All competitions · Open call / exhibition
RWA 173 Annual Open Exhibition 2026
Royal West of England Academy (RWA) · Bristol, United Kingdom
Annual open-submission exhibition at the RWA in Bristol spanning painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, architecture, sculpture and installation. Online entry; up to three works; several named prizes.
Your eligibility
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Who can enter
- Location
- Open worldwide
- Age
- No age limit
- Career stage
- Any
- Mediums
- Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Photography, Sculpture, Video & film, Installation, Mixed media, Design & craft
- Entries
- Up to 3 works per artist
- AI
- AI use must be disclosed
- Submission
- Online submission
- Also
- Open to artists from across the UK and beyond; max 3 works per artist (per 172nd edition FAQ); AI-generated work accepted if disclosed.
About
The Royal West of England Academy in Bristol holds one of the UK's longest-running open exhibitions. The Annual Open Exhibition welcomes work from leading professionals to emerging talent, from across the UK and beyond, in painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, film, architecture, sculpture and mixed-media installation. Selection is made by a panel of guest experts alongside RWA Academicians.
For the 173rd edition, online submissions ran from spring 2026 with a June 2026 deadline (the RWA's listings gave 22 June, with the entry form and payment closing by 29 June). The fee in the previous edition was £22 per work, with reduced rates for students, Friends and Artist Network members, and a maximum of three works per artist. The exhibition runs 12 September 2026 to 3 January 2027, with awards including the Cass Art Award, Watercolour Prize, Derek Balmer Painting Prize, Sculpture Prize and Emerging Artist Prize. The RWA retains 35% plus VAT commission on sales.