An international exhibition of contemporary art held at the Chianciano Art Museum and galleries of the historic city centre.

Selection Process: Open

Chianciano Biennale 2026 – Key Information

Exhibition dates: 15 – 29 August 2026
Submission deadline: 31 May 2026
Submission fee: €40 per artwork
Participation fee: None. There are no additional fees if selected.
Artists selected: Approximately 200 international artists
Shipping: Artworks may be shipped ready for exhibition, regardless of medium or style. Alternatively, to reduce international shipping costs, canvas works and works on paper may be sent rolled in a tube. For canvases shipped rolled with the stretcher bars included, free stretching is available.
Location: Chianciano Terme, Tuscany, Italy
Total prizes: €6,500 in cash prizes
Additional awards: Automatic selection for London Art Biennale (10 artists) & Critique from the International Confederation of Art Critics (5 artists)

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Awards

The Chianciano Biennale is an art competition & open call for artists. The main prizes are as follows and no artist may receive more than one prize. Prize winners retain full ownership of their artworks.

€2,500 Best work at the Chianciano Biennale
€1,000 Award for Painting
€1,000 Award for Sculpture/Installation
€1,000 Award for Work on Paper
€1,000 Award for Digital/Photographic works
Ten artists will be automatically approved/selected to participate in the London Art Biennale 2027
Five artists will be selected for a critique by the International Confederation of Art Critics

Please click here to view the full list of prizes

How to Participate

There is a submission fee of €40 Euros for each artwork submitted.
Once selected, there are no participation fees.
Submissions can be made personally by artists or on behalf of artists.
Artists at any stage of their career are welcome to apply.
Click on the button below to enter the application process
Applicants subsequently receive an email with instructions (a Submission Certificate) on how to send artwork images and details. If you do not receive our email within 24 hours please check your spam and then message us on WhatsApp or email us from our contact page
The application process takes less than 3 minutes.

Submit Your Artwork to the
Chianciano Biennale 2026

FAQs

How does the selection process work?

We adopt a democratic, open-call selection model, inspired by internationally respected institutions such as the Royal Academy of Arts in London and the London Art Biennale. All artworks are submitted through the same process and are reviewed collectively by a Selection Committee after the deadline, ensuring that each artist is considered on equal terms. This approach allows for a broad and inclusive range of voices while maintaining a rigorous standard of quality, with decisions based solely on the strength and originality of the work. We believe this system represents one of the most fair, transparent, and merit-based methods of selecting artists within an international exhibition context.

Who can apply?

Artists from any country and at any stage of their career can apply to the Chianciano Biennale 2026. There are no geographical or thematic restrictions, and selection is based solely on the quality of the submitted artwork.

What can I submit?

You can submit painting, drawing, mixed media, collage, photography, digital art, video art, sculpture, installation, and textile or fibre art. Works may be new or old and may have been previously exhibited or published.

Does my artwork need to follow a specific theme or style?

No. The Chianciano Biennale does not require a theme or a specific style. Submissions are evaluated based on quality, originality, and artistic strength.

When does the exhibition take place?

The Chianciano Biennale 2026 takes place from 15 to 29 August 2026 in Chianciano Terme, Italy.

How many artists will be selected?

Approximately 200 international artists will be selected for the Chianciano Biennale 2026. Selection is based on the quality of the submitted artwork.

Is there a size limit for artworks?

In most cases, artworks should not exceed 250 cm on any side. If your artwork exceeds 250 cm, please contact the Biennale before submitting.

What are the submission fees?

The submission fee is €40 per artwork. There are no additional participation fees if you are selected.

Is the submission fee refundable?

No. The €40 submission fee covers administrative and curatorial evaluation costs and is non-refundable regardless of the selection outcome.

How many artworks can artists submit?

You may submit one or more artworks. Each artwork must be submitted separately and requires its own submission fee.

What happens if I am selected?

Selected artists receive an official confirmation email with next steps, including delivery deadlines, installation guidance, catalogue details, and exhibition information.

Do I need to attend in person if I am selected?

No. Attendance is optional. Selected artists are welcome to attend the inauguration and visit during the exhibition, but it is not required.

Can I submit a diptych, triptych, or installation as one submission?

Yes. If the artwork consists of multiple elements that form one work, it should be submitted as a single submission. Provide the total overall dimensions, including any intended gaps, and upload an image showing the full composition.

Are artworks for sale at the Biennale?

Artworks may be for sale, but the decision to sell is entirely the artist’s choice.

What prizes are awarded at the Chianciano Biennale?

The Chianciano Biennale awards €6,500 in cash prizes, including €2,500 for Best Work and €1,000 awards for Best Painting, Best Sculpture or Installation, Best Work on Paper, and Best Digital or Photographic Work.

Are there other awards besides cash prizes?

Yes. 10 artists will receive automatic selection for the London Art Biennale 2027, and five artists receive a professional critique from the International Confederation of Art Critics.

Can an artist win more than one prize?

No. Each prize is awarded to one artist only, and no artist may receive more than one prize.

Can artworks be shipped rolled in a tube?

Yes. Artworks can be delivered framed or mounted, or shipped rolled in a tube. Rolled works can be stretched or mounted locally if required.

Do you offer free canvas stretching?

Yes. Complimentary stretching is available for canvases shipped rolled in a tube when the artist includes the stretcher bars in the shipment (maximum size 150 × 150 cm).
If stretcher bars are not included, professional stretching can still be arranged locally. See the stretching price list here.

Do you offer framing?

Yes. We offer professional framing for artworks mounted on board, panel, or paper, as well as stretched canvases. Artists may choose framing with glass (recommended for works on paper and photography) or without glass for many board or panel works. Click here for price list.

Who pays for shipping?

Artists are responsible for arranging and covering shipping costs to Chianciano Terme. Return shipping or collection arrangements are also the artist’s responsibility.

How do I deliver or ship my artwork if selected?

Artists are responsible for arranging and covering shipping costs to Chianciano Terme. Selected artworks can be delivered in person or shipped by courier to Chianciano Terme, Italy. Full delivery instructions and deadlines are provided to selected artists by email.

When do selected artworks need to arrive?

Delivery deadlines are sent to selected artists after results are announced. In most cases, artworks must arrive in the weeks before the exhibition to allow time for preparation and installation.

Is there a printed catalogue?

Yes. The Chianciano Biennale publishes a hardback, printed exhibition catalogue documenting selected artists and artworks.

What image or file format should I upload?

The selection process is digital, so the panel evaluates the exact files you upload. Use clear, high-quality images in JPG, JPEG, PNG formats with a 10mb Max

Can selected artists attend the Biennale?

Yes. Selected artists are welcome to attend the inauguration and visit during the exhibition. Attendance is optional and not required.

When is the submission deadline?

Submissions close on 31 May 2026.

When are the results announced?

Selected artists are announced on the website and/or social media once the selection process is complete in mid-June. All artists who submit are also contacted directly by email with the results.

How do I submit?

Submissions are made online via the official submission page. The submission fee is €40 per artwork. Submission link: https://biennalechianciano.org/en/submit/

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Curatorial Study

All works are set up and curated by the Biennale team and there are no related costs of any kind for the artists.
The selected works will be exhibited at the Chianciano Art Museum and/or art galleries located in the medieval part of the city.
Artwork stretching/mounting/framing (2d works) is not required for the selection process but only if the work is approved and will be therefore exhibited in the Biennale.
Gallery stretched canvases (at least 30mm deep) can be exhibited unframed
Canvases below 30mm in depth must be framed
Other 2D artworks (works on board, works on paper etc) must be appropriately framed/mounted.
However, artworks that are specifically envisioned in a way that is incompatible with stretching/framing are of course exempt, please contact us if clarifications are required.
All 2D works should be ready to hang with string, hooks or other hanging fixtures.
To reduce transport costs (especially for large works), there is also the option to send canvases/works on paper rolled so that they can be stretched/framed locally (costs of stretching and framing apply for this option).
The Biennale provides screens for video art therefore all we need is the digital file. Artists that have specific screens or display equipment can of course provide them if they wish.

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Transportation

Artworks may also be shipped rolled in a tube to reduce shipping costs. Click here for details.
Artworks can be shipped in advance to a designated address or delivered by hand in the days leading up to the opening. We will send the designated shipping address, as well as detailed shipping guidance, in due course.
Delivery window: 15th June – 24th July (specific details will follow)
Transport and related costs are the responsibility of the artist.

Return of the work of art

For artwork returns, we repack the artwork in its original packaging and add new soft packaging where appropriate for free. Once the work is packed, we can provide contact information to transporters that cover the area. Alternatively, artists can organise their own return transport based on the size and weight of the packed artwork. We assist at every step but we just do not cover the transportation cost.
At the end of the exhibition, the artwork must be collected/collection must be organized within 8 weeks of an artist being informed that the artwork is ready for pickup.
Works that are not collected within 8 weeks are donated from the artist to the collection of the Chianciano Art Museum. The Museum will provide a collection certificate and will publish the artwork on its website.

Printed & Online Catalogue

Each artist will have one A4 page with one work published in the hardcopy publication
Artworks and artist details will be published on the Chianciano Biennale website indefinitely
Hardback copies of the catalogues can be purchased online by participating artists with a 10% discount.
Hardback catalogues will be available for purchase at the Biennale and on our website.

Copyright & Social Media Permission

All artworks submitted to and exhibited in the Biennale remain the full physical and intellectual property of the artist.

Submissions may be made directly by the artist, or by an authorised representative acting on the artist’s behalf, such as a gallery, agent, archive, foundation, or the artist’s estate. In the case of deceased artists, submissions may be made by heirs or legal representatives who hold the relevant rights.

In all cases, copyright and moral rights remain with the artist or the artist’s estate. The Biennale does not require any transfer, sale, or waiver of copyright.

By submitting an artwork, the submitting party confirms that they are authorised to do so and to grant the permissions outlined below.

The Biennale is granted a non-exclusive, royalty-free permission to use images of the submitted and exhibited artworks only for purposes directly connected to the Biennale, including:

promotion and communication (website, social media, press, digital and printed materials);
inclusion in the official Biennale catalogue;
documentation and archival records of the exhibition.

This permission:

is limited to Biennale-related activities;
does not restrict the artist or estate from using the work elsewhere;
applies worldwide due to the international nature of the event;
remains valid for archival and historical documentation of the Biennale.

No commercial use, reproduction for sale, or use unrelated to the Biennale will be made without prior consent from the artist, estate, or rights holder.

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Sales

Exhibited artworks do not need to be for sale, it is the artist’s choice and artworks can be exhibited as “not for sale”.
For artworks that are for sale, prices and information will be available with the London Biennale staff via professional and experienced sales staff.
The Biennale does not take any commission on sales and will only retain costs/taxes related to the sale.

Chianciano Biennale Clancianum Art Galleries & Art Museum

Submission fee

€ 40 Euros for each work presented for selection
The fee covers administrative/organisational costs and is not refundable regardless of the outcome of the selection process.
Once a work of art has been accepted for the exhibition there are no other fees.