Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2027 — £35,000 First Prize, National Portrait Gallery, London
National Portrait Gallery
One of the world’s leading competitions for portrait painting, run by the National Portrait Gallery in London; it has attracted over 50,000 entries from more than 100 countries.
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Shortlisted works are shown in the free Portrait Award exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 24 June 2027, followed by a tour. First Prize £35,000, Second Prize £12,000, Third Prize £10,000, Young Artist Award £9,000 (artists 30 or under); all exhibitors of 2026 and 2027 are considered for the biennial £14,000 Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Artist Commission.
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The competition is open to all artists from around the world aged 18 or over on 1 January 2026; one entry per artist, completed after 1 January 2025. The work must be predominantly painted in oil, tempera or acrylic on a stretcher or board, based on a sitting or study from life with the human figure predominating; no watercolours, works on paper or pastels. Minimum 25 × 20 cm unframed, maximum 244 × 244 cm framed.
Dates & details
- Deadline
- 22:00 UK time
- Programme dates
- Exhibition from 24 June 2027 (rules: until 3 October 2027; page: until 10 October 2027)
- Results
- Second round by 18 December 2026; exhibition selection by 12 February 2027