PRIDE CDMX 2026 - QUÉ ESCÁNDALO From The Bureau of Queer Art

Applications Closed

  • Type: Exhibition
  • Geography: International
  • Submission Deadline: May 08, 2026 @ 11:59PM (America - Mexico City)
  • Event Dates: Jun 05, 2026 - Jul 03, 2026
  • Entry fee: US$25.00 (Includes 5 pieces)
  • Additional piece fee: US$5.00

Submissions Closed

Set within Pride in Mexico City, this exhibition holds that shift. Pride is not a single story—it’s accumulation, contradiction, joy that carries memory, visibility that doesn’t ask to be simplified. It’s where pleasure and resistance move together.

Artists from Mexico and beyond bring distinct languages of image, desire, humor, and form. Some are direct, some quiet, some slip between. None resolve into one definition. Together, they create a space where difference exists side by side—without needing to agree.

Qué escándalo becomes something to step into—
a celebration of what exceeds expectation,
what resists containment,
what insists on being felt.

Applications are now open. Only 3 weeks to apply.
Exhibition opens June 5.

Presented with the Secretaría de Cultura CDMX
at Centro Cultural El Rule—in the heart of the city’s cultural corridor.

An honor for TBQA—and our Collectivo.

Eligibility Criteria:

This open call is for artists working across disciplines whose practices engage Queer experience, broadly understood—not as a fixed identity, but as a way of seeing, making, and existing beyond imposed limits.

We welcome submissions from artists based in Mexico and internationally. Emerging, mid-career, and established artists are all encouraged to apply.

There are no strict medium restrictions. Painting, photography, video, sculpture, installation, digital work, text-based practices, and interdisciplinary approaches are all considered. Work should be original and created by the applying artist.

Artists must be able to provide high-resolution documentation of their work for review and potential publication.

If selected, artists are responsible for production and delivery of their work, including shipping or coordinating local printing when applicable. TBQA can assist with production guidance and local resources in Mexico City.

All submitted work should be available for exhibition during the scheduled dates and align with the spirit of the exhibition: work that resists simplification, embraces presence, and contributes to a shared space of visibility, difference, and celebration.

This is not a call for a single definition of Queerness. We are interested in practices that hold complexity, contradiction, joy, and refusal—work that does not shrink to fit expectation.

Application Requirements:

  • All accepted works must be delivered to Mexico City by May 20. This deadline is firm and necessary to ensure proper installation and coordination of the exhibition.
  • Artists are responsible for all aspects of shipping and delivery, including packaging, transportation, insurance, and any associated costs. TBQA does not assume responsibility for shipping fees, customs duties, tariffs, delays, or damages incurred in transit.
  • We understand that international shipping can be complex. Upon acceptance, TBQA can share recommended shipping approaches and vendors that have helped navigate customs processes more smoothly. These are offered as support, not as a guarantee, and final responsibility remains with the artist.
  • Before confirming participation, artists are expected to review and understand the full cost and logistics of shipping their work. Submission to this exhibition assumes that you have considered these factors and are able to follow through on your commitment.
  • Because space in the exhibition is limited, each confirmed position is held with intention. If an artist is unable to fulfill their commitment after acceptance, it impacts not only the exhibition but the broader community of artists seeking to participate. For this reason, TBQA prioritizes working with artists who are able to engage the full process professionally and reliably.
  • Participation in the exhibition includes a financial contribution to support production, installation, staffing, and programming. Fees range between $50–$200 USD per artist, depending on the scope of participation. Scholarships are available based on need, and we encourage transparency in requesting support.
  • Artists are also encouraged to consider joining the TBQA Collectivo. Membership offers reduced participation costs while contributing to the sustainability of the platform and supporting ongoing opportunities throughout the year.
  • This exhibition is built through shared investment—of time, resources, and trust. The goal is not only to present work, but to sustain a space where artists can continue to show, connect, and grow together.

Rules and Terms:


Rules & Terms — QUÉ ESCÁNDALO

Submission to this open call does not guarantee inclusion. All applications are reviewed by TBQA, and selections are made based on curatorial alignment with the exhibition.

Selected artists will be notified following the review period and must confirm participation within the stated timeframe. Failure to confirm may result in the offer being extended to another artist.

Participation in the exhibition requires a financial contribution to support production, installation, staffing, and programming. Fee structure and any applicable discounts (including Collectivo and InResidency) will be clearly outlined upon acceptance.

Artists are responsible for the production and delivery of their work. This includes shipping, printing, or coordinating local production. TBQA can assist with recommended vendors in Mexico City, but is not responsible for delays, damages, or issues caused by shipping carriers, customs, or third-party services.

All works must arrive ready to install, following provided specifications. TBQA reserves the right to refuse works that differ significantly from submitted materials or do not meet installation requirements.

TBQA will provide installation of all accepted works within the exhibition space. While all care will be taken, TBQA and the hosting venue do not provide insurance for artworks. Artists participate at their own risk and must sign a responsibility agreement prior to exhibition.

All works must be available for the full duration of the exhibition. Early removal is not permitted.

If work is listed for sale, TBQA will facilitate transactions. Commission structures will be shared upon acceptance and are aligned with TBQA’s existing models. Payments to artists are issued within 30 days following the close of the exhibition. Applicable taxes, transaction fees, and transfer costs may apply.

By submitting, artists grant TBQA the right to use images of their work for promotional, editorial, and archival purposes across digital and print platforms, with appropriate credit.

TBQA reserves the right to make final decisions regarding curation, installation, and presentation of the exhibition.

Authorship, Process & Rights

At TBQA, artists are not treated as subjects of documentation, but as collaborators in the creation of meaning. Written features begin with artist responses, interviews, and materials provided directly by the artist. These are then shaped through an editorial process that may include restructuring, condensation, and the development of a cohesive narrative voice. This process may involve the use of writing tools to assist in clarity, flow, and translation across languages, but the ideas, experiences, and core language remain grounded in the artist’s original contribution. The goal is not to replace the artist’s voice, but to hold it—to extend it into a form that can circulate, be read, and be remembered. We don’t transcribe artists. We write with them. Their words are the ground. The text is the meeting.

Artists retain full copyright of all images and artwork submitted to TBQA. By participating, artists grant TBQA a non-exclusive, permission-based license to use submitted materials for the purposes of publication, promotion, and archiving across TBQA platforms. This includes the magazine (print and digital), Substack, website, social media, and related press or editorial features. All works are credited to the artist whenever presented. TBQA does not claim ownership over artist work, nor does it sell or license images to third parties without explicit consent. Images and materials are used in the context of fair use for documentation, critique, and cultural discourse, in alignment with the mission of supporting and circulating Queer artistic practices.

Contact

For questions about the application itself (application requirements, terms, etc), please contact us directly at [email protected]

For questions or issues with the application process (setting up an account, submitting to the call, login issues, etc), please contact Artwork Archive or call 720-900-5506

The Bureau of Queer Art