2026 North American Print Biennial

About the Open Call

The Boston Printmakers 2026 North American Print Biennial will present an exhibition showcasing the best in contemporary and traditional printmaking. This highly recognized biennial event aims to promote public knowledge of printmaking, encourage and support artists working in the medium, and promote excellence and innovation within the field. The exhibition will run from September 8 – November 21, 2026, at the 808 Gallery, Boston University. Esteemed juror Esther Adler, Curator in the Department of Drawings and Prints at The Museum of Modern Art, will select works for the exhibition. The biennial offers $10,000 in juror-designated purchase prizes and materials awards, with purchase prizes entering permanent collections at major institutions. Additionally, the exhibition facilitates significant sales through patron and public purchases. The application period is from July 15, 2025, to February 15, 2026.

What is Offered

$10,000 in juror-designated purchase prizes and materials awards. Purchase prizes are placed into permanent collections at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, MA; Boston Athenaeum; and the Boston Printmakers Collection at the Boston Public Library. The show also generates a large number of sales through patron and public purchases.

Requirements

Eligible artists must be North American, 18 years or older. Original, innovative works in all printmaking media are accepted. Photographs, offset reproductions, or reproductions of artwork originally produced in another medium are not considered. Works previously exhibited in other Boston Printmakers exhibitions are ineligible. Artists may submit up to three digital images of original prints completed between 2023-2026. All delivered work must precisely match the juried image. Framing requires simple black metal or black wooden frames (max ½” thick on front edge), Plexiglas, and a standard white or off-white window mat (minimum 3 inches wide). Prints must be securely mounted to the backing board and frames ready to hang with wire or D-rings. Alternative presentation methods must be fully described in the CaFE entry. Special hanging or installation instructions should be included. Shipped work must be sent in sturdy, re-usable packaging, pre-paid via UPS, with a pre-paid return-shipping label including insurance. Artists outside the U.S. unable to provide a UPS label will be billed for return shipping. Work not protected by a frame may not be covered by gallery insurance.

How to Apply

Artists must submit entries online at www.callforentry.org between July 15, 2025, and February 15, 2026. Review all entry information carefully before submission, as no changes can be made afterward. Non-refundable entry fees are $35 USD for members (with a coupon code) and $50 USD for non-members, allowing submission of up to 3 works. Payments are processed via credit card on the application platform. Upload requirements for image files: JPEG only, no smaller than 1920 pixels on the longer side, 72 ppi/dpi resolution, 5 MB maximum file size. Notifications will be emailed before April 1, 2026.