks of financial support that ignite your creative development.

Fees or awards
$35 application fee

 🗓 October 16 - 25, 2026
📍 Lecce, MUST - Museo Storico della Città di Lecce
⏳ Deadline: September 21, 2026 (11.59 PM your local time)

“Every piece of art tells a story made up of emotions, memories and experiences that are part of the lived of each artist”.

Dr. Carmela Loiacono, Art Historian and Independent Curator is opening submissions for the International Art Exhibition STORIES OF IDENTITY | The 3rd Edition 2026.

Location
Lecce, Italy

Fees or awards
The submission proposal is free.
A participation fee is required only for selected artists.

Calling all creatives, school-aged artists and seasoned professionals! Expand your vision of the Beatles' influence on music, art and culture.

FabFest-Charlotte's Beatles Festival aims to inspire different generations and cultures to come together through the music of the Beatles. From psychedelic style to cultural revolution, the Beatles helped shape the 1960s and beyond, and their music, messages and legacy continue to inspire new generations of artists. We’re looking for art that interprets how the Beatles influenced and were influenced by the world around them — all the themes of the era are fair game!

Event details
Saturday, October 3, 2026 from 10 am - 5 pm
Parr Center, Central Piedmont Community College
Charlotte, NC

Fees or awards
Entry fees vary by number of works submitted: $20 for one artwork, $35 for two artworks, etc. *Fees waived for youth artists. Cash prizes totaling over $3,500 include Adult Best in Show: $1,000 and Youth Best in Show: $250.

Waterworks Visual Arts Center is a nationally accredited, non-collecting art museum presenting three rotating exhibitions of contemporary fine art and craft each year by local, regional, national, and international artists. Submissions from established and emerging artists with credentials are accepted and reviewed within 60–90 days following the deadlines of January 30 and September 30. Exhibitions are planned 18–24 months in advance, and submission review does not ensure inclusion.

Location
Salisbury, NC

Fees or awards
Submission Fee: $10