Call for Entries：“4th Japan International Art Festival U35 International Open Call Exhibition 2026”！

“U35 International Open Call Exhibition 2026” is looking forward to the challenges of young artists!

U-35 International Open Call Exhibition 2026 

▶Official Website

　https://yumeshimakikou.org/jiaf2026-u35exhibition2026/

▶Application Guidelines

　https://yumeshimakikou.org/wp-content/uploads/u35bosyuyoko0721-1.pdf

▶Flyer

　https://yumeshimakikou.org/wp-content/uploads/U35-Open-Call-Exhibition.pdf

■Event Overview

While the world is home to many outstanding young artists, architects, and craftspeople, opportunities for them to present their work in spaces of high historical value remain extremely limited. Set in Oubai-in, a sub-temple of Daitoku-ji Temple in Kyoto where the core of Japanese aesthetics̶tranquility, shadow, blank space, and pause̶is embodied, this exhibition is a world-unique international open call connecting historic spaces with young creative minds. Serving as a gateway for emerging talent to create the future through traditional succession and innovation by connecting with spirituality and engaging in dialogue with Japanese culture, this initiative discovers, nurtures, and showcases global talent from Kyoto, the cultural capital.

【Schedule】

　□Period 1 (First Term): October 2 (Fri) ‒ October 24 (Sat), 2026

　□Period 2 (Second Term): October 30 (Fri) ‒ November 29 (Sun), 2026

　□Exhibitors: Works of around 30 selected award winners and finalists will be exhibited in

　　　　　　　  one of the terms.

【Venue】

　Daitoku-ji  Oubai-in (83-1 Murasakino Daitokuji-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture)

【Organizer】

　Yumeshima Organization to Create New Industry and City

【Special Cooperation】

　Daitoku-ji / Daitoku-ji  Oubai-in

【Participation Fee】

　Free

■Application Outline

【Application Deadline】

　August 26, 2026 (Wed) (Must arrive by this date)

　※Result Announcement：Early September 2026

【Eligibility for the Open Call】

　□Outline Eligibility：Age 35 or younger (as of October 1, 2026). Open to all nationalities.

　□Categories / Genres：

　　Contemporary & Fine Arts：Japanese painting, Western painting, photography, sculpture,

　　calligraphy, typography. 

　　Crafts：Ceramics, lacquerware, textiles, metalwork, woodwork, glasscraft, etc. 

　　Design：Graphic, product, social design, etc. 

　　Planning & Architecture：Architecture, landscape, spatial proposals, etc.

【Selection Process】

　□Document Review：Application materials, portfolios, information on works, etc.

　□Exhibition：Works by approximately 30 winners and finalists will be exhibited at Kōbai-in.

　□Judges：Expert Committee of the Japan Annual-International Art Festival, art academics

　　　　　　 professionals, and representatives from supporting companies.

【Application Method】

　① Please fill out the required information on the “Application Form” below and submit it.

　　 https://yumeshimakikou.org/u-35exhibition2026_entry/

　② Please download the “Entry Sheet” from the link below and send both the “Entry Sheet” 

　　 and “Artwork Images” to the designated email address.

　　 https://yumeshimakikou.org/wp-content/uploads/u35entryseat.pdf

　　 <Submission Address>

　　　Yumeshima Organization to Create New Industry and City

         Attn：U-35 International Open Call Exhibition 2026

         [e-mail]

　　　※Your application is complete only when both ① and ② have been submitted.

　　　※After sending ①, please send ② immediately afterward via email.

【Awards & Prizes】

　□Grand Prize ("Japan Annual-International Art Festival Award")：

　　2 winners (or pairs) ー 500,000 JPY each

　□Excellence Award：3 winners (or pairs) ̶ 200,000 JPY each

　□Encouragement Award: 5 winners (or pairs) ̶ 100,000 JPY each

【Contact & Inquiries】

一般社団法人夢洲新産業・都市創造機構　
   Yumeshima Organization to Create New Industry and City  (U35 Open Call Section)

　□Email：[e-mail]

　□Website：https://yumeshimakikou.org/

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■The 4th Japan International Arts Festival

“The Japan International Arts Festival,” with the mission of “Co-creation of Art, Design, Science, Technology, and Economics—Conveying Japan’s Beauty and Spirit to the World and Creating the Future,” has been held since 2023 with the aim of connecting all of Japan and the world, based in Kyoto—the thousand-year-old capital and cultural hub. Since its inaugural edition in 2023, the festival has centered on Kyoto, the cultural capital. For the second and third editions, it expanded its scope from the Kansai region to Western Japan, with the Osaka-Kansai Expo site serving as the main venue.

“The 4th Japan International Arts Festival” will integrate the achievements and legacy of the “3rd Japan International Arts Festival” to be held in fiscal year 2025 and the Osaka-Kansai Expo, evolving into an international cultural creation platform that links Kyoto—home to the Agency for Cultural Affairs—with Osaka, the Kansai region, the rest of Japan, and the world.

For three months, from September 1 to November 30, 2026, the festival will be held primarily at major Buddhist head temples and renowned Shinto shrines in Kyoto, in collaboration with art museums and other cultural institutions, universities, and corporations nationwide.

▶Official Website

　https://yumeshimakikou.org/jiaf2026-top/

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■Contact & Inquiries

　Yumeshima Organization to Create New Industry and City  (U35 Open Call Section)

　□Email：[e-mail]

　□Website：https://yumeshimakikou.org/