How Much Do Art Call Entry Fees Cost in 2026? Real Averages by Region & Medium

Entry fees are a standard part of submitting work to juried exhibitions, open calls, and art shows.

Even when a single fee looks "reasonable," costs can stack up quickly when you're applying to multiple opportunities each month.

For some artists, it also makes sense to weigh submission fees against other income opportunities, such as selling work directly through the best websites to sell your art online.

So, we pulled real listing data from EntryThingy to answer a simple question artists keep asking: what do art call entry fees actually cost in 2026 and what counts as "normal"?

In this EntryThingy study, we break down average entry fees by region, medium, and membership pricing, so you can compare calls faster, budget realistically, and spot fees that are unusually high before you spend money applying.

TL;DR: Art Call Entry Fees in 2026

Based on EntryThingy listing data, here's what artists can expect in 2026:

Metric	Value
Average entry fee	~$20 (most calls cluster around this range)
Highest-cost region	Deep South ~$31 (above-average regional pricing)
Lowest-cost region	West Coast ~$17.70 (more lower-cost and online calls)
Most expensive mediums	Fiber art + printmaking ~$25 (higher handling and review requirements)
Least expensive medium	Digital art ~$17 (lower overhead and online-first submissions)
Membership pricing	Typically $15–$19, and sometimes free (reduced fees for repeat submitters)

Quick takeaway: If you apply to 10 calls at the "average" price, you're already at ~$200 in submission fees (before shipping, framing, or printing).

How We Analyzed Art Call Entry Fees

This analysis is based on art calls listed on EntryThingy in 2026. We included only the published entry fee required to submit (the fee shown on the call listing).

What we did:

• Looked at 2,000+ calls from our dataset, particularly the ones hosted on EntryThingy.
• Categorized each of these calls in terms of region, member-only status, and categories.
• We then went through and started doing math: looking at averages, looking at medians, and the range of entry fees.

A lot of this data is from EntryThingy calls specifically, but we also grabbed some data from external calls to do the same exact analysis.

We excluded calls without pricing data or where the pricing data was very hard to actually collect. These are mostly from external calls that were listed on other platforms such as Cafe or Artwork Management.

The numbers shown are average entry fees, not minimums or rare outliers, so they reflect what artists typically encounter when browsing and submitting.

Here is an example of an art call listing on EntryThingy, showing entry fee, location, and deadline upfront.

Important note: Entry fee structures vary (per artwork, per application, tiered pricing). When calls listed multiple fee tiers, we used the most common "standard submission" fee shown in the listing.

Average Art Call Entry Fees by Region

Entry fees vary significantly depending on where an art call is based. When comparing listings across regions, clear pricing patterns emerge.

Region	Average Entry Fee
Deep South	~$31
West Coast	~$17.70
Other Regions	~$20–$25

Based on EntryThingy data, the Deep South has the highest average entry fees, while the West Coast has the lowest. Most other regions fall somewhere in between.

These differences are likely driven by how calls are structured locally:

• Higher-cost regions tend to host more in-person, venue-based exhibitions, where organizers rely on entry fees to cover space, staffing, and juror costs.
• Lower-cost regions, particularly on the West Coast, feature more online or hybrid calls, higher competition among organizers, and broader applicant pools: keeping fees closer to (or below) the industry average.

To compare these regional differences in practice, EntryThingy lets artists browse calls by state or city and view entry fees upfront for each opportunity.

Practical takeaway: Use regional averages as a benchmark. If an entry fee is significantly above the typical range for that region, it's worth pausing and asking whether the opportunity justifies the cost.

In some cases, unusually high entry fees can also be a red flag, so it helps to know how to spot scam calls for art before submitting.

Average Art Call Entry Fees by Medium (Physical vs Digital Work)

Entry fees also vary depending on the type of work being submitted. When comparing calls by medium, clear pricing differences appear across physical and digital formats.

Medium	Average Entry Fee
Fiber Art & Printmaking	~$25
Digital Art	~$17
Other Physical Mediums	~$20–$23

Based on EntryThingy listing data, fiber art and printmaking have the highest average entry fees, while digital art submissions are the least expensive.

Higher fees for fiber art and printmaking are often tied to:

• Physical handling and installation requirements
• Space and display considerations
• More complex review processes for juried exhibitions
• Extra artist-side costs (shipping, packaging, insurance, framing)

Physical works often come with added costs beyond the entry fee (like shipping, crating, or professional framing), which is another reason these calls tend to be priced higher than digital ones.

Digital art calls, on the other hand, tend to be cheaper because they:

• Are frequently hosted online
• Require no physical shipping or installation
• Scale more easily for organizers reviewing large numbers of submissions

On EntryThingy, artists can filter calls by medium and immediately see whether a submission is free or paid, making it easier to compare pricing across different types of work.

If you work primarily in fiber art or printmaking, higher submission costs are standard, not a red flag. Budgeting ahead and applying selectively matter more in these mediums.

Being selective also means presenting your work clearly, which is why having a focused submission portfolio matters when applying to higher-cost calls.

For digital artists, lower entry fees make it easier to apply broadly, but cheaper calls often attract larger applicant pools, increasing competition.

Practical takeaway: Compare entry fees within your medium, not across all calls. A $25 fee may be reasonable for fiber work but overpriced for digital submissions.

Check Real Art Calls and Entry Fees Before You Apply

The averages above help set expectations, but individual art calls can still vary widely.

EntryThingy lets you browse active calls and see entry fees, locations, deadlines, and call types upfront, so you can compare real opportunities against typical pricing before you apply.

This makes it easier to spot unusually high fees, prioritize free or lower-cost calls, and stay within your submission budget.

Once you've compared entry fees, the next step is submitting confidently, and this guide on how to apply to art calls walks through the process step by step.

Common Questions About Art Call Entry Fees

Are entry fees lower for members?

Yes. Based on EntryThingy listing data, member entry fees typically range from $15 to $19, and some organizations waive entry fees entirely for members.

Many galleries, nonprofits, and arts organizations use memberships to offset operating costs. In return, they offer reduced submission fees to artists who submit regularly.

For artists who frequently apply to calls from the same organization, membership pricing can significantly reduce total submission costs over time, especially when applying to multiple exhibitions each year.

What is the average art call entry fee in 2026?

The average art call entry fee in 2026 is approximately $20 per submission, based on EntryThingy listing data.

Most art calls cluster close to this range, suggesting that entry fees have largely stabilized across the industry. This pricing is common across both online and hybrid exhibitions and reflects a balance between keeping submissions accessible and covering administrative and juror-related costs.

Do fees vary by region or medium?

Yes. Entry fees vary depending on where the call is based and the type of work submitted:

• Region: Calls in the Deep South average around $31, while the West Coast averages closer to $17.70.
• Medium: Fiber art and printmaking average about $25, while digital art averages around $17.
• Membership: Member fees typically fall between $15–$19, and some organizations waive fees for members.