TARTGET Painting Prize 2026 — an international painting competition with a prize fund of €100,000+

This competition appeared just a year ago, but already in its first edition it took a prominent place on the international art scene. TARTGET Painting Prize was founded in Madrid as a private initiative focused on contemporary painting and the professional development of artists. The debut edition exceeded expectations: nearly 1900 applications from 85 countries, around 200 finalists and an exhibition of the best works at the historic Ateneo de Madrid.
In 2026, the competition returns in an expanded format — with larger prizes, additional categories, residencies, and a clear focus on long-term career support for artists.
From the outset, TARTGET was conceived not as a one-off award, but as a platform combining competition, exhibition, educational formats, and professional promotion. It is not only the result that is important here, but also the process of participation itself — from selection to the final exhibition and further visibility of the works.

Which artists are eligible for the competition
Artists from all over the world are invited to participate, regardless of nationality, age or stage of career. The competition is open to both emerging artists and professionals with exhibition experience.
Works in a wide range of artistic styles are accepted: figurative, abstract, contemporary and conceptual painting, as well as traditional techniques such as oil, watercolour and drawing. It is not the style itself that is important, but the integrity of the artistic expression and the level of execution.
Special attention is paid to young artists, experimental practices and works at the intersection of image, idea and material.

How to participate and be selected
Participation in the TARTGET Painting Prize begins with an online application. Artists register on the competition platform and upload images of their works. High-quality visual documentation is required for each work, as the international jury conducts the first stage of selection based on the images.
The application is built around high-quality visual presentation. Up to three JPG images can be uploaded for each work, and one of them must show the entire work. File sizes should be approximately 1 to 5 MB. The jury makes the initial selection based on the photographs, so it is critical that the images are true to colour, sharp and without “design processing”. The organisers even recommend one photo where the artist is next to the work — this helps with further promotion if the work is to be shown in compilations and on social media.
In the first stage, all applications are reviewed by an international virtual jury. Based on the results of this review, an extended list of finalists is formed. From this list, works are selected for a physical exhibition in Madrid, which takes place in the historic Ateneo de Madrid.
If a work is selected for the exhibition, the artist sends the original work to Madrid. The organisation of the exhibition, the display and professional support are provided by the competition, while the logistics and delivery of the works are carried out by the artist. The
final decision on the main and special prizes is made after the exhibition, following an in-person review of the works.

There are also important
restrictions regarding the format of the works. Original paintings created within the last three years are accepted, and they must not have won any other competitions. Photography, digital painting, prints and any reproductions are prohibited — this is a competition for paintings and handiwork. The minimum size is 40×40 cm (or a side less than 40 cm is allowed if the sum of the width and height is at least 80 cm). The maximum size is 180×180 cm, or a sum of sides no more than 360 cm. Works should be sent to the physical exhibition without glass: if protection is needed, methacrylate is permitted. In terms of design, no heavy frames should be used; a simple solution is preferable.

Categories and participation logic
The competition is structured so that artists can choose a category based on meaning, artistic language or technique, rather than having to adapt their work to a formal framework.
The main categories are focused on content and image — figure, portrait, landscape, still life, imagination, wildlife.
The Fusion categories highlight works where the artistic approach is important — abstraction, conceptual and collage practices.
The technical categories are designed specifically for watercolour and drawing, where material and technique are of fundamental importance.
One work may logically fit into several categories, but the artist chooses the category in which it is strongest.
And here’s another practical tip: if you want to be in the running for the top prizes, make sure your work is submitted not only to a technical category (e.g. Watercolour), but also to one of the main thematic categories. According to the rules, this affects which award categories your work will be considered for.

Prizes and opportunities
The total prize fund for the competition exceeds €100,000 and is distributed across several award levels.
The main prizes are awarded to the best works in the entire exhibition, regardless of category.
The Gold Prize is €12,000,
the Silver Prize is €6,000,
the Bronze Prize is €4,000.
Each main, Fusion and technical category has its own winner with a prize of €4,000, which gives real chances of funding even without winning the main prize.
In addition, there are nine €500 awards, a €10,000 acquisition fund, artist residencies at Tablas de Daimiel National Park, a summer art residency at Atelier Madrid, and more than 40 professional prizes ranging from art supplies to training and international promotion.

Exhibition and professional context
Finalists are selected by an international virtual jury. The final collection will be presented at an exhibition at the Ateneo de Madrid, one of the city’s key cultural spaces, located next to the Prado Museum and within the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Landscape of Light”.
The final exhibition and award ceremony will be a meeting point for artists, curators, critics, gallery representatives and the art industry.

Copyright and use of works
All copyright and intellectual property rights remain with the artists. Participation in the competition does not imply the transfer of rights, except in cases of acquisition prizes, when a specific work becomes the property of the sponsor or institution.
At the same time, participants give permission to use images of their works for the cultural and professional promotion of the competition — in printed and digital materials, media and communications related to the award.

Why this competition is worth paying attention to
The TARTGET Painting Prize is a rare example of a new initiative that combines large cash prizes, an exhibition at a prestigious institution, residencies, and respect for the artist in a single structure. This competition is for artists who take painting seriously and view participation as a step towards international visibility.

Online applications are open until 31 May 2026.