LUSTR festival Open Call

LUSTR Festival of Illustration and Comics Opens Showcase Open Call

The largest Czech exhibition of contemporary illustration and comics, LUSTR Festival, is opening the open call for its Showcase 2026 exhibition section. New artists, as well as those who have previously exhibited at the festival, are welcome to apply, provided they were not part of last year’s selection.

LUSTR Festival will take place September 24–30, 2026, at Holešovická tržnice in Prague, and will feature dozens of solo and group exhibitions, an accompanying program, lectures, workshops, and networking events. The Showcase section provides a platform for both emerging and established creators to present their current work to the general public and professional audiences.

Three exhibition categories: Free illustration / Comics / Author collectives

Anyone working in illustration or comics and interested in presenting an original project can apply.

Application to the open call and participation in the exhibition are free of charge. Exhibitors cover the installation and all related costs themselves. After the open call closes, an expert jury of eight members will select approximately 50 exhibitors. The evaluation criteria include the development of the exhibition concept, the originality of the drawing style and subject matter, the overall coherence of the project, and the quality of presentation. An important selection criterion is whether the work represents free artistic practice—works must not be created primarily on commission. However, book publication of the work does not conflict with the open call rules; it is also possible to submit authorial works that have been published in book form. Exhibiting projects will be selected by an expert jury composed of leading figures from the Czech illustration and comics scene, publishers, and curators. The jury evaluates the submitted samples, the description of the exhibition concept, and an online portfolio, if available. At the beginning of May, applicants will be contacted with information on whether they have been selected and details about the exhibition installation process. An informational email with the selection results will be sent to all applicants.

Key Information:

Applications accepted until March 31, 2026
Results will be announced in May 2026