News

MONTEREY, CA (OCTOBER 2, 2026)—Aligned with its mission to inspire creativity, connect communities, and celebrate the stories of California art, Monterey Museum of Art (MMA) is delighted to announce the return of the Monterey Biennial, set to take place in summer 2027. Exhibiting contemporary artistic voices from across Central California, this exhibition highlights the work of artists living in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo counties. The second iteration of the Monterey Biennial furthers MMA's commitment to amplifying the diverse creative perspectives of California art today. The juried exhibition will be on view from June 24 to September 26, 2027, at Monterey Museum of Art's Pacific Street location.

MMA's Executive Director Corey Madden shares, "The 2025 Monterey Biennial showcased the work of over 120 contemporary artists, connecting communities across Central California to celebrate the collective artistic talent of our region. We are thrilled to present the 2027 Biennial as an opportunity to give greater visibility to living artists across the region and to create space for public dialogue about contemporary California art."

Call for Artists

Contemporary artists living in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo counties are eligible to submit their most compelling and innovative pieces for consideration. The Museum welcomes artists 18 years or older to submit three pieces representative of their current body of work.

Accepted media are ceramics, drawings, installations, paintings, prints, photography, mixed media, new media, sculptures, textiles, and time-based works, and more than one work per artist may be selected for display. Designed to be both accessible and equitable, MMA has chosen to waive all artist submission fees. Applications will be blind reviewed and evaluated based on artistic vision, technical skill, and originality.

The Museum will host both public and private events aimed at increasing the visibility of Central California artists. These include a Public Opening Celebration on June 26 and a Curator Panel Discussion during the run of the exhibition. Additional events and programs are coming soon to montereyart.org.

How to Apply 

Visit the Monterey Biennial Prospectus for more information. The application portal is now open through December 10, 2026.

Important Dates  

• Submissions Open: October 1, 2026 
• Submission Deadline: December 10, 2026 
• Notification of Acceptance: February 10, 2027 
• Exhibition Dates: June 24 – September 26, 2027 

Call for Curator 

This year, MMA has opened a call for a contemporary California Curator to shape the vision of the 2027 Monterey Biennial. The Museum is looking for community-oriented curators of all experience levels to apply for this role. Responsibilities include collaborating with Museum staff to review artist submissions, selecting artwork to feature, and participating in Biennial events and programming.

The Museum call is open now through October 31, 2026. For more information about the role and how to apply, visit the Call for Curator.

Story Highlights/Angles:

• Open Call for Artists: Free and open call to all artists in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo counties.  
• Contemporary Art: Platform for living artists working across a range of contemporary media and practices to explore the breadth and diversity of contemporary artistic practices happening across Central California. 
• Regional Representation: Opportunity for artists across seven Central California counties to connect, share their work, and gain greater visibility.  
• Curatorial Opportunity: Open call for a contemporary California curator to shape the exhibition's vision and participate in artist selection and programming. 
• Public Programming: Opening celebration and curator panel will create opportunities for audiences to engage with participating artists and the exhibition.