*Applications for KG＋ 2027 will open on November 1 (Sun), 2026. The application form and application fee payment page will be made available when the application period begins.

1. About KG＋ 2027

KG＋ was launched in 2013 as a satellite event of KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival, with the aim of discovering and supporting emerging artists and curators. As one of Japan’s largest international photography festivals, KG＋ provides opportunities for artists, curators, and gallerists from Japan and abroad to connect and present their work to an international audience.

In 2027, marking its 15th edition, KG＋ aims to introduce new talent from Kyoto to the international art scene and welcomes applications from ambitious participants aspiring to work on a global stage. KG＋ also organizes community participation programs, creating opportunities for people to engage with culture in their everyday lives. Through diverse artistic expressions presented at venues throughout Kyoto, the festival aims to connect communities and individuals, encouraging new encounters, exchanges, and discoveries.

Exhibition Period: April 17 (Sat) – May 16 (Sun), 2027
Venue: Applicants must secure their own exhibition venue within Kyoto City before applying.

2. Application

[Application Period]
November 1 – December 31, 2026
Deadline: 23:59 (JST)

*Applications submitted after the deadline cannot be accepted through the online application form. **Applications submitted by email will not be accepted.

[Eligibility]

• Applications are open regardless of age, profession, nationality, or experience.
• Applicants must propose a solo or group exhibition held within Kyoto City, featuring photography or works incorporating photographic elements, including moving images, installation, or other related media.
• Both indoor and outdoor exhibition venues are eligible.
• Exhibitions must be open to the public for at least nine days during the festival period, April 17 (Sat) – May 16 (Sun), 2027, excluding closing days. At least one of these opening days must fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or Japanese national holiday.

Examples of Eligible and Ineligible Exhibition Periods
⚪︎: April 19–27 (open every day)
The exhibition is open for nine days during the festival period.
×: April 16–24 (open every day)
Although the exhibition runs for nine days, only eight of those days fall within the festival period.
⚪︎: April 23 – May 9 (closed Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays)
The exhibition is open for at least nine days, excluding closing days, and includes opening days on weekends or national holidays.
× April 18–30 (closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays)
The exhibition is open for fewer than nine days during the festival period, excluding closing days.
×: April 17 – May 16 (closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays)
Although the exhibition is open for at least nine days, none of its opening days falls on a weekend or national holiday.
⚪︎: May 8–16 (open every day)
The exhibition is open for all nine days through the final day of the festival, including weekends.
×: May 9–17 (open every day)
Although the exhibition runs for nine days, only eight days, May 9–16, fall within the festival period.

*To encourage visits from outside Kyoto, applicants are strongly encouraged to keep their exhibitions open for as long as possible, including weekends and national holidays.
**Applications to both KG＋ and KG＋SELECT are permitted, including submission of the same exhibition proposal or different series of works.

[How to Apply]
Applicants must secure their own exhibition venue within Kyoto City before applying. Please complete the online application form available on the KG＋ website and submit the required materials.

【Submission Materials】
Please prepare and submit the following materials through the online application form.
*Submitted materials may be used by the KG＋ Secretariat for publicity and promotional purposes.
**If you use an online storage service, please ensure that the sharing permissions are correctly set.

① Text Information (Japanese and English required for all items)

• Exhibition Title
• Exhibition Statement (maximum 600 Japanese characters, with an English translation required; written in the third person. If the original text is written in English, a Japanese translation must also be provided.)
• Artist Biography
• Artist Website (if applicable)
• Venue Information (name and contact details of the person responsible for the venue)

*For group exhibitions, the representative must prepare and submit the information. For group exhibitions, biographies must be provided for all participating artists or for one or more representative artists.


②Exhibition Plan (hand-drawn plans accepted)
The exhibition plan may be adjusted before the actual exhibition. However, substantial changes to the content of the works should be avoided.

• Photographs of the exhibition venue
• Floor plan of the venue (dimensions must be indicated)
• Exhibition layout plan showing the placement of artworks (hand-drawn plans accepted)
• Additional materials, such as photographs of previous exhibitions, exhibition mock-ups, CG renderings, or sketches, may also be submitted to help communicate the proposed exhibition more clearly. Please specify the main materials and presentation methods of the works (e.g., gelatin silver prints, inkjet prints, inkjet prints on Japanese paper, thermal transfer on acrylic, UV prints on wood, video displayed on a monitor with sound, or projected slideshows).

②Venue Usage Permission Form
Sample Permission Form

In recent years, we have received reports of disputes between exhibition venues and exhibitors. Applicants are strongly advised to carefully review and discuss all venue regulations and usage conditions with the venue management, clearly agree on the terms in advance, and enter into a formal venue usage agreement.

• Name of the person responsible for the venue
• Official seal or stamp
• Venue address
• A written statement granting permission to use the venue

④Documentation of the Proposed Exhibition Works
Please submit either artwork documentation, a presentation video, or both.
*Submitted materials may be edited by the KG＋ Secretariat for publicity and promotional purposes.

<Artwork Images>
Please name image files using the following format:
Sequential Number_Artist Name_Artwork Title_Copyright = Series Name
Example:
01_TaroYamada_Title01_©TaroYamada=SeriesName

Image specifications:
– Resolution: 300 dpi
– Size: approximately A5–A4
– Up to 20 images
– Total file size: approximately 50–100 MB

<Presentation Video>
If submitting a presentation video, please upload it to a video-sharing platform such as YouTube or Vimeo, and enter the URL in the application form.

⑤Promotional Image
Submit one artwork image for publicity and promotional purposes.
Include the artist’s name (Roman alphabet) in the file name.
Resolution: 300 dpi
Recommended image size: 100–150 mm on the longest side
Recommended file size: no more than 10 MB

⑥Artist Portrait
Submit one portrait photograph of the applicant.
– Include the applicant’s name (Roman alphabet) in the file name.
– Resolution: 300 dpi
– Recommended image size: 100–150 mm on the longest side

[Application Fee]
JPY 18,000

Application Period: November 1 – December 31, 2026
Deadline: 23:59 (JST)

*Selection Results: Applicants will be notified of their selection results by late January 2027. Those who apply by November 30, 2026, will be notified of their acceptance or rejection by the end of 2026. Final category assignments will be announced in early February 2027.

Payment methods:
Credit Card (Recommended)
Bank Transfer
PayPal

– Please complete your payment using the link provided and enter the payment confirmation number displayed after payment in the application form.
– Each applicant will receive one KYOTOGRAPHIE 2027 Passport (festival admission pass) per application.
– Please note that the application fee is non-refundable, regardless of the selection result.


[Selection Criteria]
Applications will be evaluated comprehensively based on the quality and concept of the proposed works, the scale and originality of the exhibition, exhibition dates, accessibility, and other relevant factors.

Participating exhibitions in KG＋2027 will be classified into two categories.
– The KG＋ Executive Committee will review applications and select exhibitions for the official KG＋ program. Participating exhibitions and their categories will be officially announced on the KG＋ website in early February 2027.
– Regardless of category, images, written information, and map information for all participating exhibitions will be published on the website.


(1) KG＋ PICK UP
A category highlighting exhibitions of particular interest.
– Printed Materials: Images and written information
– Website: Images and written information

(2) KG＋
The standard category, welcoming a wide range of artists and artistic expressions.
– Printed Materials: Written information only
– Website: Images and written information

Applicants may indicate their preferred category. However, final category assignments will be determined by the KG＋ Executive Committee.
All decisions regarding selection procedures and results, the design of promotional materials and the website, and the number and size of published images and other content will be made by the KG＋ Executive Committee. Requests, objections, or appeals concerning these decisions will not be accepted.

3. Schedule

*The schedule below is subject to change.
Early February 2027
Announcement of selection results. Participating KG＋ exhibitions will be announced on the official website.

Early April 2027
Completion of the festival map and distribution to participating venues.

April 17 – May 16, 2027
KYOTOGRAPHIE / KG＋ Festival.

*Throughout the festival, various exhibition-related events, receptions, and official opening and closing parties are planned.
**Participants are warmly encouraged to take part. Detailed information will be provided in due course.

4. Terms & Conditions

• Applicants must secure their own exhibition venue before submitting an application.
• Applications featuring photographs created for advertising or commercial promotional purposes will not be accepted.
• Applicants are responsible for all costs related to their exhibition, including (but not limited to) venue rental, printing, framing, projector rental, transportation, installation, and deinstallation.
• Applicants are responsible for supervising their exhibitions during the festival and any related periods. KG＋ assumes no responsibility for exhibition supervision or related matters.
• KG＋ reserves the right to reproduce and publish submitted artworks, exhibition information, and exhibition documentation, with appropriate artist credit, on its website, in printed publications, promotional media, and collaborative projects with contracted service providers, for publicity and archival purposes without time limitation.
• Personal information and submitted artworks will be used for the administration and operation of the event. Such information may be disclosed to jury members and contracted service providers only to the extent necessary for the administration and operation of the event. It will not be used or disclosed beyond these purposes or provided to unrelated third parties.
• If an applicant withdraws from the exhibition after confirmation of participation, KG＋ reserves the right to charge cancellation costs, including expenses incurred for the reproduction or revision of promotional materials.
• Any claims relating to copyright infringement, intellectual property rights, or damages by third parties shall be the sole responsibility of the applicant. KG＋ accepts no liability for such claims.
• Each participating exhibition organizer is considered a collaborating organizer of KG＋. Applicants are expected to cooperate with KG＋ in promoting, publicizing, and supporting the festival.

5. Additional Information

• uring the festival, KG＋ plans to provide participating exhibitors with promotional signage (such as vertical banners) free of charge.
• Applicants will be eligible for discounted participation in educational programs organized by KYOTOGRAPHIE, including masterclasses and portfolio reviews led by internationally recognized professionals.
• Further details will be announced by email.

*By submitting an application to KG＋2027, applicants are deemed to have accepted all terms and conditions stated above.

6. KG＋ Discovery Award

The KG＋ Discovery Award recognizes one outstanding artist or artist group selected from KG＋ exhibitions, excluding KG＋SELECT.　
During KYOTOGRAPHIE / KG＋, a photography festival that brings together creatives from around the world, KG＋ presents a wide range of unique and innovative exhibitions. The award aims to discover emerging talent through these exhibitions and introduce their work to a wider audience. Details on how to apply for the 2027 KG＋ Discovery Award will be announced to all participating KG＋ exhibitions after the KG＋ application period has closed. The award recipient will be selected from among those who wish to participate in the award.
Please note that whether or not you choose to participate in the KG＋ Discovery Award will have no impact on the selection results for KG＋ exhibitions.