Poster Show 2026: Language
AIGA Maine is proud to present our annual Poster Show, returning in spring 2026 with the theme: LANGUAGE. This year, designers and artists are invited to explore the many ways language shapes how we communicate, connect, and express identity. Submissions may be inspired by spoken, written, signed, or invented languages—ranging from typography and letterforms to translation, slang, symbols, and cultural narratives.
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Selected posters will be featured in a curated traveling exhibition, showcased in venues across the state of Maine. The show celebrates the creative power of language as both a visual and cultural force, highlighting diverse perspectives from our local creative community.
Whether your work reflects personal experience, cultural heritage, or experimental approaches to communication, this poster show offers an opportunity to share your ideas with a wider audience and be part of a statewide design exhibition that sparks conversation through visual storytelling. Looking for inspiration? Check out the entries from our 2022, 2023 and 2024 shows.
Key Dates
Deadline to Apply
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Acceptance Notice
Week of March 9, 2026
Opening Night
TBA (the show will run from spring though fall of 2026)
What to Know Before You Apply
Eligibility
Open to all designers, including students, professionals, and hobbyists. Individual and collaborative submissions are welcome.
Poster Specs
Note: Files that do not meet these technical specifications will not qualify for the competition.
- Size: 24″ × 36″, vertical orientation (7,200 x 10,800 pixels)
- Color mode: CMYK
- Resolution: 300 DPI
- File format: Print-ready JPG or flattened PDF
- Please outline all text before exporting to ensure accurate text rendering
- Border requirement (no bleed):
- Leave a 0.5″ paper-white border on all sides
- Artwork image area should be 23″ × 35″, centered on an 24″ × 36″ artboard
- If your submission does not include this border, a white border will be added during printing
- File name: firstname_lastname_title
- File size: under 100 MB
Submission Limit
Limit one poster per application. If you would like to enter more than one design, you may submit multiple applications.
Display Format
AIGA Maine will professionally print and display all selected posters throughout the year at multiple locations across Maine. The show will kick off with an opening night event this spring. Additional details will be announced.
Theme Connection
Your poster must interpret or connect to the theme LANGUAGE. Literal and abstract interpretations are both encouraged.
Jury Selection
All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of jurors selected by AIGA Maine. Posters will be selected based on creativity, relevance to the theme, and overall execution.
Participation Fee
A small, nonrefundable entry fee is required and helps cover printing, installation, and promotion of the show.
The application fee is $15 for the general public, $5 for students, and waived for AIGA members (check your email or contact us for a code)
If cost is a barrier, please contact us to request a fee waiver
Rights & Usage
Designers retain full copyright to their work. AIGA Maine may photograph or reproduce submitted posters for promotional, social media, and documentation purposes.
Please read all the details carefully.
FAQs
What kind of designs are allowed? How can I interpret the theme?
There’s no single “right” way to approach the theme LANGUAGE. We welcome a wide range of interpretations, including:
- Literal – Typography, written language, symbols, or characters related to communication
- Cultural – Traditions, customs, identity, or heritage shaped by language
- Abstract – Textures, colors, patterns, or forms that evoke how language feels or functions
- Playful or Conceptual – Visual puns, unexpected pairings, or imaginative interpretations of language
Whether your approach is bold, subtle, expressive, or restrained, we’re excited to see how you bring the theme to life.
Do I need a finalized design to apply?
Yes. This streamlines our process and expedites production. The deadline to submit is Saturday, February 28, 2026.
Does the work need to be new or designed specifically for this show?
No, existing work is welcome. As long as the poster is your original design and you have the rights to submit it on your own behalf, it does not need to have been created specifically for this show. All submissions must meet the art file specifications stated above.
How will I know if my poster is accepted?
Notifications will go out the week of March 9, 2026.
What does the $15 application entry fee ($5 for students) pay for?
Entry fees cover printing, hanging, and promotion of the poster show. We’re doing our best to keep the fee as low as possible while ensuring great print quality. Entry fees are nonrefundable.
The entry fee will be waived for AIGA Maine members, who have been emailed a code. If cost is a barrier, please contact us to request a fee waiver.
Can students or hobbyists participate?
Absolutely! The show is open to everyone — students, professionals, and hobbyists alike. If you have a concept, a love for design, and are able to submit a digital file, you’re welcome to join.
Can I submit more than one poster?
Yes! You can submit multiple concepts, but each poster will require its own application and entry fee.
Can I submit a poster as part of a team?
Yes! Team submissions are welcome. Just make sure to include all collaborators’ names when you apply so everyone gets credit. The participation fee will still be per poster, not per person.
Will I keep my poster after the show?
Yes! After the event, you can pick up your printed poster to keep or gift. Details on pickup dates and times will be shared after the show.
Who owns the rights to my poster?
You do! You retain full copyright to your design. By participating, you grant AIGA Maine permission to photograph or share images of your poster for promotional purposes (with credit, of course).
Submit a Poster Now
