---
title: MFA Annual
description: >-
  Juried painting competition for MFA candidates/recent grads; 40 winners
  featured in New American Paintings magazine. $50 entry fee.
url: 'https://www.artsume.com/programs/8e8c8002-b373-4709-b6ed-79d74975ce94'
type: program
status: open
createdAt: '2026-09-29'
updatedAt: '2026-10-11'
programType: Open call
organization: New American Paintings
organizationUrl: 'https://www.artsume.com/o/new-american-paintings'
deadline: '2026-11-01'
entryFee: 50 USD
location: 'Boston, MA, United States'
isOnline: true
disciplines:
  - painting
careerStages:
  - Emerging artist
---

# MFA Annual

**Hosted by:** New American Paintings

**Type:** Open call | **Location:** Boston, MA, United States | **Deadline:** November 1, 2026 | **Entry fee:** $50

## About This Program

### Competition Rules and Information

We host six juried competitions each year. Five are organized by region—Northeast, South, Midwest, West, and Pacific Coast—while the sixth is reserved for current Master of Fine Arts candidates and recent graduates. Our regional competitions are open to all artists, regardless of educational background.

Submissions are evaluated through a blind jury process, with selections based solely on the artwork. We embrace a broad definition of painting, welcoming all styles, subjects, and media, as long as the work is original. Each competition recognizes forty winners, who are featured in a multipage, full-color spread in New American Paintings at no cost.

No educational credentials are required for our regional competitions; the only exception is our annual MFA competition. Artists applying to the MFA competition are also eligible to apply to their regional competition within the same calendar year.

### Entry Fee & Payment

A $50.00 entry fee is required to submit your work to this competition.

This is a one-time, non-refundable payment processed securely during checkout.

## Eligibility & Requirements

- **Career Stage:** Emerging artist
- **Geographic Eligibility:** National
- **Disciplines:** painting
- **Note:** Open to artists residing in the MFA Annual region of the U.S. This competition is reserved for current Master of Fine Arts candidates and recent graduates; no educational credentials are required for the regional competitions, but the MFA Annual is the exception. Artists applying to the MFA competition are also eligible to apply to the regional competition within the same calendar year.

Submissions are evaluated through a blind jury process based solely on the artwork, with a broad definition of painting welcoming all styles, subjects, and media, provided the work is original.

## Timeline

- **Opens:** September 29, 2026
- **Deadline:** November 1, 2026

## Contact

**Email:** support@newamericanpaintings.com

## How to Apply

Apply at: https://newamericanpaintings.com/login?redirect=%2Fcall-for-artists%2Fmfa-annual