Michele Cea Prize 2026: competition for young artists with prizes up to

Michele Cea Prize 2026: opportunity for emerging artists

The Michele Cea Foundation ETS has launched the 2026 edition of the Michele Cea Prize, open to emerging artists aged between 18 and 40 (by 31 December 2026). Participation is free and available to residents in Italy as well as international applicants.

Accepted works and technical requirements

• Accepted media: painting, graphics, sculpture, photography and video art.
• Maximum dimensions: 100 cm width × 100 cm height.
• Submissions: high-resolution images, minimum 300 DPI.

Prizes and opportunities

The competition includes monetary awards and exhibition/editorial opportunities:

• 1st prize: €4,500, a glass sculpture by Germano Caiano inspired by a Michele Cea work, the chance for a solo and/or group exhibition (dates and venue to be defined), and publication in the October 2026 issue of Arte magazine. The winning artwork will join the Michele Cea Foundation’s collection.
• 2nd prize: €1,000 and a mention in the Catalogo di Arte Moderna 2027 (CAM 63, Editoriale Giorgio Mondadori).
• 3rd prize: €500 and a mention in the same catalog.
• The 12 finalists will be offered free NFT digitization of their work through the technical partner Hoken Tech.

Vernissage and winner announcement

The winner will be announced at the vernissage scheduled for 12 September 2026 in Milan; the 12 finalists must attend with their selected works.

Deadlines and how to apply

• Registration deadline: 15 June 2026.
• Apply by filling the online form available on the Michele Cea Foundation website under «Prize > 2026 Call».
• Participation is free; make sure to upload high-resolution images and complete all required fields in the form.

Practical tips

Before submitting, check image format and resolution, confirm the work size limit, and prepare a concise artist statement and documentation proving age and residency if requested.

Author: Dorotea De Vito