The acclaimed Arte Laguna Prize, an international competition based in Venice, has officially launched its call for entries for its 21st edition. Open to artists of all ages, origins, and backgrounds, and without thematic restrictions, the award solidifies its reputation as an inclusive and cross-disciplinary platform. More than just a competition, Arte Laguna positions itself as a dynamic ecosystem designed to foster synergies between artists, curators, institutions, and businesses, offering not only visibility but also tangible opportunities for connection and growth.
The accepted categories reflect the vast and evolving nature of the contemporary art landscape, spanning from painting and sculpture to installations, photography, and video art, extending to the most avant-garde languages. These include digital art, virtual art, land art, street art, and design, ensuring broad representation of current creative practices.
As per tradition, the selection of finalists and the guidance of the award’s trajectories are entrusted to a high-profile international jury. Composed of eminent curators, museum directors, and industry professionals, this year’s jury already features prominent names announced for 2026, including Yuko Hasegawa, Wang Chunchen, Hélio Menezes, Gianluigi Ricuperati, and Sarah Crowe, with additional world-renowned experts to be announced.
The pinnacle of the award will be the final exhibition, showcasing the works of 120 finalist artists, scheduled from November 6 to 29, 2026. The prestigious Arsenale Nord in Venice, an emblematic site of Venetian culture, will host this event. Here, Arte Laguna reinforces its role as a privileged observatory for emerging practices, offering an exhibition platform that has launched countless careers within the art system over the years. Beyond the main exhibition, the prize is distinguished by a rich program of collateral awards, resulting from collaborations with international partners and academic institutions, making the experience for artists even richer and more diverse.
Among the most coveted opportunities is the return of the three-month residency at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai, a creative hub that has hosted artists from all corners of the world, fostering research and cultural exchange. The program also includes other artistic residencies in Italy, Australia, and China, exhibitions in international galleries, and special awards exploring the link between art and industry. A notable example is the project supported by the FOMAS Group of Lecco, offering cash prizes (7,000, 4,000, and 3,000 euros) to works capable of narrating the journey of steel: from its incandescent, fluid phase, pulsating with heat, to its cooling and definitive crystallization into form.
The 2026 Arte Laguna Prize announcement also offers numerous other opportunities for artistic development: additional artistic residencies in China, Australia, and Italy, awards in collaboration with Italian companies such as Gabe Tenute of Treviso, an exhibition at Gallery Studio 76 in Romania, and a special recognition dedicated to sustainability in partnership with Ricardo Palma University in Peru.
To participate, artists must access the Arte Laguna World platform, create their personal profile, and complete the registration process, which involves paying a fee. This fee allows artists to submit up to five works to the international jury, apply for specific Special Awards, and have their own dedicated page on the artelaguna.world portal, amplifying their global visibility.
