The British Art Prize 2026 is now open for entries, inviting artists worldwide to submit original contemporary 2D artworks. Organised by Artists & Illustrators, with support from STAEDTLER, the competition connects selected artists with the magazine’s audience and a London exhibition programme.

The 2026 edition invites original artworks across a broad range of styles, media and techniques, with digital images submitted online for the first stage. Works generated by AI are not considered, and selected artists must be able to provide the submitted work for the next stages of the competition.

The selection process includes a shortlist of up to 75 artworks, with the shortlist and the People’s Choice Award going live for public voting on September 25, 2026. Shortlisted works are scheduled to be shown at Oxo Gallery in London from October 21–25, 2026, giving the competition a clear route from online submission to public presentation.

Entry fee: £24 for the first artwork and £19 for each additional artwork, with up to 20 works allowed.

Eligibility

Open to artists worldwide with no restrictions based on age, training or location, although entry forms for artists aged under 18 must be completed by a representative and AI-generated works are not accepted.

Prize

The prize fund is worth over £10,000, led by a £2,000 first prize, a solo exhibition at Panter and Hall’s Cecil Court Gallery, STAEDTLER art materials, a six-page Artists & Illustrators feature and display of the winning work at Oxo Gallery; further awards include a £500 second prize plus a £750 Derwent art materials voucher, a £750 Royal Talens third-prize voucher, a £750 Raw Umber Studio Prize for Portraiture and a Clairefontaine People’s Choice Award worth £1,000 in products.