10 artists will be selected from among the applicants and invited to exhibit their works at an assigned venue (location to be announced later). The selected artists will each receive a grant of ¥200,000 to help cover the costs of producing their works. A catalog of the exhibited artworks will be produced and the exhibition will be widely publicized via various media in Japan and abroad. 
The judges for KG＋SELECT 2026 will visit the exhibits and select one Award winner. The winner will receive a grant of ¥500,000 to support for create of new work and to produce an exhibition for the official program of next year’s KYOTOGRAPHIE 2027.

Exhibition Period

April 18th—May 17th, 2026

Application Period

September 1st, 2025—October 31st, 2025 23:59 (JST)

* Note: Applications made after the deadline will not be accepted. Please note that applications submitted by email will also not be accepted.

Judging Panel

 (to be announced later)

Venue

(to be announced later)

Applicant Eligibility

– Artists and curators are eligible to apply regardless of age, profession, nationality, or prior experience.
– Applicants may be individuals or groups exhibiting photos, video, or installations that include photographic elements.
– The themes of the artworks may be chosen freely.
– We welcome various kinds of artworks: fine art, conceptual, contemporary, documentary, etc.

How to Apply

To apply, please fill out the application form found on the bellow and submit your art portfolio (as digital data). 

Application Fee: 10,000 (JPY)

Payment must be made in advance by credit card.
　Bank transfer is also available; however, please use credit card payment whenever possible.
All applicants will receive one KYOTOGRAPHIE 2026 passport (ticket) per application.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated comprehensively, taking into account the message and approach of the work, its originality and creativity, as well as the artist’s future potential.

First Screening (documents and data)

– The results of the screening will be announced on the official KG＋ website in early February.
– 10 selected artists will exhibit at the venue. (Exhibition space: about 20 square meters for each artist.)
– The selected artists will each receive 200,000 yen as a production subsidy. These funds may be used for any purpose (there is no need to submit receipts).
– Applicants who are not selected cannot exhibit in the KG＋SELECT category. However, applicants may simultaneously apply for both KG＋SELECT and the KG＋ program (in which you must secure the venue yourself). You may apply to both with the same artwork. 

About the Exhibition Venue

– One or two KG+ staff members will be on site at each venue during the exhibition period. There is no need for the artists or their representatives to be stationed at their exhibits all times, but administrative staff will not be assigned to each individual exhibition space.
– KG+ staff at the venue will be responsible for operating lighting, projectors, etc. However, we ask participants to kindly provide an instruction manual for their exhibit.
– You may sell artworks and books at the venue, but please manage the sales yourself. Please note that KG+ cannot take any responsibility for sales at the venue.
– Please contact us if you need additional partitions for your exhibition space. However, a separate fee will be charged for these.
– Participants may bring and use additional lighting fixtures in their exhibition space. There are electrical outlets in each space.

Selection of the Award Winners

Members of the KG＋ judging panel will evaluate the exhibits and select one Award winner. The KG＋SELECT Award winner will be announced at the KYOTOGRAPHIE x KG＋ award ceremony in the first opening weekend. (There may be awards for which no winner is selected.)

The KG＋SELECT Award Winner

The winner of the KG＋SELECT Award Winner will be invited to exhibit at next year’s KYOTOGRAPHIE international photography festival, and will receive the following support:

– Production grants of 500,000 yen.
– Exhibition venue and production costs
– KYOTOGRAPHIE catalogue publication
– Various publicity

Submission Guidelines

The following materials are to be submitted via the application form.
Please note that the submitted materials may be used by the KG+ office for publicity purposes.
When using online storage services, please make sure to check access and sharing permissions.

(1) Text information: Please include the following in one document.
*All must be written in both Japanese and English. 
– Title of the artwork (or series title)
– Exhibition statement (About 350 words in English. Please write in third-person. )
– Artist profile 
– Artist website (if applicable)
* Note: In the case of a group exhibit, the information should be provided by the curator.

(2) Exhibition floor plan 
A diagram of the venue showing the exhibition layout; a freehand drawing is acceptable. Please prepare in .pdf or .jpg format. Slight adjustments to the plan are permissible during the actual exhibition.

(3) Digital images of the artwork to be exhibited (less than 20 jpg files), or (in the case of a video presentation of the work) a YouTube or Vimeo URL link. Or both.

〈Photo images〉
　*Image data file names should be in this form
　: serial number_artist name_title of individual image_copyright = series title. 
　Example:(01_John Smith_Title#1_©John Smith=Series title)
　** Artwork image resolution: 300 dpi; size: around A5 or A4; the 20 images should not total more than around 50-100M.

〈Video〉
If you would like to make a video presentation of your exhibited works, please write the YouTube or Vimeo URL link in a text file.

(4) A recent photograph of the artist (the image file name must include the applicant’s name)
* Image resolution: 300 dpi; size: long side should be around 100mm to 150mm 
** Please note that submitted materials may be edited by the KG+ office for publication. The KG+ office will be responsible for editing the content of all exhibition-related materials, including the promotional booklet.

Schedule

Below is the planned schedule. Please note that it is subject to change. 

〈Early December〉
The selection results for KG+SELECT / KG+ will be announced on the KG+ website. 
〈Late February〉
An overview of the exhibitions will be published on the KG+ website.
〈Late March〉
Map will be completed and installed at each venue.
〈April 18th to May 17th〉
KYOTOGRAPHIE / KG+ will be held. During the exhibition period, we plan to hold events and receptions for each exhibition, as well as opening and closing events by the festival sponsors/organizers. Please join us! We will continue to keep you informed of details.

*The Award Winner will be announced at the opening weekend.

IMPORTANT: Application Rules and Disclaimer

– Applicants are responsible for all expenses related to their exhibit, such as rental equipment, printing, framing, use of projectors, and moving things in and out of the exhibition space.
– The applicant is responsible for monitoring the venue during the exhibition period. KG+ is not responsible for providing assistance or for any damage or losses. 
– The organizer may freely use images of submitted works on the KG+ website and in printed materials, etc., with the name of the artist specified, for the purpose of promoting KG+.
– The organisers may use the personal information and entries submitted for the management of the event and disclose them to the juries and subcontractors to the extent necessary. The information will not be used or disclosed beyond the necessary scope and will not be provided to third parties.
– If the applicant cancels the exhibit after the KG+ exhibition has been decided, the applicant may be required to pay a penalty (e.g., to cover the cost of producing new promotional materials).
– If a third party makes a claim of copyright infringement or compensation for damages, the applicant will be responsible for dealing with the claim, and the organizer will not be held responsible in any way.
– KG+SELECT exhibitions must be taken down within two days of the festival. The artists are responsible for dismantling and shipping the works. KG+ SELECT cannot, in no way,  store works after the festival.

Other Support

Applicants may participate in educational programs such as master classes held during KYOTOGRAPHIE and portfolio reviews by invited internationally-active experts at discounted prices. Details will be announced by email.
*Participation in the contest implies irrevocable and unreserved acceptance of the terms and conditions of these rules.