LUSTR Festival Reopens Showcase Open Call

Open to Illustrators, Comic Artists and past LUSTR Exhibitors

LUSTR, the largest Czech festival dedicated to contemporary illustration and comics, opens its annual call for the 2026 Showcase Exhibition.

The 13th edition of the festival will once again consist of several independent exhibitions, and the Showcase is the only one made entirely from applicants selected by an expert jury through an international open call.

Since 2014, LUSTR Festival has been a celebration of contemporary illustration and comics, showcasing the best of the Czech and international scenes. The Showcase is an open invitation for creators to become a part of this major event and to present their latest work in a professional exhibition setting.

Artists who have previously exhibited at LUSTR can apply again, provided they did not participate in last year’s edition (2025).

The upcoming edition of LUSTR will take place in September 2026 at Holešovická tržnice in Prague, bringing together dozens of original exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and a rich accompanying program. The Showcase section offers space to both emerging and established illustrators and comic artists who want to present new projects to a broad audience and industry professionals.

Applicants can choose to apply to any of the three categories:

  • Free Illustration – Within the Free Illustration category, you may submit not only traditionally conceived drawings but also projects that cross media boundaries — for example, illustration extending into object installations and textiles, animation, or digital media. We are especially looking for fresh, original, and distinctive projects with a strong concept and thoughtfully designed installation.
  • Comics – The Comics category is open to anyone who loves to draw, illustrate, or doodle — and enjoys turning their creations into visually told stories. Do you have a graphic novel tucked away in a drawer, a comics zine, or a collection of strips? Share them with us at LUSTR!
  • Author Collectives – Are you part of a drawing group, an author collective gathered around a print studio, an atelier, a zine, or a DIY micro-publishing house? Or perhaps just a duo that complements each other in illustration work? Then the Author Collectives category is perfect for you!

Artists working in illustration or comics are invited to submit original ideas or new projects. Both the application and participation are completely free of charge. 

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