open call rea! art fair 2026

ReA Arte Launches the Open Call and Announces the VI Edition of ReA! Art Fair 20 January – 1 May 2026

Milan, 21 January 2026 – The Open Call for Italian and international emerging artists to participate in the VI edition of ReA! Art Fair, a fair dedicated to emerging contemporary art to be held in Milan next October at the Fabbrica del Vapore, organised by ReA Arte, is now open.

From 20 January to 1 May 2026, interested artists may submit their application to take part in the selection process that will lead to the choice of 50 artists, whose works will be exhibited during the fair, scheduled from 22 to 25 October 2026 in Milan.

ReA! Art Fair confirms its position as a unique event within the Italian fair landscape, distinguished by a hybrid format that sits between a Degree Show and an art fair, with a strongly artist-oriented and curatorial approach. Artists participate without gallery representation and are included in a unified exhibition project, conceived as a single, coherent, high-quality show.

The previous edition, which concluded in June 2025, welcomed over 4,000 visitors, including collectors, industry professionals, and a specialised audience, presenting the work of 50 emerging artists from more than ten countries. Over 28% of participating artists sold their works during the opening days - a figure that continues to grow steadily, confirming the effectiveness of the fair’s model.

Now in its sixth edition, ReA! Art Fair reaffirms its role as a leading platform for providing visibility and professional development to emerging artists, offering a space for direct engagement with collectors, curators, galleries, and cultural institutions, and contributing to the building of a more accessible, transparent, and sustainable art market.

How to Participate

The Open Call is open to all visual artists, both Italian and international.

Applications must be submitted exclusively online via the website www.reafair.com/open-call.

The application must include:

• Artist Statement

• Updated Portfolio

• Bio and CV / Résumé

Registration is structured in two phases:

Early Bird: 20 January to 20 March 2026 — registration fee €40.00

Standard: 21 March to 1 May 2026 — registration fee €55.00

There are no thematic restrictions. Accepted categories include: Painting, Drawing, Photography, Video, Performance, Sculpture, Mixed Media, Digital Art, and Street Art.

The selection will be carried out by the curatorial committee of ReA! Art Fair at the end of the application period. The 50 selected artists will be notified via newsletter on 1 June and announced on official social media channels during the following week.

Participation in the fair entails no additional costs. Works will be integrated into an international curatorial project designed specifically for the event, and all sales proceeds will go entirely to the artists.

Participants will also have access to the selection process for awards in collaboration with partner institutions and cultural organisations. In previous years, awards have included financial contributions, artist residencies, and participation in group exhibitions.

About ReA Arte

ReA Arte is a non-profit cultural association founded in 2020 by a group of under-35 professionals active in the contemporary art sector. Through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates curation, cultural communication, and fundraising, the association works to promote and support emerging artists, fostering more equitable and informed access to the art system.

Over the years, ReA Arte has developed an ecosystem of projects that includes, in addition to ReA! Art Fair, exhibition activities, collaborations with cultural institutions, and the ReA! Education & Consulting department, dedicated to training and advisory services for artists and art professionals.