International Portrait Painting Competition
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2027, one of the world’s leading international portrait painting competitions, is now calling for entries, inviting artists from around the world to submit their best contemporary portrait paintings.
Short description
The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2027, organized by the National Portrait Gallery in London, is now accepting entries from artists worldwide, celebrating outstanding contemporary portrait painting and encouraging artists to explore and develop the art of portraiture.
Recognized as one of the world’s leading competitions for portrait painting, the Award provides an important international platform for both emerging and established artists, showcasing a wide range of approaches, from traditional painting techniques to innovative contemporary practices.
Since its inception, the competition has attracted more than 50,000 entries from over 100 countries, while its exhibitions have been seen by more than six million people worldwide.
Artists are invited to submit a portrait painting completed after 1 January 2025. The work must be predominantly painted in oil, tempera or acrylic and should be based on a sitting or study from life, with the human figure predominating. Self-portraits and group portraits are also accepted.
Each artist may submit one entry only. The submitted work must not have been previously entered into the competition.
The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2027 offers substantial cash prizes, including a £35,000 First Prize, as well as prizes for second and third place and a dedicated Young Artist Award for artists aged 30 or under.
Selected works will be exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London as part of the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2027 exhibition, offering artists significant international exposure and the opportunity to have their work presented at one of the world's most renowned institutions dedicated to portraiture.
Artists selected for the 2026 and 2027 Portrait Award exhibitions will also be considered for the biennial Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Artist Commission worth £14,000.
The exhibition will open at the National Portrait Gallery in June 2027. Applications for the competition must be submitted by 1 December 2026 at 22:00 UK time.
Submission requirements
➜ The submitted work must be predominantly painted in oil, tempera or acrylic. Watercolours, works on paper and pastels are not accepted.
➜ The portrait should be based on a sitting or study from life, with the human figure predominating. Self-portraits and group portraits are permitted.
➜ Paintings must measure at least 25 × 20 cm unframed and no more than 244 × 244 cm framed.
➜ Entrants must upload one high-quality digital image showing the entire artwork. The image must be submitted as a JPG/JPEG file and must not exceed 3 MB.
➜ Paintings are judged anonymously and therefore must not be signed on the front.
➜ Artists selected for the second round will be required to deliver their original artwork to the designated London judging venue. International entrants are responsible for shipping, customs and associated costs.
Eligibility
The competition is open to artists from around the world aged 18 years or over as of 1 January 2026. Artists aged 30 or under as of the same date are also eligible for the Young Artist Award.
Benefits
➜ First Prize: £35,000
➜ Second Prize: £12,000
➜ Third Prize: £10,000
➜ Young Artist Award: £9,000
Selected artists will have their work exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London, providing significant international exposure and recognition.
Artists selected for the 2026 and 2027 Portrait Award exhibitions will also be considered for the biennial Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Artist Commission worth £14,000.
Entry fees
The standard entry fee is £40. Entry is free for artists receiving Universal Credit or Pension Credit, while a 50% discount is available to students, artists aged 18–25 and artists receiving Disability Benefits.
