Call for Applications: International Triennial of Textile Arts 2027
Cultural Foundation for the Textile Arts, Budapest, HU
Deadline: 08.02.2027

A New Era in Textile Art – The Theme of the 2027 Triennial Has Been Announced

“Interwoven Generation” – this is the guiding concept of the 2027 International Triennial of Textile Arts, one of the most prestigious showcases of the genre in Hungary and across Europe. The event continues to represent the open, universal approach of textile art, while inviting dialogue with a renewed system of categories. What does the world’s textile art think today about the human being, material, and our shared future? Artists will have two years to create their works.

 

More than Textile – The Fabric of Thought

Today, “textile” is no longer just material: it is also a medium, a conceptual structure present in contemporary art. The aim of the Triennial is to present works from all over the world that use this unique toolkit to reflect on human existence, social issues, or sensory and personal experiences.

The new theme, “interwoven generation,” offers countless layers of interpretation: from the unit of life’s duration to the networks of memory, from discourses on intergenerational relationships to the visual metaphor of life’s thread (and stitches). Just as in sewing, stitches interlock, so too do human lives, weaving together the fabric of humanity’s existence.

“The chosen focus word, therefore, says something about the human being. It invites us to speak of humanity through textiles, and of textiles through the speech that is born within us.” – explains Attila Horányi, PhD, art historian and lecturer at MOME.

A Renewed System of Categories

The uniqueness of the 2027 Triennial lies in the introduction of three renewed categories, with no technical or material restrictions, only formal guidelines: works must be made of fibrous material, using weaving, spinning, or related techniques, and must not exceed 2.5 × 2.5 × 2.5 meters.

 

Categories

Wall and Spatial Textiles: a field for classical and experimental techniques, alternative materials, and boundary-breaking approaches.

Textile Design: home textiles, garments, accessories, installations – crafted by hand or industry – including prototypes for small series or mass production.

Miniature Textiles: the freedom of experimentation, where size does not restrict but inspires.

A novelty: applications are now open to artists living in the European Union as well, in the Wall and Spatial Textile and Textile Design categories. The Miniature Textile category remains international.

The call for submissions specifies that only works created between 2024 and 2027 will be accepted, and they must connect closely to the theme of “interwoven generation,” whether directly or in an abstract way.

“The intention of the Triennial is to blur the boundaries between fine and applied arts, and to present the permeability between genres,” says Eszter Söptei, head of the Cultural Foundation for Textile Art. “This is why there are no restrictions on materials or techniques. Textile allows for this kind of shift.”

 

Why Is Textile Art Relevant Today?

It is a valid question: what role can textile art play today, in the world of 3D printing, fast fashion, and artificial intelligence?

The answer is: it is precisely for this reason that it becomes uniquely valuable. Returning to textiles increasingly points toward sustainability, reusability, and respect for the human hand and time. In the world of circular thinking and slow design, handwoven, handsewn, and handcrafted objects regain their value.

The Textile Artists of the World

Held every three years, this showcase is one of the longest-standing contemporary textile art exhibitions in the Central European region, hosted for 50 years in the Szombathely Gallery, Hungary.

Over the decades, hundreds of artists from numerous countries have exhibited here. In 2021, artists came from 17 countries across 3 continents; in 2024, from 29 countries across 5 continents. A selection of works by Hungarian artists presented at the 2024 8th International Triennial of Textile Arts will be on view in Budapest this October – serving as a forerunner to the 2027 event.

“One of the greatest strengths of the exhibition lies in the fact that the works do not all point in one direction: the technical and thematic freedom results in genuine diversity year after year. This allows visitors to gain a comprehensive picture of what the world’s textile art thinks today about the human being, about material, and about our shared future,” – emphasizes Eszter Söptei.

 

Where Thought Takes Form in Textile

The Triennial is not only for artists but for everyone interested in contemporary culture and the state of the world. The tools of textile art may be quieter than those of other media, but their depth and closeness to humanity are unparalleled.

As creators or as visitors, the theme “interwoven generation” speaks to all of us. It is worth beginning preparations now – both intellectually and creatively – for the 2027 Triennial, where each artwork will weave another thread into the fabric of our shared story.

 

About the Cultural Foundation for Textile Art

The Cultural Foundation for Textile Art, a public benefit foundation, was established in 1991 by the Association of Hungarian Fine and Applied Artists with the aim of serving and safeguarding the values of Hungarian culture, representing and supporting both Hungarian and universal art, promoting outstanding professional endeavors, preserving the traditions of textile art, and supporting the community of artists committed to textile.

The seven-member Board of Trustees focuses its work on organizing the International Triennials of Textile Arts in Szombathely and preserving the artistic heritage presented there. The Triennial, held every three years, is one of the oldest contemporary textile art showcases in the Central European region, hosted for five decades by the city of Szombathely in the Szombathely Gallery.

The 2027 Call for Applications will be published on the website of the Cultural Foundation for Textile Art (International Textile Art Triennial Szombathely), on the MAOE website (Association of Hungarian Creative Artists), on the websites of the Association of Hungarian Fine and Applied Artists, the Szombathely Gallery, the Savaria Museum, and the European Textile Network.

More information: www.textileartstriennialhungary.com