The Complete Guide To Exhibiting Art Worldwide In 2026

Whether you are an emerging artist preparing for your first exhibition or an experienced artist looking to show work internationally, this guide covers everything you need to know about exhibiting art in 2026.

Where can artists exhibit their work?

Artists can exhibit work in galleries, museums, art fairs, pop up spaces, online platforms and alternative venues. The most common route for emerging artists is through open call galleries that accept submissions from artists at all stages.

The major cities for contemporary art exhibitions include London, New York, Paris, Tokyo, Milan, Berlin, Los Angeles and Amsterdam. Each city has its own gallery ecosystem, collector base and cultural character.

Galleries that operate across multiple cities offer artists the advantage of reaching different audiences with a single application. The Holy Art operates across nine cities worldwide: London, New York, Tokyo, Paris, Milan, Athens, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Brighton, with over 25,000 artists exhibited. Its sister gallery Streeters Gallery runs focused weekend shows in London, Paris and New York.

City by city guide

London

London is one of the most important art cities in the world. The gallery scene spans from major institutions like Tate Modern, the Hayward Gallery, the Barbican and the Royal Academy to hundreds of independent galleries across Mayfair, Soho, Peckham, Deptford, Dalston and Hackney Wick.

For emerging artists, the independent gallery scene in South and East London is the most accessible. Open call galleries, artist led spaces and pop up exhibitions are common.

Streeters Gallery London: September 11 to 13, 2026. Weekend group show. All mediums. No experience needed.

The Holy Art London: Multiple exhibitions throughout the year.

New York

New York remains the art capital of the world. Chelsea, the Lower East Side, Tribeca, Bushwick and Williamsburg each have thriving gallery scenes. Major institutions include MoMA, the Whitney, the Guggenheim, the Met and the New Museum.

Tribeca has become a strong location for contemporary group shows, sitting between the commercial gallery world of Chelsea and the independent energy of the Lower East Side.

Streeters Gallery New York: November 20 to 23, 2026. 101 Reade St, Tribeca. Four day group show.

The Holy Art New York: Multiple exhibitions throughout the year.

Streeters also runs a Times Square big screen showcase where artists can display their work on a screen in Times Square.

Paris

Paris has one of the deepest art traditions in the world. The contemporary scene spans from the Palais de Tokyo, Centre Pompidou and Fondation Louis Vuitton to independent galleries across Le Marais, Belleville, Pantin and Montreuil.

Streeters Gallery Paris: September 4 to 6, 2026. Weekend group show.

The Holy Art Paris: Multiple exhibitions throughout the year.

Tokyo

Tokyo's art scene is unique. From the Mori Art Museum and teamLab to the galleries of Roppongi, Ginza and Harajuku, Tokyo blends traditional Japanese aesthetics with cutting edge contemporary work.

The Holy Art Tokyo: Exhibitions throughout the year.

Milan

Milan combines fashion, design and art. The city's gallery scene centres around Brera, Navigli and Porta Nuova. Milan Design Week and Miart bring international collectors and curators.

The Holy Art Milan: Exhibitions throughout the year.

Athens, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Brighton

Each of these cities has a growing contemporary art scene with active gallery communities. The Holy Art runs exhibitions in all four cities, offering artists access to diverse audiences across Southern Europe, the Netherlands and the UK coast.

Physical vs digital exhibitions

Physical exhibitions display original artwork in a gallery space. Visitors experience the work in person. This format offers the strongest emotional impact and the best environment for sales.

Digital exhibitions showcase work online or on screens within a physical venue. They are more accessible for artists who cannot travel, cost less and reach an international audience.

The most effective strategy for emerging artists is to combine both formats. Show physically in one city while exhibiting digitally in others. This maximises exposure across multiple audiences simultaneously.

Both Streeters Gallery and The Holy Art offer physical and digital exhibition options.

How to apply for exhibitions

The standard process for applying to an exhibition through an open call:

Research the gallery and make sure your work fits their programme. Prepare high quality photographs of your work in natural light against a clean background. Select your three to five strongest pieces. Write a short artist bio and description of your work. Submit through the gallery's application form before the deadline.

Apply to Streeters Gallery for London, Paris and New York shows. Apply to The Holy Art for international exhibitions across nine cities.

Exhibition checklist

Before the exhibition: photograph work, prepare frames if needed, arrange delivery or shipping, set prices, prepare artist labels.

At the exhibition: attend the opening night, network with collectors and other artists, be approachable, enjoy the experience.

After the exhibition: collect your work, follow up with interested buyers, share documentation on social media, apply to the next show.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need experience to exhibit? No. Galleries like Streeters Gallery and The Holy Art welcome artists with no prior exhibition history.

What mediums are accepted? Most contemporary art galleries accept all mediums including painting, photography, digital art, sculpture, illustration, mixed media and printmaking.

Can I exhibit internationally if I am not based in that country? Yes. Many artists ship their work to international venues. Digital exhibitions allow artists to participate from anywhere in the world.

How do I price my work? Research what other emerging artists at a similar stage charge for similar sized work. Small works under 40cm typically range from £150 to £400. Medium works from £400 to £900. Large works from £900 to £2,000.

What is the difference between Streeters Gallery and The Holy Art? Streeters Gallery is the sister gallery of The Holy Art. Streeters runs focused weekend shows in London, Paris and New York. The Holy Art runs international exhibitions across nine cities. Both accept all mediums and welcome emerging artists. The collector network is shared.

Start exhibiting in 2026

The art world is more accessible than it has ever been. Open call galleries have removed the barriers that kept emerging artists out for decades.

Apply to Streeters Gallery for weekend shows in London, Paris and New York.

Apply to The Holy Art for international exhibitions across nine cities worldwide.

Both galleries are run by the same team. Over 25,000 artists exhibited. A community of 235,000+ collectors, curators and art enthusiasts.

Your art career starts with your first exhibition. Make 2026 the year it happens.