International Art Doll Registry 2026 Convention

The International Art Doll Registry (IADR) is having their annual convention on May 8-10, 2026 in Florence, Italy in the Hotel Albani Firenze ballrooms. The convention will include a juried doll competition, several workshops presented by international artists, an Art and Aperitivo with the guest speaker Stephanie (Stevi) Tiongco, and two days of open-to-the-public exhibit/sales tables.

“Myths and Legends“ is the convention theme signifying the need for myths, legends, and fairytales. Dolls provide us the ability to be able to fantasize, play, and never be alone.

The three-day convention starts off on Friday, May 8, with a day filled with workshops provided by international doll artists. Attend a class on sculpting a face by artist Patrizia Cozzo or make fairy wings and mermaid fins with Elisabetta Bernardi. Create a miniature wooden vintage doll chair with Giusy Di Rocco or make Demon Hunter Rumi’s hair braid in Cosclay with Loredana Salvo. Anna Esposito will take students through the process of designing and creating an anime-cartoon style character in fiber or attend the workshop on making a vintage doll size chair with cold porcelain and textiles.

After the workshops, the Friday evening activities will begin with the Art & Aperitivo Event where guests can mingle and dine with the doll artists and special guests attending the convention. After this social, the Special guest presentations will begin followed by the IADR Jury Show Awards. The evening concludes with a special advance viewing of the exhibits in the Exhibit & Sales area.

On Saturday and Sunday, May 9-10, the Exhibit & Sales area will be open to the public for viewing. Admission is free! Don't miss out on this opportunity to visit IADR artists and see their one-of-a-kind dolls.

The IADR juried competition is open to all attending the convention. IADR Jury Shows are for one-of-a-kind handmade dolls that are human or fantasy animals acting like humans with human characteristics. Dolls may be made in any media to include polymer, porcelain, paper-clay, fabric and/or needle felted art dolls. The jury show will include awards for each of the doll categories (Sculpted Art & Fiber Art) in each of the five skill levels consisting of Novice, Intermediate, Advance, Professional, and Master.

Registration for the convention is available at the IADR website (www.international-art-doll-registry.com). How to sign-up for the workshops being offered during the convention, rules on submitting a doll for judging in the jury show, and/or requesting a sales table in the convention center are all available.

Come join us in Florence this May, 2026 for these fun-filled days for one-of-a-kind doll experiences and see the art and sites while attending the convention in Italy – the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance!

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Host or Publisher Shawn Duthie