[Top Prize 10 Million Yen] Art Olympia 2026 Opens Call for Entries
Art Olympia 2026, an international art competition with a top prize of 10 million yen, has begun accepting artwork submissions.
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- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 09:14
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 2, 2026 at 12:57 (1491h 43m after Published)
Art Olympia 2026 (organized by the Yamaguchi Cultural Foundation, operated by Yamaguchi Cultural Foundation Co., Ltd.) has started accepting artwork submissions for the international art competition "Art Olympia 2026." This competition, boasting a top prize of 10 million yen, broadly invites two-dimensional artworks from around the world, with no restrictions on age, theme, or expression method.
Art Olympia is an international art competition held biennially with the aim of discovering and supporting talented artists worldwide. It boasts one of the largest scales domestically and internationally, with a top prize of 10 million yen, embracing diverse forms of expression and having brought many excellent works to the world.
In this competition, we broadly invite two-dimensional artworks, regardless of age or nationality, and with freedom of theme and expression method.
Additionally, Atami Yamaguchi Museum (Shizuoka Prefecture) and Yamaguchi Experience Museum (Tokyo), which cooperate with this competition, exhibit some of the past award-winning works.
For details on how to apply and the application guidelines, please visit the official website.
Official Website: https://artolympia.jp
■ Art Olympia 2026 Overview
■ Name
Art Olympia 2026
■ Organizing Bodies
Organizer: Yamaguchi Cultural Foundation
Operator: Yamaguchi Cultural Foundation Co., Ltd.
Cooperation: Atami Yamaguchi Museum, Yamaguchi Experience Museum
Sponsor: Weekly Center Co., Ltd.
■ Eligibility
Anyone with the intention to continuously create art, regardless of nationality or age.
■ Works to be Submitted
1. Two-dimensional artworks (figurative or abstract) such as oil paintings, Japanese paintings, prints, watercolors, photographs (mixed media also acceptable). *Calligraphy, sculptures, videos, AI-generated works, and collaborative works are not permitted.
2. Original works created by the applicant that have not been exhibited in other public exhibitions.
■ Entry Fee
- General: 1 piece…12,000 yen, 2 pieces…20,000 yen, 3 pieces…24,000 yen
- Students (30 years old or younger): 1 piece…6,000 yen, 2 pieces…10,000 yen, 3 pieces…12,000 yen
■ Awards
● 1st Place Grand Prix: 1 person, 10,000,000 yen (certificate + supplementary prize)
● 2nd Place Silver Prize: 1 person, 2,000,000 yen (certificate + supplementary prize)
● 3rd Place Bronze Prize: 1 person, 1,000,000 yen (certificate + supplementary prize)
● 4th-6th Place Excellence Award: 3 people, 200,000 yen (certificate + supplementary prize)
● Special Jury Award: 8 people, 50,000 yen (certificate + supplementary prize)
● Student Special Award: 3 people, 50,000 yen (certificate + supplementary prize)
● Encouragement Award: 10 people, 30,000 yen (certificate + supplementary prize)
● Honorable Mention Award: 53 people, 20,000 yen (certificate + supplementary prize)
○ Selected Works: 920 people (ranking card)
About Supplementary Prizes
Among the award winners from Honorable Mention and above (80 people), those who wish will be offered the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition for approximately one week at Atami Yamaguchi Museum (Shizuoka Prefecture) or Yamaguchi Experience Museum (Tokyo) free of charge.
■ Official Website
https://artolympia.jp/
Art Olympia is an international art competition held biennially with the aim of discovering and supporting talented artists worldwide. It boasts one of the largest scales domestically and internationally, with a top prize of 10 million yen, embracing diverse forms of expression and having brought many excellent works to the world.
In this competition, we broadly invite two-dimensional artworks, regardless of age or nationality, and with freedom of theme and expression method.
Additionally, Atami Yamaguchi Museum (Shizuoka Prefecture) and Yamaguchi Experience Museum (Tokyo), which cooperate with this competition, exhibit some of the past award-winning works.
For details on how to apply and the application guidelines, please visit the official website.
Official Website: https://artolympia.jp
■ Art Olympia 2026 Overview
■ Name
Art Olympia 2026
■ Organizing Bodies
Organizer: Yamaguchi Cultural Foundation
Operator: Yamaguchi Cultural Foundation Co., Ltd.
Cooperation: Atami Yamaguchi Museum, Yamaguchi Experience Museum
Sponsor: Weekly Center Co., Ltd.
■ Eligibility
Anyone with the intention to continuously create art, regardless of nationality or age.
■ Works to be Submitted
1. Two-dimensional artworks (figurative or abstract) such as oil paintings, Japanese paintings, prints, watercolors, photographs (mixed media also acceptable). *Calligraphy, sculptures, videos, AI-generated works, and collaborative works are not permitted.
2. Original works created by the applicant that have not been exhibited in other public exhibitions.
■ Entry Fee
- General: 1 piece…12,000 yen, 2 pieces…20,000 yen, 3 pieces…24,000 yen
- Students (30 years old or younger): 1 piece…6,000 yen, 2 pieces…10,000 yen, 3 pieces…12,000 yen
■ Awards
● 1st Place Grand Prix: 1 person, 10,000,000 yen (certificate + supplementary prize)
● 2nd Place Silver Prize: 1 person, 2,000,000 yen (certificate + supplementary prize)
● 3rd Place Bronze Prize: 1 person, 1,000,000 yen (certificate + supplementary prize)
● 4th-6th Place Excellence Award: 3 people, 200,000 yen (certificate + supplementary prize)
● Special Jury Award: 8 people, 50,000 yen (certificate + supplementary prize)
● Student Special Award: 3 people, 50,000 yen (certificate + supplementary prize)
● Encouragement Award: 10 people, 30,000 yen (certificate + supplementary prize)
● Honorable Mention Award: 53 people, 20,000 yen (certificate + supplementary prize)
○ Selected Works: 920 people (ranking card)
About Supplementary Prizes
Among the award winners from Honorable Mention and above (80 people), those who wish will be offered the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition for approximately one week at Atami Yamaguchi Museum (Shizuoka Prefecture) or Yamaguchi Experience Museum (Tokyo) free of charge.
■ Official Website
https://artolympia.jp/
FAQ
What are the eligibility requirements for Art Olympia 2026?
Anyone with the intention to continuously create art, regardless of nationality or age, can apply.
What kind of artworks can be submitted?
Flat artworks such as oil paintings, Japanese paintings, prints, watercolors, and photographs (mixed media allowed) are eligible. Calligraphy, sculptures, videos, and AI-generated works are not permitted.
What is the prize money?
The Grand Prix winner receives 10 million yen. Other prizes include a Silver Prize of 2 million yen and a Bronze Prize of 1 million yen, among many others.