2026 North American Print Biennial

About the Open Call

The 2026 North American Print Biennial, organized by The Boston Printmakers, is a prestigious international exhibition dedicated to showcasing the best in contemporary and traditional printmaking. The mission of The Boston Printmakers, founded in 1947, is 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 feature works selected by Juror Esther Adler, Curator in the Department of Drawings and Prints at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), known for organizing significant exhibitions like 'Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction' and 'New Ground: Jacob Samuel and Contemporary Etching.' Exhibition dates are September 8 – November 21, 2026, held at the 808 Gallery, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts. A total of $10,000 is available in juror-designated purchase prizes and materials awards. The Boston Printmakers’ purchase prizes are acquired for the 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 exhibition also facilitates sales through patron and public purchases, with a 35% commission on all sales, which supports the non-profit organization's exhibition expenses. Key dates: Application period: July 15, 2025, through February 15, 2026. Notifications emailed: April 1, 2026, or before. Period to receive all shipped work: April 27 – May 12, 2026. Hand delivered work received at 808 Gallery: June 6, 2026. Public Reception and Juror’s Talk: Saturday, September 19, 2026. Exhibition closes: Saturday, November 21, 2026. Pick up of hand delivered work: November 21, 2026. Return of shipped work: November 30, 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 exhibition also generates sales through patron and public purchases.

Requirements

Open to North American artists 18 years and older. Original, innovative works in all printmaking media are eligible; photographs, offset reproductions, or reproductions of artwork originally produced in another medium will not be considered. Submitted work may not have been exhibited in any other Boston Printmakers exhibition. Artists may submit up to three digital images of original prints completed within 2023-2026. Accepted works must match juried images, be framed in simple black metal or wooden frames (max ½” thick on front edge), with Plexiglas and a standard white or off-white window mat (minimum 3 inches wide). Prints must be securely mounted and ready to hang with wire or D-rings. Alternative presentation methods must be described in the entry. Shipped work requires sturdy, re-usable packaging and pre-paid UPS labels with insurance.

How to Apply

All entries must be submitted online at www.callforentry.org by February 15, 2026. Review all entry information carefully before submitting; no changes can be made once submitted. Further details and the prospectus are available on the Boston Printmakers website.