The 12x12 art exhibition festival is an annual event held in Lisbon, running from Thursday, December 12th to Sunday, December 15th, 2024. The festival spans three days and features a massive exhibition of small-format artworks, all uniformly sized. The event is open to artists of all abilities and experience levels, providing a platform for both emerging and established creators to showcase their work. Every artwork submitted is priced equally and affordably, reflecting the event's emphasis on accessibility and community spirit.

Artists are invited to submit up to 10 artworks, and participation involves a multi-phase submission process. The festival production team reserves the right to reject artworks that do not conform to the exhibition guidelines, such as pieces that are undried, sticky, or unsafe for handling. The team also determines the order and placement of artworks within the exhibition space. While all submissions are treated equally for the physical exhibition, only the works selected and delivered properly will be featured in the online catalog and website.

The 12x12 festival is a fully independent, self-funded event managed by a small team relying entirely on volunteer work. The cost of sign-ups helps support production expenses, and, as a political statement, the event charges no commission on sales—all proceeds go directly to the artists. In addition to the exhibition, the festival includes concerts and performances, often featuring orchestra students, along with art-related talks and workshops, fostering a multidisciplinary creative environment.