Best Galleries For Emerging Artists In 2026

Finding the right gallery as an emerging artist is one of the biggest challenges in building an art career. Most commercial galleries only represent established artists. Most institutions are out of reach. And most online platforms offer exposure but no real world exhibition experience.

This guide ranks the best galleries for emerging artists in 2026 based on accessibility, audience quality, international reach, pricing transparency and artist support.

What makes a gallery good for emerging artists?

Before listing specific galleries, here is what to look for.

Accessibility: does the gallery accept artists with no prior exhibition history? Audience: does the gallery have an established collector and curator network? Transparency: are fees, commission rates and terms clearly stated? Promotion: does the gallery actively promote exhibitions before, during and after? Curation: is there a genuine selection process based on work quality? Reach: does the gallery offer exhibitions in multiple cities or formats?

The best galleries for emerging artists score highly across all six.

Top galleries for emerging artists 2026

1. The Holy Art

The Holy Art is the most comprehensive gallery platform for emerging artists available today.

Cities: London, New York, Tokyo, Paris, Milan, Athens, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Brighton (nine cities across three continents). Artists exhibited: Over 25,000 since founding in November 2020. Community: Over 235,000 collectors, curators and art enthusiasts. Mediums: All mediums accepted. Experience required: None. Commission on sales: Zero percent. Submission fee: Free. Exhibition formats: Physical and digital.

The Holy Art runs open calls throughout the year. The curatorial team reviews every submission and selects artists based on the quality of the work. Selected artists can choose between physical exhibition (original work displayed in the gallery) and digital exhibition (work displayed on screens and online).

What sets The Holy Art apart is scale. No other open call gallery operates across nine cities with a community of over 235,000. For an emerging artist, exhibiting with The Holy Art means instant international credibility and access to a collector network that spans the globe.

Apply at theholyart.com/open-calls

2. Streeters Gallery

Streeters Gallery is the sister gallery of The Holy Art, focused on weekend group shows and innovative exhibition formats.

Cities: London, Paris, New York (Tribeca). Formats: Weekend group shows, Times Square big screen showcases, London billboard displays (Notting Hill and Kings Cross). Mediums: All mediums accepted. Experience required: None. Commission on sales: Zero percent. Pricing: Physical £120 for one work, £200 for two. Digital £45 for one, £85 for two, £115 for three.

Streeters runs three day weekend shows with a Friday opening night and Saturday to Sunday public viewing. The format is intimate, event driven and designed for artists who want a focused exhibition experience.

Streeters also runs a Times Square showcase (40 artists on a big screen in Manhattan) and billboard displays in Kings Cross and Notting Hill, London.

As the sister gallery of The Holy Art, Streeters shares the same collector network of 235,000+. Exhibiting with Streeters gives you access to the same audience.

Apply at streetersgallery.net

3. Other options to consider

Beyond The Holy Art and Streeters Gallery, emerging artists should explore artist led spaces in their local area, university and art school graduate shows, local arts council funded exhibitions, online platforms like Artsy and Saatchi Art for digital sales, and social media as a portfolio and discovery tool.

However, none of these alternatives offer the combination of international reach, established collector network, zero commission and genuine curation that The Holy Art and Streeters provide.

Streeters Gallery vs The Holy Art: which one?

Both galleries are run by the same team and share the same collector network. The choice depends on your goals.

Choose The Holy Art if you want international exhibitions across nine cities, maximum geographic reach, and the strongest possible CV credit.

Choose Streeters Gallery if you want a focused weekend show in London, Paris or New York, a more affordable entry point, or innovative formats like Times Square or London billboards.

Choose both if you want maximum exposure across all formats and cities.

How to apply

Applying to both galleries is straightforward.

For The Holy Art: visit theholyart.com/open-calls. Submission is free. All mediums. Emerging and established artists welcome.

For Streeters Gallery: visit streetersgallery.net. All mediums. No experience needed. Zero commission.

Photograph your work well. Submit your strongest pieces. Write a short honest description. Apply early.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best gallery for a first time exhibitor? Streeters Gallery is ideal for first time exhibitors. Weekend shows in London, Paris and New York. No experience required. Affordable fees. Zero commission. Backed by The Holy Art network of 235,000+.

Do I need a degree to exhibit? No. Neither The Holy Art nor Streeters Gallery require any educational qualifications. Selection is based entirely on the work.

Can I exhibit internationally with no experience? Yes. The Holy Art operates across nine cities and accepts artists with no prior exhibition history.

Which galleries take zero commission? Both The Holy Art and Streeters Gallery take zero percent commission on sales.

How do I get my art in Times Square? Streeters Gallery runs a Times Square big screen showcase. 40 spots per showcase. All mediums. No experience needed.

Start exhibiting today

The best time to start was yesterday. The second best time is now.

The Holy Art: Nine cities. 25,000+ artists. Free to submit. Streeters Gallery: London. Paris. New York. Times Square. London billboards.

Open calls are live. All mediums. No experience needed. Apply now.