RBSA Portrait Prize 2026
May 5 - June 13
The RBSA Portrait Prize, last held in 2024, is a celebration of portraiture, one of the oldest artistic genres in existence.
Throughout history, portraits have been employed as a way of immortalising a person or group, and preserving their appearance for future generations. No other type of painting can give such insights into social and cultural history, and portraits allow us the unique gift of being able to connect with individuals, both living and dead. Indeed, the importance and popularity of portraiture remain undiminished today.
More recently, portraits have been used to express more abstract themes, including the emotions or the state of the inner-self, without necessarily focusing on physical likeness, and greats such as Van Gogh, Kahlo, Picasso, Bacon, and Rembrandt all documented emotional turbulence in powerful self-portraits.
The RBSA Portrait Prize is open to established and emerging artists working in any media, including photography and digital art, and entries come from both UK based and international artists.
This year’s exhibition is selected by:
Brian Bishop – Senior Lecturer in Fine Art and Course Director for BA (Hons) in Fine Art, Birmingham School of Art
Anthony Connolly President RP – President, Royal Society of Portrait Painters
Dr Hannah Higham – Head of Collections, Royal Academy of Arts
The following prizes will be awarded:
First Prize: £1000
Second Prize: £500
Third Prize: £250
Up to six highly commended certificates will be awarded
Preview Evening: Tuesday 5 May 6.00pm – 8.00pm
Exhibition closes: Saturday 13 June 5.00pm
Image: Jamie Coan, Ponder