LONDON.- Today, the National Portrait Gallery opens the call for entries for the prestigious Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2026, supported by headline sponsor, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer. Celebrating contemporary portraiture from around the world, entries are open from Wednesday 22 October 2025 to Tuesday 6 January 2026, to all artists aged 18 and over. For this and future iterations of the Portrait Award, entrants will be able to submit new works that have been completed in the past two-years. Artists entering this year’s Award are therefore invited to submit artworks that have been completed after 1 January 2024.

The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award is one of the most important platforms for portrait painters. The highly successful competition aims to encourage artists over the age of 18 to focus upon, and develop, the theme of portraiture in their work. Since its inception, the competition has attracted over 40,000 entries from more than 100 countries, and the exhibition has been seen by over 6 million people.

£35,000 will be awarded to the winner, one of the largest prizes for any global art competition. The second prize winner receives £12,000 and the third prize winner is awarded £10,000. The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award will also include a Young Artist Award, which will see a prize of £9,000 awarded to an entrant aged between 18 and 30, profiling their talent and supporting the development of their practice.

The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award exhibition will be displayed at the National Portrait Gallery from 25 June until 7 October 2026.

"It's always a pleasure to welcome this annual competition back to the Gallery. Now in its 44th year, the Portrait Award continues to attract exceptional artists from all over the world. We're grateful to the long-standing support of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and we look forward to seeing this year's selection of portraits." -- Amy Emmerson Martin. Contemporary Curator, National Portrait Gallery

"Through our continued sponsorship of the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award, we are proud to play our part in providing emerging and established artists a platform to share their passion. It is a privilege to support an initiative that celebrates creativity and encourages expression, and which aligns with our values at HSF Kramer." -- Justin D'Agostino MH. Global CEO, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer