2026 Barrio Arts Fest Poster Contest

WHAT: Design a poster that embodies the spirit of the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (NMPRAC)’s Barrio Arts Festival in Humboldt Park (Barrio Borikén). The selected design will serve as the official artwork for the 2026 Barrio Arts Fest.

ELIGIBILITY:

• Open to artists 18 years or older living in the U.S. or Puerto Rico whose work aligns with the Museum’s mission.
• NMPRAC’s Mission: The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (NMPRAC) is devoted to the preservation, integration, and advancement of Puerto Rican arts and culture by presenting exhibitions and educational programming created to enhance the visibility and importance of the Puerto Rican art forms and cultural traditions.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Submit your design digitally by Friday, May 8, 2026, by 5 PM CST.

HOW DO I APPLY?: Complete the application: CLICK HERE

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Awardees will be announced on Monday, May 25, 2026 

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR ARTWORK:

1. Originality: Only unpublished, original artwork will be accepted.
2. No AI Content: Submissions must be entirely created by the artist without using AI-generated content.
3. Scalability: The design must be capable of being reproduced at large scales, up to 6 feet in height, without losing quality or clarity.
4. Theme Requirement: The artwork must incorporate and reflect the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture’s Barrio Arts Festival. 
5. Size Requirements: Artwork must be in a vertical format and legible in various sizes for print and social media. Note: NMPRAC will collaborate with the winner to ensure the artwork is reproducible at different scales.
6. Format Digital Submissions: Accepted file formats are JPEG, PNG, or PDF
7. One Submission Per Artist: Each artist may submit only one (1) artwork.

SELECTION COMMITTEE:

A panel of NMPRAC Board members and a select group of non-participating artists and community leaders will judge the contest. The selection committee will be acknowledged during Barrio Arts Fest, but their names will remain confidential until the judging process is complete.

Ineligibility: NMPRAC staff, board members, trustees, exhibiting artists, previous winners, and their immediate family members are not eligible to apply.

HISTORY:

The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (NMPRAC) is proud to celebrate 26 years of Barrio Arts Festival, a beloved annual tradition that began with just 10 vendors in our parking lot. Today, it’s a vibrant, family-friendly festival bringing together local artists, vendors, performers, food, and hands-on workshops in the heart of Humboldt Park and beyond, a space where community comes to connect, create, and celebrate Puerto Rican art and culture.

Barrio Arts Festival will be on July 11-12, 2026

AWARDEES’ TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

• Award Notification: Recipients will be notified by Monday, May 25, 2026.
  • 1st place: $1,500, 2nd place $750 and 3rd Place $500

• Copyright: By participating, all award recipients grant NMPRAC the right to reproduce their submitted artwork for marketing, promotional, and fundraising purposes.
• Collection Acquisition: The original artwork of each award recipient will be formally accessioned into the permanent collection of the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture.
• Additional Requirements: All award recipients must provide the following as part of the award process:
  • A short biography
  • A headshot
  • An artist statement
  • Signed release form(s)

Click here to print this information and to learn more about the evaluation rubric.

Click here to see our 2025 winners as a reference.

Click here for the flyer