2026 North American Print Biennial

About the Open Call

The Boston Printmakers' 2026 North American Print Biennial invites artists to submit original, innovative works in all printmaking media for an exhibition running from September 8 to November 21, 2026, at the 808 Gallery, Boston University. This biennial is renowned for showcasing excellence and innovation in printmaking. The juror for this edition is Esther Adler, Curator in the Department of Drawings and Prints at The Museum of Modern Art. Important dates include the application period from July 15, 2025, to February 15, 2026. Notifications will be emailed by April 1, 2026. Accepted works must be received between April 27 and May 12, 2026, for shipped items, or hand-delivered on June 6, 2026. A public reception and Juror’s Talk are scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2026. Artwork will be available for pickup on November 21, 2026, or shipped back by November 30, 2026. The gallery will assume responsibility for chosen works from delivery to pickup, with insurance covering 35% less than the selling price. Artists must insure their work during transit. Filing the entry form grants permission to use images for promotional, educational, or archival purposes, including for a catalog.

What is Offered

$10,000 in juror-designated purchase prizes and materials awards will be distributed, with purchase prizes entering permanent collections at institutions such as the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The exhibition also generates significant sales through patron and public purchases, with a 35% commission charged on all sales to cover exhibition expenses.

Requirements

Open to North American artists 18 years and older. Artists may submit up to three digital images of original prints completed between 2023-2026. Eligible media includes original, innovative works in all printmaking. Photographs, offset reproductions, or reproductions of artwork from other mediums are not considered. Works must not have been exhibited in any other Boston Printmakers exhibition. Accepted work must be framed in simple black metal or wooden frames (max ½” thick front edge) with Plexiglas and a standard white or off-white window mat (min 3 inches wide). Prints must be securely mounted to backing board and frames ready to hang with wire or D-rings. Alternative presentation methods require full description in the entry. Shipped work must be in sturdy, reusable packaging, sent pre-paid via UPS with a pre-paid return-shipping label (including insurance) taped to the back of the foam core backing. Artists from outside the U.S. unable to provide a UPS return label will be billed for return shipping.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online at www.callforentry.org between July 15, 2025, and February 15, 2026. Review all entry information carefully, as no changes can be made after submission. Upload requirements for image files are JPEG format only, no smaller than 1920 pixels on the longer side, 72 ppi/dpi resolution, and a maximum file size of 5 MB. Notifications will be emailed before April 1, 2026, and accepted artists will be posted on www.bostonprintmakers.org.