The Women in Art Prize (WIAP), the UK’s leading not-for-profit award dedicated to celebrating and championing women artists, returns for its highly anticipated 9th Annual Women in Art Prize Awards Ceremony at the Pigott Theatre, British Library, on 16 September 2026.
As the Prize approaches a decade of recognising exceptional women artists, WIAP continues to provide an influential platform for both emerging and established women artists working across painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, illustration, digital and moving image.
Founded to address the gender imbalance within the arts, the Women in Art Prize has become one of the UK’s most respected initiatives supporting women through financial awards, international opportunities, exhibitions, mentoring and professional development.
Women in Art Prize Awards Trophies
The Women in Art Prize is delighted to unveil its bespoke awards trophies, created exclusively for the 9th Women in Art Prize 2026 by Gwenda Jones ARBSA, a British contemporary sculptor.
Each unique ceramic sculpture has been handcrafted through a meticulous process of making, glazing and multiple firings, with every trophy created to celebrate the achievement of this year’s winners.
More than a traditional award, each trophy is a work of art in its own right, made by an artist to celebrate another artist.
An Expanded Prize Programme Supporting Artistic Excellence
The 2026 edition presents the most ambitious programme of awards to date, offering substantial financial prizes and career-defining opportunities.
The Eve Arnold Photography Prize – £1,000 cash award.
The Sculpture Prize – £1,000 cash award and the opportunity to exhibit at The Mandrake Hotel, London.
The Digital & Moving Image Prize – £1,000 cash award. The award will be presented by BAFTA-nominated actress and BAFTA-winning executive producer Alix Wilton Regan, who works across film, television, stage, video games and radio.
The Overseas Artist Prize – £1,000 international award recognising outstanding global talent.
The Painting Prize – A fully funded one-week artist residency in Morocco, including flights and accommodation, valued at £2,900 and awarded by renowned artist Rosso Emerald Crimson, the first Women in Art Prize winner.
The Printmaking Prize offers the winning artist a dedicated feature and three-month artist page on Printed Editions, a leading online platform for original prints and editions, reaching an international audience of collectors.
The Susan Angoy Artists of African & Caribbean Heritage Prize – £2,000 cash award together with a place on the prestigious Tim May Mentoring Programme with acclaimed artist Sharon Walters.
The Brigitta Spinocchia Freund Future Collectible Prize – recognising exceptional emerging artistic talent with a £1,000 award.
The Women in Art Prize x Synonym Gallery Artist Development Award – offering an emerging woman artist based in Mexico the opportunity to produce a commissioned public artwork in Mexico City, exhibit with Synonym Gallery and participate in Mexico City Art Week 2027.
The Young Woman in Art Prize, supported by Daler-Rowney, awarding £1,000 worth of professional art materials together with a one-week residency in Bracknell.
The Hampstead School of Art Abstract Painting Exhibition Prize.
The Square Feet Gallery Exhibition Prize, offering an exhibition opportunity in Marylebone, London.
The Hosking Houses Residency Prize, providing a one-month residency for women artists aged over 40 in Warwickshire during 2027 or 2028.
The Georgina Pounds Gallery Prize including the winning artist in their booth at Zona Maco Art Fair in Mexico City in February 2027.
The Fitzjohn’s Mature Artist Prize – £2,000 award, plus the opportunity to create a bespoke artwork for Fitzjohn’s new show apartment in Hampstead.
These awards collectively represent one of the UK’s most comprehensive programmes supporting women artists through financial investment, exhibition opportunities, international exchange and long-term career development.
Building International Opportunities
Continuing its successful partnership with COOC Arts & Culture at The Mandrake Hotel, WIAP will once again present a series of exhibitions and artist presentations featuring prize winners and finalists, extending opportunities beyond the awards ceremony and connecting artists with new audiences, collectors and cultural leaders.
Programme Curator Kate Fensterstock explains:
“WIAP identifies many artists who closely resonate with COOC’s creative and cultural vision, and we are committed to sharing our platform with those who are part of our community and contribute to our core ethos. We hope these collaborations will foster new connections and opportunities for growth through our authentic curatorial approach.”
Distinguished Judging Panel
The 2026 Women in Art Prize is judged by an outstanding panel of respected figures from across the international art world, chaired by Gabrielle du Plooy, Director of the Women in Art Prize.
The panel includes leading curators, gallery directors, collectors, museum professionals and artists including representatives from Mall Galleries, Saatchi Yates Gallery, Photo London, Chanel, Synonym Gallery (Mexico City), The Art Academy, Hampstead School of Art, Spinocchia Freund, and other influential cultural organisations.
JUDGING PANEL
Arngunnur Aegisdottir, Creative Director of Mall Galleries
Brigitta Spinocchia Freund, Principal & Creative Director of Spinocchia Freund
Bushra Fakhoury, Lebanese-British Sculptor (PhD, MRBS, CAS, SWA)
Edie Jones, Director of Marketing & Communications, Saatchi Yates Gallery
Georgina Pounds, Architect & the founder of the Georgina Pounds Gallery in Mexico City
Heejin No, Advisor, Curator & Co-Founder of Skipwiths
Isabel Langtry, Principal of Hampstead School of Art
Katy Richfield, Director and Head of Curation, WIAP
Lee Sharrock, Founder and Editor of Culturalee
Maria Enriqueta Arias, Founder & Director of Synonym Gallery, Mexico City
Nicky Della Mote, Curator and Champion of emerging artists & Head of International Social Commitment at Chanel
Sophie Parker, Director of Photo London
Stefanie De Regel, Director of TAEX, a curated digital art marketplace
Sue Spaull, Director of Programmes at The Art Academy, London
Susan Angoy, University of Sussex Governor, Charity Trustee & Funder
Violeta Sofia, Artist, Photographer, and Activist
Supporting Women in the Arts
Since its inception, the Women in Art Prize has become an essential platform for visibility, recognition and professional advancement, with previous finalists and winners progressing to international exhibitions, prestigious residencies and major collections.
Women in Art Prize Director Gabrielle du Plooy says:
“We are incredibly proud to continue expanding the opportunities we offer artists. From financial awards to international residencies and mentoring, our goal is to create lasting impact and meaningful pathways for women in the arts.”
Partners and Sponsors
This year’s ceremony is proudly supported by Pomelle Spritz, Wild Idol and Double Dutch as the official drinks sponsors, alongside an exceptional network of partners including Artpakk, Artter Magazine, Bridgeman Images, Brigitta Spinocchia Freund, Burgh House, Creative Flair, Daler-Rowney, The Fitzjohn’s, Gillian Jason Gallery, Hampstead School of Art, Hosking Houses Trust, The Eve Arnold Estate, Fabric Magazine, Flux Exhibition, Georgina Pounds, Printed Editions, Mall Galleries, SQFT Space, The Art of Seeing, TAP Galleries, Zebra One Gallery, Susan Angoy, and many others united in their commitment to championing women in the visual arts.
As the Women in Art Prize approaches its tenth anniversary, it continues to redefine what support for women artists looks like—creating opportunities that extend far beyond the awards themselves and fostering an international community dedicated to artistic excellence.
About the Women in Art Prize
The Women in Art Prize is a Community Interest Company (CIC) dedicated to supporting, celebrating and elevating women artists through awards, exhibitions, mentoring and international engagement.
Find further information here.
