Tokyo is never short on major exhibitions, but few feel quite as personal, immersive and quietly thought-provoking as the Heralbony Art Prize 2026 Exhibition. Opening in Otemachi this spring, the international exhibition brings together 62 artworks selected from nearly 3,000 submissions across 77 countries and regions, transforming the heart of Tokyo into a space for dialogue, discovery and new perspectives on creativity.
The exhibition is part of the Heralbony Art Prize, an international award established in 2024 to create new opportunities for artists with disabilities to present their work on a global stage. But rather than fitting neatly into the framework of a traditional art award, the exhibition feels closer to an open conversation — one that invites visitors to slow down and engage with art in a more thoughtful way.
At the core of Heralbony’s philosophy is the idea of isai, a Japanese term meaning “different colors,” used to describe the individuality and creative qualities every person possesses. That spirit runs throughout the exhibition, where no two works feel remotely alike.
Credit: Jouji Suzuki
A Rare Chance To Experience Global Contemporary Art in Tokyo
This year’s exhibition features works by 56 artists from around the world, including countries like Japan, the Netherlands, Brazil, Palestine, Malaysia, France, Colombia and more. Together, the artworks form an incredibly varied and visually rich exhibition — one that moves between intricate abstraction, bold color fields, playful imagery and deeply meditative compositions.
Among the highlights is Grand Prize winner Kar Hang Mui’s Zonder titel (Untitled), a large-scale colored-pencil work built through months of layering and repetition. From afar, the piece almost resembles woven fabric or embroidery, shimmering with texture and color the longer you stand before it.
Elsewhere, visitors will encounter works that feel energetic and expansive alongside pieces that are intimate and quietly contemplative. Rather than presenting a singular style or narrative, Heralbony Art Prize 2026 celebrates the sheer diversity of creative expression itself.
Credit: Jouji Suzuki
More Than Just a Traditional Exhibition
Part of what makes the exhibition so distinctive is the way it encourages visitors to actively participate in the experience.
Throughout the exhibition period, Heralbony will host a series of “Art Cruise” programs — essentially informal guided tours where visitors can explore the artworks together through conversation and shared observation. Rather than focusing on formal interpretation or art historical knowledge, the sessions are designed around personal impressions, curiosity and dialogue.
Additional programs include Kids Art Cruises for elementary school students and their families, Japanese Sign Language Art Cruises conducted entirely through Japanese sign language and conversation-based viewing sessions led by blind communicators, where participants are invited to reflect on how people experience and interpret the world differently.
Credit: Jouji Suzuki
An Exhibition Designed Around Inclusion
Accessibility is thoughtfully integrated throughout the exhibition space. Visitors will find Japanese sign language interpretation, easy-to-understand exhibition guides, QR-enabled screen reader support and sensory-friendly bags containing sensory toys and earmuffs for guests with sensory sensitivities.
Visitors can also extend the experience beyond the exhibition itself through a special collaboration with Heralbony Laboratory Ginza. Guests who visit both the exhibition venue and the Ginza location during the exhibition period will be eligible to enter a special giveaway featuring exclusive, non-commercial items inspired by Grand Prize winner Kar Hang Mui’s Zonder titel (Untitled).
To participate, visitors simply need to bring the exhibition postcard — distributed at the venue — to the Ginza store, which is located just two train stops away via the Marunouchi Line.
More Info
Heralbony Art Prize 2026 Exhibition
Dates: May 30 – June 27, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Venue: Mitsui Sumitomo Bank East Building Earth Garden (Address: 1-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
Admission: Free
Click here to learn more.
