HUGE Gallery is bringing a group exhibition to the Lyon area this December. From 4 to 6 December 2026, artists from around the world will show their work at 53 Cours Tolstoï, 69100 Villeurbanne, just across the city boundary from central Lyon. Applications are open now and close on Wednesday 18 November 2026, so there are nine days left to apply.
If you have been searching for an open call in Lyon, or for a first chance to show your work in France, this guide explains what the exhibition involves, who can apply and how to make the most of the time before the deadline.
Visitors at a past HUGE Gallery exhibition in London, July 2026.
The essentials
- Exhibition: HUGE Gallery group exhibition, Lyon (Villeurbanne)
- Dates: Friday 4 to Sunday 6 December 2026
- Opening evening: Friday 4 December (times on Eventbrite)
- Weekend opening: Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, 11:00 to 17:00
- Venue: 53 Cours Tolstoï, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
- Application deadline: 18 November 2026
- Formats: physical and digital places
- Fees: listed with the Lyon show on our open calls page
Why Villeurbanne, and why December?
Villeurbanne sits directly east of Lyon's Part-Dieu district and is part of the same metropolitan area. It also has its own serious contemporary art presence. The Institut d'art contemporain (IAC), home of the Frac Rhône-Alpes collection, is in Villeurbanne, and its access information places it a short walk from Cours Tolstoï, the same street as our exhibition.
The timing matters too. Our show opens during a busy fortnight for art in the city:
- The 18th Biennale de Lyon, Passer d'un rêve à l'autre / To pass from one dream to another, runs from 19 September to 13 December 2026, so it is still open throughout our exhibition. Its venues include the Grandes Locos and macLYON, and the IAC in Villeurbanne is showing its Jeune création internationale exhibition as part of the Biennale. (Biennale de Lyon)
- The Fête des Lumières takes place from Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8 December 2026, overlapping our Saturday and Sunday. (official dates)
HUGE's exhibition is independent and is not part of either programme. But if you are travelling to see your work on the wall, it is a good weekend to spend in Lyon. Our art-lover's guide to Lyon during the Festival of Lights has ideas for your visit.
Who can apply?
The open call is for emerging and independent artists. You do not need previous exhibitions: selection depends on the work and its fit with the show. You also do not need to live locally or attend in person, although you should check the preparation and delivery requirements for your format before you apply.
Physical or digital?
There are two ways to take part.
A physical place means your artwork is physically presented in the gallery, in line with the Lyon call's requirements. This suits work whose surface, scale or materials matter in the room: paintings with visible texture, textiles, works on paper, small sculpture.
A digital place means your work is presented digitally as part of the exhibition. It can be a practical choice if you live far from Lyon, if your work is photographic, digital or moving image, or if sending a fragile piece to France within a few weeks is not realistic.
Think about the timing honestly. Applications close on 18 November and the show opens on 4 December. If you are choosing a physical place from outside France, plan how your work will travel before you apply, and ask us about the arrangements if anything is unclear.
How to apply
The process has four steps:
- Choose the show. Check the venue, dates, deadline and fee for your preferred format on the open calls page.
- Submit your work through the official application form for the Lyon show, linked from that page.
- Get selected. If your work fits, HUGE confirms your place and explains the next steps.
- Get shown. Prepare your work for physical or digital presentation as agreed for the show.
Preparing a strong application in the time left
Nine days is enough time to prepare well if you start now.
Choose a focused selection. One strong, clearly related group of works is easier to understand than a sample of everything you make. Our guide on how to choose artwork for an open call walks through how to decide.
Photograph the work properly. Use even daylight, keep the camera square to flat works and crop out the room. A clear image lets someone judge the work itself rather than the photograph.
Write the artwork details carefully. Give the title, year, medium and dimensions in a consistent format. If the work is for sale, know your price before anyone asks.
Keep your bio short and specific. Say who you are, what you make and where you are based. A few precise sentences are more useful than a long list of adjectives.
Check your links. If you include a website or Instagram account, make sure it opens and that the work there matches what you are submitting.
Don't leave it to 18 November. Submitting a few days early gives you time to fix a broken image or answer a question.
Artists at a past HUGE Gallery exhibition.
Visiting the exhibition
The exhibition opens with an evening event on Friday 4 December, and is open on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December from 11:00 to 17:00. Reserve a free place for the opening on Eventbrite. Villeurbanne is served by Lyon's TCL metro, tram and bus network; use the TCL journey planner to plan your route to 53 Cours Tolstoï.
While you are in town, the IAC is close by on the Villeurbanne side, and the Biennale's other venues are spread across Lyon. Check each venue's own website for opening times before you go, as hours vary across the week.
Exhibiting in London instead?
HUGE's London exhibition runs a week earlier, from 27 to 29 November 2026 at The Factory, 21–31 Shacklewell Lane, London E8 2DA, with applications closing on 16 November. Our first-time artist's checklist for exhibiting in London and our art-lover's guide to Hackney, Dalston and E8 cover that show. You can also browse photographs from past HUGE shows to see how exhibitions are presented.
Interested in exhibiting your work? Explore the current HUGE Gallery open call. Applications for Lyon close on 18 November 2026.
