In connection with the Aurora Watercolour Festival in Akureyri, Iceland, an exhibition of selected watercolour paintings from around the world will be held at the town’s Art Museum 10-27 September 2026. Participation is open to all watercolour painters, although a few conditions apply.
Eligibility
- Open to artists worldwide aged 18 and over
- Subject: Free, without restrictions
- Each artist may submit only one work
- Medium: Minimum 90% watercolour on paper
- Size: 56 × 38 cm (horizontal or vertical), including margins
Work requirements:
- Only original works, not previously exhibited
- Collages, pastels, academic/class assignments, digital images, prints, or reproductions will not be accepted
- Copies or imitations of another artist’s work (including published sources or references from workshops not attributable to the author) are not accepted
- Works in formats other than 56 × 38 cm or 38 × 56 cm will not be accepted. Non-compliant works will be rejected, and the artist will be responsible for return shipping costs
- The work must remain available throughout the exhibition (10–27 September 2026)
- Artists grant the organisation the right to use images of their work in catalogues, advertising, and social media
Participation fee (if your work is selected):
- €80 (bank transfer and credit card)
- €85 (PayPal)
Includes:
- Framing and mounting of the work
- A catalogue
- Installation and dismantling of the exhibition
- Free access to all festival activities (except paid workshops)
Owners of selected paintings will receive a printed catalogue during the festival. If shipment is requested, the cost will be borne by the artist. The organisation will also publish a digital catalogue featuring all participating works.
Results
- The list of selected artists will be published on 15 July 2026
- Those selected will receive confirmation and shipping instructions by email
Participation Rules
- Participants are required to submit a digital image of their watercolour painting, JPG format, 300 dpi resolution, minimum 3 MB, already cropped, to info@watercolour.is. The file must be named using the following format: name_title_country (e.g., anna_jonsdottir_northern_lights_iceland.jpg).
- The image will be used for the catalogue, so it must be of sufficient quality
- No digital modifications or alterations to the image will be permitted
- In the event of poor quality or variation from the actual work, the organisation may reject the work
- Important Dates
- 30 June 2026 → Deadline for submitting the digital image
- 15 July 2026 → Publication of results
- 1 August 2026 → Payment deadline for exhibition participation
- 15 August 2026 → Deadline for receiving the original work in Akureyri, Iceland
- 10 September 2026 → Opening of the exhibition
- 14 September 2026 → Awards ceremony
- 27 September 2026 → Closing of the exhibition
- 10-14 September 2026 → Main festival activities
- Insurance
- The organisation will take care of the works but is not responsible for loss or damage
- It is recommended that artists take out their own insurance
- Participation implies acceptance of these conditions
More information coming soon.