CONTEXTILE invites all artists (national and international) to present artworks to the competition for the International Exhibition (competitive), as part of the programme of its 8th Edition, Contextile 2026 – Contemporary Textile Art Biennial, to be held in the city of Guimarães, Portugal, from the 5th September to the 29th November 2026.

This edition is themed By a Thread, which functions as a conceptual anchor for the international exhibition and all other programmatic elements.

The international exhibition (competitive) will select 50 artworks by 50 artists from around the world, via an open call.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Open to artists national and international working in visual arts disciplines.
• Artists may submit new creations or recent artworks, with a focus on the textile element—whether through concept, material, technique or theme.
• The submitted work should relate to the edition’s theme By a Thread, and demonstrate originality, technical competence and creativity.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Access the official regulations and application form via the Contextile website.
• Submit required materials by the deadline. Documents will likely include: artist CV or bio, artwork images (full view + details), description explaining how the work relates to the theme and textile element.
• Pay the registration fee of €20 (euros) to validate the submission.
• A jury comprised of international curators and artists will review the entries.
• Selected artists will have their works exhibited during the Biennial and may be eligible for acquisition prizes.

SELECTION AND PRIZES

• The exhibition will consist of 50 works by 50 artists.
• Acquisition Prize: €8,000 for one selected work.
• Two Honourable Mentions: €2,500 and €1,000 respectively.

The award ceremony takes place at the opening of the Biennial.

DEADLINE: MARCH 7, 2026