Call for Submissions: Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2026

The internationally recognized Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award invites submissions from international artists and painters for its upcoming 2026 Art Exhibition. Eligible works must be primarily executed in oil, tempera, or acrylic, and presented on a stretcher or board, preferably framed and unglazed (i.e., without glass or perspex). The international selection committee will review all submissions for shortlisting. The first round of judging will be conducted digitally; therefore, artists are required to submit high-quality photographs of their works. Artists selected for the second round will be responsible for arranging the transportation of their artworks to the gallery. The exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London will be open to the public from 25 June to 7 October 2026. Shortlisted artists must attend the Awards Ceremony on the evening of Tuesday, 23 June 2026.

The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award is a prestigious international art competition presented by the National Portrait Gallery. Established in 1978, it has become one of the most significant platforms celebrating contemporary portrait painting worldwide. The Award aims to support and showcase outstanding artists who explore identity, representation, and the human experience through portraiture. By exhibiting selected works to a global audience, it continues to promote artistic excellence and expand public engagement with modern portrait art.