Christmas Commons, a new Christmas market, will take place at Nakanoshima Park in Osaka from Friday, December 11 to Friday, December 25, 2026. The event is organized by the 大阪にぎわい創出発信事業実行委員会 (an executive committee made up of Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau) and produced by Avex Creator Agency Inc., which runs the art project MEET YOUR ART.
Set in Nakanoshima, an area with a cluster of art museums and historic buildings, Christmas Commons blends the festive atmosphere of Christmas with art, crafts, fashion, food, and music. It aims to be a new kind of Christmas market that puts culture at the center.
The organizers are now holding an open call for a public art work that will bring a new look to Nakanoshima's winter scenery. One entry will be selected and displayed in Nakanoshima Park during the event.
About Christmas Commons
In addition to the food and shopping typical of a Christmas market, the venue plans to offer a variety of programs, including a public art exhibition and multiple live performances during the event period. The goal is to create a place where all kinds of people can encounter new sensibilities and cultures, with the fun of Christmas as the starting point.
- Name: Christmas Commons
- Dates: Friday, December 11 to Friday, December 25, 2026
- Hours: 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Venue: Around the lawn plaza (芝生広場) in Nakanoshima Park, Osaka
- Admission: Free
- Organizer: 大阪にぎわい創出発信事業実行委員会
- Produced by: Avex Creator Agency Inc.
Details of Christmas Commons are scheduled to be announced around early November 2026.
Open Call: Christmas Commons PUBLIC ART AWARD 2026
Christmas Commons PUBLIC ART AWARD 2026, produced by MEET YOUR ART, is looking for a public art work to be displayed at Nakanoshima Park, the venue of Christmas Commons. In addition to newly created works, existing works and plans to rework or update an existing work to suit Nakanoshima and the exhibition environment are also eligible.
Works Sought
Public art works that can be displayed in an outdoor public space.
Award
- Grand Prize: 1 winner
- The winning work will be exhibited outdoors at the Christmas Commons venue.
- As a supplementary prize, a production support fund of ¥500,000 will be awarded. The fund covers the costs of producing and renovating the work as well as the artist's fee.
- Costs for transporting, installing, and removing the work are separate from the production support fund. They will be discussed with the organizers after selection, based on the content of the work, and covered separately.
Exhibition Location and Period
- Period: Friday, December 11 to Friday, December 25, 2026
- Location: Within the Christmas Commons venue in Nakanoshima Park, Osaka
Application and Selection Schedule
- Application period: Thursday, October 8 to Wednesday, October 21, 2026, until 11:59 PM
- First-round results notified: By Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Online presentation: Wednesday, October 28 or Thursday, October 29, 2026
The online presentation is held only for applicants who pass the first-round screening.
Who Can Apply
Applicants must meet all of the following conditions.
- Have a record of ongoing art activities and exhibitions of their work
- Apply as an individual or a unit (the representative must meet the eligibility requirements)
- Be able to attend meetings with the organizers and follow the production and installation schedule after selection
- Be able to adjust the work's specifications and installation method in consultation with the organizers, from the standpoint of the exhibition environment and safety management
- Be able to take part in the online presentation, which is planned after the document screening, on Wednesday, October 28 or Thursday, October 29, 2026
There is no age limit.
Conditions for Works
- Both existing works and new works can be submitted.
- Recreating an existing work, or changing part of its size or materials, is also allowed.
- The work must be suited to an outdoor exhibition of about two weeks, with the structure, strength, weather resistance, and safety for it (or be able to be adapted accordingly).
- Depending on the venue conditions, the size, installation method, and fixing method of the work may need to be adjusted in consultation with the organizers.
- For safety management reasons, the organizers may ask for changes to the exhibition method.
- Size: Height of 4,000 mm or less. Width and depth will be adjusted within the venue regulations, based on the content of the work and the installation plan.
- Delivery: The work must be deliverable by a truck of up to 2 tons (with a crane). Final size and weight follow the venue regulations.
- Works that violate public order and morals or laws, infringe on the rights of third parties, express support for or opposition to a particular political or religious position, or are mainly intended for promotion or solicitation are not eligible.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted through the online form: https://forms.gle/9mw6AYRoz4sSVdeh6
The following materials are to be submitted through the form.
- Portfolio
- CV (brief biography and record of activities)
- Materials on the work to be exhibited (a photo of the work, an image rendering, or a photo of a model)
- Concept (approximately 400 to 800 characters)
- Size, materials, weight, and exhibition method of the work
- Production schedule (as needed)
Judging Criteria
- Concept and expressiveness
- Appeal as public art
- Compatibility with winter in Nakanoshima and the concept of Christmas Commons
- Feasibility
- Safety and suitability for exhibition
