Encountering Overflowing Talent in Tokyo's Fukagawa District: Call for Entries for the "Art Para Fukagawa Grand Prix 2026," One of Japan's Largest Nationwide Open Exhibitions, Featuring Approximately 200 Selected Works and 50 Award-Winning Pieces!
The Art Para Fukagawa Executive Committee is calling for entries for the "Art Para Fukagawa Grand Prix 2026," a major nationwide open exhibition for artists with disabilities. The event will culminate in a city-wide art festival in the Fukagawa district of Tokyo, aiming to foster a society where people can live together through art and conversation.
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- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 23:37
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The Art Para Fukagawa "Chatty" Art Festival Executive Committee (Executive Chairman: Osamu Fukushima) and the General Incorporated Association Art Para Fukagawa (Representative Director: Hiromi Hojo) will hold the "Art Para Fukagawa 'Chatty' Art Festival 2026" (hereinafter referred to as Art Para Fukagawa), a civic art festival that exhibits works by artists with disabilities throughout the streets of Tokyo's Fukagawa district. The festival will take place from September 5 (Sat) to September 13 (Sun), 2026, in Toyosu, and from October 17 (Sat) to October 25 (Sun), 2026, in Monzen-nakacho, Kiyosumi-shirakawa, and Morishita.
Since its inception in 2020, Art Para Fukagawa has welcomed a total of 646,000 visitors (according to our organization's research) and is now entering its seventh year. It is a civic art festival where visitors can encounter colorful art created by people with disabilities while strolling through the town, take an interest in the artists' backgrounds, connect with others, and chat to deepen mutual understanding, all with the goal of creating a society where we can "live together."
This year, we are holding the biennial nationwide open exhibition, the "Art Para Fukagawa Grand Prix 2026." To shine a light on even more talent, we have significantly expanded the number of selected works to approximately 200 and the number of award-winning works to approximately 50, making it one of the largest open exhibitions in Japan. The total number of entries for the first through fourth nationwide open exhibitions is 2,366.
In addition to presenting art activity support grants, such as 500,000 yen for the Grand Prix winner, 300,000 yen for the Runner-up, and 50,000 yen each for four Jury Special Awards, we have prepared benefits for award winners and selected artists, such as the production and presentation of postcards featuring their work.
Please apply via the application form on our official website (https://artpara-fukagawa.tokyo/).
Topics for the Nationwide Open Exhibition "Art Para Fukagawa Grand Prix 2026"
■ The Grand Prix winner will be featured as the main visual for 2027, and the Runner-up for 2028
The Grand Prix winning work will be used as the main visual for 2027, and the Runner-up for 2028, and will be widely utilized in Art Para Fukagawa's public relations activities, including our official website and posters.
This year's main visual is "Journey to Japan's World Heritage Sites" by Nozomu Tokuhara (Runner-up of the "Art Para Fukagawa Grand Prix 2024").
■ Original works of approximately 200 award-winning and selected pieces will be exhibited! An awards ceremony (by invitation only) will be held on the first day!
The original works of approximately 200 award-winning and selected pieces will be exhibited at three locations during the festival: "Fukagawa Fudo-do Lotus Hall," "Fukagawa Edo Museum Lecture Hall," and "Taisho Memorial Hall in Kiyosumi Garden."
On October 17, 2026 (Sat), the first day of the Fukagawa event, we will hold the "Art Para Fukagawa Grand Prix 2026 Awards Ceremony" (by invitation only) at the Koto City Morishita Culture Center.
■ The "Art Para Market Fair (AMF)" will be held the following year (planned)!
Award-winning artists (those who pass the second round of judging) will be able to sell their works at the "AMF (Art Para Market Fair)" to be held the following year (2027). 100% of the sales will be returned to the artists, an initiative aimed at supporting their economic independence.
■ Specialists from various fields will participate as judges
Flower artist Shogo Kariyazaki, editor and novelist Seiko Ito, art consultant Shino Sugimoto, and artist Hiroaki Nakatsugawa will serve as judges.
■ What is the "Art Para Fukagawa 'Chatty' Art Festival"?
The "Art Para Fukagawa 'Chatty' Art Festival" is a highly unique civic art festival that turns the entire town into an art museum using works by artists with disabilities. It is set in the downtown area of Fukagawa, where shrines and temples from the Edo period are scattered, and is planned and operated by local volunteers with the support of many others. It was first held in November 2020 and is now in its seventh year. It has gained significant interest, attracting a total of approximately 130,000 visitors over nine days. We aim to be a comprehensive art festival that everyone can participate in and enjoy, continuing to receive support from artists with disabilities and their families, local residents centered in Fukagawa, many companies, and the many people who visit Fukagawa.
Nationwide Open Exhibition "Art Para Fukagawa Grand Prix 2026" Application Overview
- Eligibility: Individuals with some form of disability in their daily life (no age limit)
- Application Period: March 2026 to May 10, 2026 (Sun) (must be postmarked by this date)
- Number of entries: One work per person (group applications allowed)
- Theme: Open
- Specifications: Work size must be 150cm or less in height and width (when packed), and thickness within approximately 10cm
- Entry Fee: Free (shipping costs to be borne by the applicant, return shipping costs borne by the organizer)
- Judging Method: First round (image data), Second round (actual work)
- Awards/Art Activity Support Grants:
Grand Prix: 1 winner (500,000 yen) / Runner-up: 1 winner (300,000 yen) / Jury Special Awards: 4 winners (50,000 yen each) /
Corporate Sponsor Awards: approx. 30-40 works / Executive Committee Awards, etc.
- Awards Ceremony (by invitation only): October 17, 2026 (Sat) at "Koto City Morishita Culture Center"
- Exhibition: October 17, 2026 (Sat) to October 25, 2026 (Sun)
- Organizers: Art Para Fukagawa "Chatty" Art Festival Executive Committee, General Incorporated Association Art Para Fukagawa
- Official Website: https://artpara-fukagawa.tokyo/guidelines2026/
*All information provided is tentative and subject to change. Thank you for your understanding.
[Contact for General Inquiries]
Art Para Fukagawa "Chatty" Art Festival Executive Committee Secretariat
TEL: 03-4400-9298 / EMAIL: info@artpara-fukagawa.tokyo
Nationwide Open Exhibition "Art Para Fukagawa Grand Prix 2026" Judges
[Image of Judges]
"Art Para Fukagawa 'Chatty' Art Festival 2026" Event Overview
- Dates: September 5 (Sat) - 13 (Sun), 2026 (9 days) in the Toyosu area
October 17 (Sat) - 25 (Sun), 2026 (9 days) in the Fukagawa area (Monzen-nakacho, Kiyosumi-shirakawa, Morishita)
- Venues: Monzen-nakacho, Kiyosumi-shirakawa, Morishita, Toyosu
- Organizers: Art Para Fukagawa "Chatty" Art Festival Executive Committee, General Incorporated Association Art Para Fukagawa
- "Art Para Fukagawa 'Chatty' Art Festival 2026" Executive Chairman: Osamu Fukushima (Professor Emeritus, Tokyo Polytechnic University)
- Official Website: https://artpara-fukagawa.tokyo/
[Contact Information Regarding This Matter]
- For the general public (when introducing in articles, etc.): Art Para Fukagawa Secretariat
MAIL: info@artpara-fukagawa.tokyo
TEL: 03-4400-9298 (Weekdays 10:00-16:00)
*Please contact us via email whenever possible. If calling, please leave a message as the phone may be answered by an answering machine. We will return your call after checking the message.
Since its inception in 2020, Art Para Fukagawa has welcomed a total of 646,000 visitors (according to our organization's research) and is now entering its seventh year. It is a civic art festival where visitors can encounter colorful art created by people with disabilities while strolling through the town, take an interest in the artists' backgrounds, connect with others, and chat to deepen mutual understanding, all with the goal of creating a society where we can "live together."
This year, we are holding the biennial nationwide open exhibition, the "Art Para Fukagawa Grand Prix 2026." To shine a light on even more talent, we have significantly expanded the number of selected works to approximately 200 and the number of award-winning works to approximately 50, making it one of the largest open exhibitions in Japan. The total number of entries for the first through fourth nationwide open exhibitions is 2,366.
In addition to presenting art activity support grants, such as 500,000 yen for the Grand Prix winner, 300,000 yen for the Runner-up, and 50,000 yen each for four Jury Special Awards, we have prepared benefits for award winners and selected artists, such as the production and presentation of postcards featuring their work.
Please apply via the application form on our official website (https://artpara-fukagawa.tokyo/).
Topics for the Nationwide Open Exhibition "Art Para Fukagawa Grand Prix 2026"
■ The Grand Prix winner will be featured as the main visual for 2027, and the Runner-up for 2028
The Grand Prix winning work will be used as the main visual for 2027, and the Runner-up for 2028, and will be widely utilized in Art Para Fukagawa's public relations activities, including our official website and posters.
This year's main visual is "Journey to Japan's World Heritage Sites" by Nozomu Tokuhara (Runner-up of the "Art Para Fukagawa Grand Prix 2024").
■ Original works of approximately 200 award-winning and selected pieces will be exhibited! An awards ceremony (by invitation only) will be held on the first day!
The original works of approximately 200 award-winning and selected pieces will be exhibited at three locations during the festival: "Fukagawa Fudo-do Lotus Hall," "Fukagawa Edo Museum Lecture Hall," and "Taisho Memorial Hall in Kiyosumi Garden."
On October 17, 2026 (Sat), the first day of the Fukagawa event, we will hold the "Art Para Fukagawa Grand Prix 2026 Awards Ceremony" (by invitation only) at the Koto City Morishita Culture Center.
■ The "Art Para Market Fair (AMF)" will be held the following year (planned)!
Award-winning artists (those who pass the second round of judging) will be able to sell their works at the "AMF (Art Para Market Fair)" to be held the following year (2027). 100% of the sales will be returned to the artists, an initiative aimed at supporting their economic independence.
■ Specialists from various fields will participate as judges
Flower artist Shogo Kariyazaki, editor and novelist Seiko Ito, art consultant Shino Sugimoto, and artist Hiroaki Nakatsugawa will serve as judges.
■ What is the "Art Para Fukagawa 'Chatty' Art Festival"?
The "Art Para Fukagawa 'Chatty' Art Festival" is a highly unique civic art festival that turns the entire town into an art museum using works by artists with disabilities. It is set in the downtown area of Fukagawa, where shrines and temples from the Edo period are scattered, and is planned and operated by local volunteers with the support of many others. It was first held in November 2020 and is now in its seventh year. It has gained significant interest, attracting a total of approximately 130,000 visitors over nine days. We aim to be a comprehensive art festival that everyone can participate in and enjoy, continuing to receive support from artists with disabilities and their families, local residents centered in Fukagawa, many companies, and the many people who visit Fukagawa.
Nationwide Open Exhibition "Art Para Fukagawa Grand Prix 2026" Application Overview
- Eligibility: Individuals with some form of disability in their daily life (no age limit)
- Application Period: March 2026 to May 10, 2026 (Sun) (must be postmarked by this date)
- Number of entries: One work per person (group applications allowed)
- Theme: Open
- Specifications: Work size must be 150cm or less in height and width (when packed), and thickness within approximately 10cm
- Entry Fee: Free (shipping costs to be borne by the applicant, return shipping costs borne by the organizer)
- Judging Method: First round (image data), Second round (actual work)
- Awards/Art Activity Support Grants:
Grand Prix: 1 winner (500,000 yen) / Runner-up: 1 winner (300,000 yen) / Jury Special Awards: 4 winners (50,000 yen each) /
Corporate Sponsor Awards: approx. 30-40 works / Executive Committee Awards, etc.
- Awards Ceremony (by invitation only): October 17, 2026 (Sat) at "Koto City Morishita Culture Center"
- Exhibition: October 17, 2026 (Sat) to October 25, 2026 (Sun)
- Organizers: Art Para Fukagawa "Chatty" Art Festival Executive Committee, General Incorporated Association Art Para Fukagawa
- Official Website: https://artpara-fukagawa.tokyo/guidelines2026/
*All information provided is tentative and subject to change. Thank you for your understanding.
[Contact for General Inquiries]
Art Para Fukagawa "Chatty" Art Festival Executive Committee Secretariat
TEL: 03-4400-9298 / EMAIL: info@artpara-fukagawa.tokyo
Nationwide Open Exhibition "Art Para Fukagawa Grand Prix 2026" Judges
[Image of Judges]
"Art Para Fukagawa 'Chatty' Art Festival 2026" Event Overview
- Dates: September 5 (Sat) - 13 (Sun), 2026 (9 days) in the Toyosu area
October 17 (Sat) - 25 (Sun), 2026 (9 days) in the Fukagawa area (Monzen-nakacho, Kiyosumi-shirakawa, Morishita)
- Venues: Monzen-nakacho, Kiyosumi-shirakawa, Morishita, Toyosu
- Organizers: Art Para Fukagawa "Chatty" Art Festival Executive Committee, General Incorporated Association Art Para Fukagawa
- "Art Para Fukagawa 'Chatty' Art Festival 2026" Executive Chairman: Osamu Fukushima (Professor Emeritus, Tokyo Polytechnic University)
- Official Website: https://artpara-fukagawa.tokyo/
[Contact Information Regarding This Matter]
- For the general public (when introducing in articles, etc.): Art Para Fukagawa Secretariat
MAIL: info@artpara-fukagawa.tokyo
TEL: 03-4400-9298 (Weekdays 10:00-16:00)
*Please contact us via email whenever possible. If calling, please leave a message as the phone may be answered by an answering machine. We will return your call after checking the message.