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The BBA Artist Prize 2027 is now open, launching another international search for artists working across contemporary visual practice. The prize leads to a group exhibition at BBA Gallery in Berlin, while First Prize combines a solo exhibition and €1,000 in cash with an Artsy profile and promotional support. The final deadline for submissions is December 7, 2026, with an Early Bird deadline on October 5.
The BBA Artist Prize is open to artists aged 18 or over, with no restrictions on theme, training or nationality. Photography sits alongside painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, textiles, video, performance and other media. The jury considers visual strength, conceptual depth, storytelling, artistic vision and technical execution. This broad approach makes it relevant to photographers comparing the best photo contests 2027 that extend beyond photography-specific juries. A 50-artist longlist is reduced to a 20-artist shortlist, whose work is presented in a physical exhibition at BBA Gallery.
The prize is designed around both awards and continuing visibility. Beyond the cash prizes, the principal winners receive Artsy profiles and online promotion, while longlisted and shortlisted artists are featured across BBA’s website, newsletter and social channels. For the First Prize winner, the solo exhibition provides a separate opportunity to present a larger body of work at BBA Gallery.
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Contest Prizes
The BBA Artist Prize 2027 offers a multi-tiered awards package focused on financial support, exhibition opportunities and ongoing promotion.
- 1st Prize:
- €1,000 cash prize.
- A solo exhibition at BBA Gallery.
- An Artsy profile.
- Online promotion through newsletters, press and social media.
- 2nd Prize:
- €700 cash prize.
- Artsy profile.
- Online promotion.
- 3rd Prize:
- €500 cash prize.
- Artsy profile.
- Online promotion.
- Audience Award:
- €300 cash prize.
- Artsy profile.
- Online promotion.
- Shortlisted Artists: The final 20 participate in the physical BBA Artist Prize exhibition in Berlin and receive promotion through BBA’s website, social media and Artsy.
- Longlisted Artists: The 50 preselected artists receive a digital nomination certificate and promotion through BBA’s website and social media.
- Artist of the Week: Four artists are selected each week during the open call and featured in BBA’s curated online gallery.
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Categories
There are no predefined categories or themes, allowing artists considerable creative freedom. The BBA Artist Prize welcomes a wide range of media and approaches, including fine art and conceptual photography, as well as painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, textiles, video art and performance.
For photographers, this places the award within the broader field of open theme photo contests: there is no prescribed photographic subject, and the focus is instead on visual strength, conceptual thinking, storytelling and artistic vision.
Dates and Entry Fees
Be sure to take note of the key dates for the current edition:
- Early Bird Deadline: October 5, 2026.
- Final Deadline: December 7, 2026, at 23:59 CET.
- Results: Typically announced 2 to 6 weeks after the deadline.
- Group Exhibition: Held at BBA Gallery in Berlin; exact 2027 dates have not yet been published.
Entry Fees:
- Early Bird: €39 for 5 artworks, until October 5, 2026.
- Regular Fee: €49 for 5 artworks.
- Additional Artworks: €9 per artwork beyond the 5 included.
Entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. The Early Bird rate saves €10 compared with the regular application fee.
How to Enter
To apply, entrants first purchase access through the BBA Prizes platform. Payment creates an account portal where the application can be completed and edited before final submission.
The application asks for contact information, an artist statement of up to 300 words, a CV and exhibition list, and information for each artwork including title, medium, size, edition and year of creation. Up to five artwork images can be uploaded, with each file limited to 3MB and accepted in JPG, PNG or HEIC format. Video and performance work can be submitted through viewing links and additional information.
An application remains editable until the artist clicks the final Submit button or the deadline is reached, at which point unfinished applications are automatically submitted.
About the Jury
The BBA Artist Prize is judged by an international panel of art-industry professionals, including active curators, collectors and gallerists accustomed to assessing different contemporary media. Individual jury members for the 2027 edition are not currently named on the official Artist Prize pages.
Rather than comparing the technical characteristics of different media directly, the panel considers factors including visual strength, conceptual depth, storytelling, artistic vision and technical execution. The selection begins with a longlist of 50 artists, followed by a shortlist of 20 for the Berlin exhibition. The final jury and gallery decisions are binding.
Why Enter?
The BBA Artist Prize 2027 offers a direct route from an international open call to a physical Berlin gallery exhibition. Twenty shortlisted artists exhibit at BBA Gallery, while the wider 50-artist longlist receives online promotion and nomination recognition. First Prize adds a solo exhibition, allowing the winner to move beyond the group-show format and present a larger body of work.
The commercial-gallery context is equally important. Shortlisted works are offered for sale, selected artists receive visibility through BBA’s online network and Artsy, and BBA states that previous nominees have gone on to further solo exhibitions, group shows and representation opportunities where there is a suitable curatorial fit.
For photographers looking beyond photography-only calls and considering broader photography challenges and contests, the Artist Prize offers the chance to have photographic work considered alongside other contemporary visual disciplines rather than within a genre-specific category.
Rules and Copyright
We reviewed the official rules of the BBA Artist Prize 2027 to summarize the key participation requirements, copyright terms and image usage conditions. Before entering, we recommend checking the complete rules published by the organizer.
Rules
The competition is open to living artists aged 18 or older, regardless of nationality, training or theme. Applicants must be the sole creators and owners of the submitted works and must hold the relevant moral and intellectual property rights. Artists with non-exclusive gallery representation may apply, but applicants with exclusive gallery representation are not eligible.
Submitted artworks must be available for sale and should not be exclusively consigned elsewhere. Shortlisted artists are responsible for production costs, framing where required, and transportation to and from Berlin. BBA insures the works against damage or theft while they are on site during the exhibition, but transport insurance remains the artist’s responsibility.
Works sold through BBA are subject to a 50/50 split between artist and gallery. Artists must maintain consistent retail pricing across sales channels, and shortlisted participants receive a separate Exhibition Participation Agreement setting out the applicable consignment and exhibition conditions.
Copyright and Image Usage
Artists retain full copyright in their work. By submitting, they grant BBA and its prize partners a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use images for promotional purposes in online and print media, including both paid and organic promotion.
Photographs and images made during openings and exhibitions may also be used by BBA and its partners for current and future promotional activities. BBA states that artist credit will be provided where possible. The published terms do not specify a duration for these promotional rights.
No specific policy concerning AI-generated or AI-assisted work is currently stated in the Artist Prize page, terms or FAQ.
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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
