There are moments in an artist’s journey that can shape how their work is remembered long after it leaves the studio. Being published is one of them. As the submission deadline approaches, this is your final opportunity to become part of The Big Book of Painters 2026, a global publication by Arts to Hearts Project dedicated to celebrating painters from around the world.

Created for artists working across diverse styles, subjects, and stages of their careers, The Big Book of Painters 2026 offers more than a place to showcase finished works. It is an opportunity to become part of a thoughtfully curated collection that documents today’s contemporary art while connecting artists to a wider international audience.

If you’ve been thinking about applying, now is the time. This final call is your last chance to submit your work and join a growing global archive that recognizes, preserves, and celebrates the voices shaping contemporary painting today.

What Is The Big Book About?

The Big Book is a global publishing initiative created by Arts to Hearts Project with a simple yet meaningful purpose: to ensure that artists, regardless of where they are in their creative journey, have a space where their work can be published, recognized, and preserved. Rather than existing as a single standalone publication, The Big Book continues to grow through thoughtfully curated editions, each dedicated to a different creative community and designed to celebrate artists across disciplines and generations.

The journey began in 2024 with The Big Book of Tiny Creatives, a publication celebrating young artists between the ages of 2 and 18. Across its first editions, the project established a philosophy that continues to guide every book in the series. Instead of ranking artists against one another, the focus is on meaningful inclusion, thoughtful curation, and creating a lasting published record of contemporary creativity that artists and their families can return to for years to come.

Building on that vision, The Big Book of Painters 2026 is dedicated to adult painters from around the world. Whether your practice explores realism, portraiture, landscape, still life, abstraction, or experimental painting, this edition celebrates the diversity of contemporary painting by bringing together artists with distinct perspectives, techniques, and stories in one professionally curated volume.

Produced as a premium hardcover publication and distributed internationally through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the Arts to Hearts Project Shop, The Big Book of Painters 2026 is designed to give selected artists lasting visibility beyond exhibitions and social media. More than a book, it is part of an expanding creative archive that documents the artists shaping today’s global painting community while laying the foundation for future editions celebrating sculptors, mixed-media artists, and many other creative disciplines.

The Vision Behind The Big Book of Painters

Every painter develops a visual language that is uniquely their own. Some tell stories through carefully observed realism, while others explore memory, emotion, abstraction, or experimentation. Rather than asking artists to fit within a predetermined theme, The Big Book of Painters 2026 was created to celebrate that diversity. This open-theme edition invites painters to submit the work that best represents their individual practice, making space for authentic artistic voices instead of limiting them to a single concept or subject.

At its heart, the book is built on the belief that painting continues to be one of the most enduring and expressive forms of contemporary art. It embraces the many ways artists approach the medium, from portraiture, figurative work, landscapes, and still life to abstraction, narrative painting, and experimental practices. Whether your work is rooted in traditional techniques or explores new creative directions, every approach contributes to a richer conversation about what painting looks like today.

That same spirit of openness extends to materials and processes. Artists working in oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, ink, or mixed media on canvas, paper, board, and other painting surfaces are all welcome to apply. The focus is never on choosing one medium or style over another, but on recognizing the originality, intention, and craftsmanship that each artist brings to their work. This edition is about giving painters the opportunity to be seen on their own terms. By bringing together artists from different countries, cultures, and stages of their creative journeys, the book becomes more than a collection of paintings—it becomes a snapshot of contemporary painting as it exists today. Each selected work contributes to a shared visual archive that celebrates the countless ways artists continue to expand, challenge, and redefine the language of painting.

Your Final Opportunity to Apply 

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to submit your work, this is it. The Big Book of Painters 2026 is now accepting submissions, and the application window is quickly coming to a close. This is the final call for painters who want to be a part of this year’s edition.

The submission deadline is July 20, 2026. After submissions close, the curatorial team will carefully review all applications, with selected artists announced approximately three weeks later. The book is scheduled for publication in September 2026, bringing together a curated collection of painters from around the world in one beautifully produced volume.

Rather than waiting until the final hours, we encourage artists to submit early. Giving yourself enough time to review your images, complete your application thoughtfully, and avoid any last-minute technical issues ensures your work is presented at its best. If becoming part of this global publication is something you’ve been considering, now is the time to take that final step.

Who Can Apply? 

The Big Book of Painters 2026 welcomes painters from around the world, creating an inclusive platform that celebrates diverse artistic voices, styles, and experiences.

To apply, artists must be 18 years of age or older, submit original paintings created by their own hand, and ensure their work falls within the discipline of painting. Whether your practice focuses on realism, portraiture, abstraction, landscape, still life, or another painting approach, your work is welcome for consideration.

The open call is designed for both emerging and established artists. There are no restrictions based on nationality, where you live, or whether you have received formal art education. What matters most is your commitment to painting and your desire to share your work with a wider international audience.

What’s In It for You?

Being selected for The Big Book of Painters 2026 means becoming part of a professionally curated publication that celebrates contemporary painters and shares their work with readers across the globe. Every selected artist receives a dedicated feature in the book, inclusion in a premium hardcover edition distributed internationally through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the Arts to Hearts Project Shop, digital promotion through Arts to Hearts Project’s platforms, an official certificate of selection, and a permanent place within the growing Big Book archive.

In addition to publication, three outstanding artists will receive special recognition. The Top Winner will receive a USD $500 cash award, a four-page feature spread in the book, and a crystal trophy. The Second Place and Third Place winners will each receive a four-page feature spread along with a crystal trophy, recognizing their exceptional contribution to this edition.

Every artist who submits, regardless of the final selection outcome, will also receive an official Certificate of Participation in recognition of being part of this international open call. Whether you are hoping to gain greater visibility, add a professionally published book to your artistic portfolio, or become part of a global community of painters, this is an opportunity to place your work within a publication designed to celebrate today’s contemporary artists and preserve their creative journeys for years to come.

Time is Running Out!

The deadline to apply for The Big Book of Painters 2026 is July 20, 2026, and this is your final opportunity to be considered for this year’s edition. Whether you’re an emerging painter taking your first step into international publication or an established artist looking to share your work with a wider audience, this is your chance to become part of a professionally curated collection celebrating contemporary painting from around the world.

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Complete your application before the deadline and submit the work that best represents your artistic practice. Simply click the application button below to begin your submission and take the next step toward being featured in The Big Book of Painters 2026. We look forward to discovering your work and welcoming a new generation of painters into this growing global creative archive.