OPEN CALL – International FIKVA Award for painters 2026
The FiKVA Foundation proudly presents the 4th International FiKVA Award for Representational & Figurative Painters – a remarkable opportunity for artists worldwide to gain international recognition, share their talent globally, and earn substantial financial rewards. Best of all, the entire process is online – no need to ship your work or part with it!
The International FiKVA Award for painters is open to all artists 18 years of age or older. The FiKVA Award is open to all styles of representational painting – modern and classical realism, imaginative realism, hyperrealism, photorealism, luminism, surrealism etc – as long as the artwork reads as representational and not stylized or abstract. If your work captures the essence of the real world while reflecting your unique artistic voice, we want to see it!
KEY DATES
Submissions Open: December 3, 2025
Submissions Close: April 22, 2026, at 12:00 PM (Brussels Time)
Top 100 Announcement: June 2, 2026 (via email and social media)
Winners Announcement: June 11, 2026 (Finalists and winners will be notified by email and listed on the FiKVA website and social media channels) Online Exhibition Launch (Top 35): June 20, 2026
ARTIST ELIGIBILITY
The FiKVA Award is open to all painters aged 18 and older, from anywhere in the world.
ARTWORK ELIGIBILITY
- The work must be the artist’s original creation, produced solely by the artist, with
copyrights exclusively owned by the artist. - The work may be signed and may have participated in previous competitions.
- The work may be sold, provided the copyright of its image remains solely with the
artist. - Works must have been produced between 2024 and 2026.
- Works must be available for inclusion in an online exhibition.
- Works do not need to be available for sale.
ACCEPTED MEDIA
Oil, water-soluble oil paint, acrylic paint, watercolor, ink, gouache, tempera, and all traditional wet mediums on any support – canvas, board, paper, wood, panel, wall, aluminium, glass, etc. All works must be handmade; digital or mechanical works will not be considered.
SUBJECT MATTER & SIZE
No restrictions – submit what you consider your best work from the last two years.
NO SHIPPING REQUIRED
This competition is entirely online – just submit high-quality images of your artwork to participate. Even if you win, your painting stays with you; no need to part with it.
FEES
To submit your work, you must register and pay a submission fee:
- Participation in the FiKVA Award with just one work: €36
- You can enter up to 5 works; each additional work will add €16 to your participation fee.
PRIZES
First Prize:
€3500 cash prize + Art supplies package, courtesy of M. Graham (12 color paints, valued at €300) + Digital and social media marketing, valued at €300 + Certificate of Achievement + Participation in the online group exhibition of finalists + Published interview with the FiKVA Foundation + Permanent display of the submitted artwork on the FiKVA website + 6-month online gallery representation for a selected artwork
Second Prize:
€1500 cash prize + Certificate of Achievement + Participation in the online group exhibition of finalists + Published interview with the FiKVA Foundation + Permanent display of the submitted artwork on the FiKVA website + 6-month online gallery representation for a selected artwork + Digital and social media marketing, valued at €300
Third Prize:
€500 cash prize + Certificate of Achievement + Participation in the online group exhibition of finalists + Published interview with the FiKVA Foundation + Permanent display of the submitted artwork on the FiKVA website + 6-month online gallery representation for a selected artwork + Digital and social media marketing, valued at €300
Purchase Prize (only awarded if a work fits the objectives and possibilities of the FiKVa-collection): Acquisition of one selected artwork for the FiKVA Collection + Certificate of Achievement + Permanent display of the purchased artwork on the FiKVA website + Digital and social media marketing, valued at €300
Honorable Mention (3 will be awarded):
Certificate of Achievement + Participation in the online group exhibition of the finalists + Permanent place on the FiKVA website + Digital and social media marketing, valued at €300
Top 35:
Participation in the online group exhibition of the finalists + Permanent display on the FiKVA website + Digital and social media marketing, valued at €200
Gallery Representation Prize:
Up to 10 outstanding artworks from the Top 100 will be handpicked for a 6-month gallery representation with the FiKVA Online Gallery. This exclusive opportunity is by invitation only, with no obligation to the artist.
THE JURY
The jury for 2026 consists of eleven art-professionals:
Alessandro Tomassetti – Painter, Canada/Spain
Anna Wypych – Painter, Poland
Arina Gordienko – Painter, Russia/UK
Christiane Vleugels – Painter, Belgium
Christoph Eberle – Painter, Switzerland
Francien Krieg – Painter, The Netherlands
Lucas Bononi – Painter, USA
Nadine Robbins – Painter, USA
Samuel De Maré – Painter, Belgium
Tanya Atanasova – Painter, Bulgaria/Belgium
Zhang Hongbin – Cultural Manager, China
The jury evaluates the originality, subject matter, and technical skill of each work. Their selection of the winning works is final, and the decision cannot be appealed on any grounds. Judges are not allowed to participate in the competition in the year they are serving as jurors, nor are their family members or members of the FiKVA Foundation.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE?
Registration is only possible via the website: www.fikva.art
Deadline: 22 April 2026, 12:00 noon (Brussels time).
