Q1. What is the theme of this edition? Are entries required to be created around the theme?​

The theme of the 2026 edition is "Heritage and Expedition: The Memory and Contemporaneity of Watercolor," conceived as a tribute to the British Bicknell family — Elhanan Bicknell, a prominent nineteenth-century art patron, and his son Clarence Bicknell, a naturalist, botanist, and artist. In keeping with the Festival's longstanding curatorial principle of "balancing openness with discipline," artists are granted full creative freedom, and entries are not required to directly address the theme. Works spanning portraiture, landscape, still life, and abstract exploration are all welcome. The theme functions primarily as a spiritual and cultural backdrop for this edition rather than a prescriptive constraint on subject matter.

Q2. What are the specific requirements regarding medium? Are mixed media works permitted?​

The Festival maintains clear professional standards with respect to medium: each entry must be predominantly executed in water-based media, which is the fundamental condition for eligibility. At the same time, the Festival actively encourages contemporary artists to engage in cross-medium experimentation within the spirit of the watercolor tradition — the integration of watercolor with mixed materials is welcomed, provided that water-based media remain the dominant element of the work. Works executed entirely in non-water-based media, such as pure oil or pure acrylic, fall outside the scope of eligible entries.

Q3. How does the judging process work? How are jurors selected?​

The Festival employs a rigorous anonymous blind review system that has been refined across successive editions. All submitted works undergo a two-round blind evaluation process in which jurors have no access to the names or nationalities of the artists at any stage; assessment is based solely on four criteria — technique, aesthetic expression, originality, and conceptual depth. The jury is composed of internationally recognized experts drawn from multiple countries; past juries have included leading figures from watercolor societies and academic institutions across the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, and China. All final decisions are conclusive and non-appealable.

Q4. Where will the exhibition be held? Are there any overseas satellite venues?​

The main exhibition venue for this edition is the Palazzo dei Trecento in Treviso, Italy, with the exhibition scheduled for October 2026. Built in the fourteenth century and housing frescoes of the Venetian School dating from the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries, the Palazzo dei Trecento is a historic exhibition space of exceptional resonance for watercolor art. Based on precedent from previous editions — which have included parallel exhibition venues at Morehead State University Art Gallery in Kentucky, USA, and in Beijing, China — the possibility of satellite venues for this edition is best confirmed through the organizers' official announcements as they become available.

Q5. What is the top award this edition? What are the prize amounts?​

Based on the precedent established across previous editions, the Festival presents a top honor award for each edition: the third edition (2025) conferred the "William Turner Grand Prize," named after the British Romantic master, carrying a prize of USD 2,000. As the theme of this edition centers on the Bicknell family, the naming and specific configuration of the top award are expected to reflect that thematic focus. Prospective entrants are advised to refer to the official competition prospectus issued by the organizers for confirmed details. Across all previous editions, first prizes in each competitive category have been set at USD 2,000, and all exhibited works have been presented with a specially designed commemorative medal.