Organizer Information
The Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize is the United Kingdom’s most prestigious annual open exhibition for drawing. Founded in 1994 by Professor Anita Taylor, the project is supported by the Trinity Buoy Wharf Trust and managed by Parker Harris. Over its 30-year history—previously known as the Jerwood Drawing Prize—it has established a global reputation for championing excellence and generating new insights into the role of drawing in contemporary creative practice.
Title & Description
Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2026.
This international open call invites artists and practitioners from all over the world to submit drawings that challenge and celebrate the boundaries of the medium. The 2026 edition features a two-stage selection process, culminating in a major exhibition at the Buoy Store in London followed by a national UK tour. Selected from thousands of global entries by a distinguished panel including Matthew Burrows MBE and Sook-Kyung Lee, the shortlisted works are featured in a fully illustrated publication. The prize serves as a vital platform for emerging and established artists to showcase their work to a wide audience of collectors, curators, and fellow practitioners.
Categories
Drawing and Illustration.
Eligibility
- Open to all International and domestic artists and drawing practitioners.
- No restrictions on style, genre, or the nature of the drawing.
- Student Category: Open to those registered on an accredited program of study with a valid Student ID.
- Boroughs' Award: Specifically for those living or working in Tower Hamlets, Newham, or Greenwich.
Program Benefits and Awards
- Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize: £15,000 cash award.
- Student Award: £2,000.
- Boroughs' Award: £1,000.
- Exhibition: Inclusion in the London launch and the subsequent UK-wide tour until July 2027.
- Publication: Shortlisted artists are featured in a high-quality, fully illustrated exhibition catalogue.
- Networking: Invitation to the VIP Preview and Awards Announcement at Trinity Buoy Wharf.
Fees
- Standard Entry: £30 (1 work), £40 (2 works), £50 (3 works).
- Student Entry: £18 (1 work), £25 (2 works), £30 (3 works).
- Entry fees are non-refundable and cover administration costs.
Application Requirements
- Stage 1: Online digital submission of high-quality images via the ArtOpps portal.
- Stage 2: Shortlisted digital entries (up to 800) must be delivered physically to a UK Collection Centre for "in the real" review.
- Documentation: Artists of the final 70 selected works must provide a short statement and biography for the publication.
- Availability: Selected drawings must be available for the duration of the tour (until July 2027).
How to Apply?
Registration and digital uploads are handled through the ArtOpps portal. Apply for Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2026
Key Dates
- Online Registration Deadline: June 9, 2026 (5:00 PM).
- Notification (Stage 1 Digital): June 19, 2026.
- Physical Hand-in (Stage 2): July 30 – 31, 2026 (London).
- Final Selection Notification: August 6, 2026.
- Awards Announcement & Launch: September 16, 2026.
- Public Exhibition: September 17 – October 4, 2026.
Location
United Kingdom, Trinity Buoy Wharf, London (followed by UK Tour).
Additional Details
The selection panel’s decision is final and binding. Shortlisted artists are responsible for the delivery and collection of their works to/from regional collection centres. Unselected works from Stage 2 must be collected shortly after the final notification in August.