2026 North American Print Biennial

About the Open Call

About the Boston Printmakers 2026 North American Print Biennial: Presenting the best in contemporary and traditional printmaking, the North American Print Biennial has long been recognized as one of the most prestigious events in printmaking. Founded in 1947, the mission of the Boston Printmakers is to promote public knowledge of printmaking, encourage and support artists working in printmaking, and promote excellence and innovation within the field of printmaking. Juror: Esther Adler is Curator in the Department of Drawings and Prints at The Museum of Modern Art, renowned for organizing significant exhibitions and publications. Biennial Venue: 808 Gallery, Boston University, 808 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, Massachusetts. Exhibition dates: September 8 – November 21, 2026. Calendar 2025-26 highlights: Application process opens July 15, 2025; Notifications emailed by April 1, 2026; Period to receive all shipped work April 27 – May 12, 2026; Hand delivered work received June 6, 2026; Public Reception and Juror’s Talk Saturday, September 19, 2026; Exhibition closes November 21, 2026; Pick up of hand delivered work November 21, 2026; Return of shipped work November 30, 2026. Liability: Every precaution will be taken in handling the prints accepted for the Biennial. Boston University will assume responsibility for those works chosen for exhibition from the time they are delivered to Boston University until they are picked up by the artist or shipper. Artwork in the gallery will be insured for 35% less than the selling price. Artists must insure their work while in transit to and from the exhibition. The Boston Printmakers assumes no responsibility in case of loss or damage to submitted or accepted works. Works not covered by a suitable frame are welcomed. The 808 Gallery will take appropriate care with such works, however they are not covered by Boston University’s insurance. Agreement: Filing of the entry form constitutes an agreement on the part of the entrant to all conditions set forth in the prospectus, including permission to use images of the exhibited work in print or online media for promotional, educational, or archival purposes and for the creation of a catalog of the exhibit. Notification: Results of the jurying will be emailed before April 1, 2026, at which time the list of the accepted artists will be posted on our website.

What is Offered

$10,000 is available in juror-designated purchase prizes and materials awards. The Boston Printmakers’ purchase prizes are placed into permanent collections at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, MA; Boston Athenaeum; and the Boston Printmakers Collection at the Boston Public Library. Additionally, this show generates a large number of sales through patron and public purchases. A 35% commission will be charged on all sales.

Requirements

Eligibility: North American artists 18 years and older are eligible to enter. Original, innovative works in all printmaking media are eligible. Photographs, offset reproductions, or reproductions of artwork originally produced in another medium will not be considered. Submitted work may not have been exhibited in any other Boston Printmakers exhibition. Artists may submit up to three digital images of original prints completed within the time frame of 2023-2026. Specifications: All delivered work must match the juried image; substitutions of accepted works will not be allowed. All work must be framed in simple (e.g. Nielsen) black metal or black wooden frames no more than ½” thick on the front edge. All frames should have Plexiglas, and a standard white or off-white window mat, minimum 3 inches wide. Your print must be securely mounted to the backing board. Frames must be ready to hang with wire or D-rings. Place your framed print into a clear plastic bag before boxing. Where appropriate, due to size or aesthetics, alternative presentation may be requested and must be fully described in your entry on the CaFE site. A list of acceptable presentation methods is at this LINK. Also, please include in your submission a clearly defined description of any special hanging or installation instructions. With your acceptance letter, you will receive labeling forms, detailed packing and shipping instructions, and a loan agreement to complete and sign. Note: Work not protected by a frame is considered at risk, and may not be covered by gallery insurance. Shipping: All shipped work must be sent in sturdy, re-usable packaging. It must be sent pre-paid via UPS. It must include a UPS pre-paid return-shipping label held in a clearly marked envelope taped to the back of the foam core backing of the art. Work will not be exhibited without a UPS pre-paid return packing slip, which includes shipping insurance. Artists from outside of the U.S. who are unable to provide a return UPS label will be billed the cost of return ground shipping (including insurance) via a carrier chosen by the Boston Printmakers. These artists agree to pay these charges promptly on receipt of the invoice. Upload requirements for image files: File format: JPEG only. File dimensions: No smaller than 1920 pixels on the longer side. File resolution: 72/ppi/dpi. File size: 5 MB maximum.

How to Apply

All entries must be submitted online at www.callforentry.org. Entries must be submitted on or before February 15, 2026. Review all entry information carefully before submitting. No changes can be made once submitted, including price revisions. Should you need to view your entry after submission, you can see your submission at www.callforentry.org.