Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2026

The Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize is the National Portrait Gallery's annual portrait photography competition, sponsored by international law firm Taylor Wessing. The prize is held within an institution dedicated specifically to portraiture, which shapes selection — the gallery is interested in photography concerned with portraying people with an emphasis on identity as individuals.

The brief interprets 'portrait' broadly: studio, environmental, candid, conceptual, and self-portraiture are all eligible. Submitted photographs must have been taken after January 1, 2025 — recency-restricted to recent work.

Selected works are exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London from November 2026 to January 2027 — a flagship public-facing exhibition slot. Cash prizes: £15,000 (first), £3,000 (second), £2,000 (third).

Eligibility is open globally to photographers 18+. Each photographer may submit up to 6 images. Fee is £22 per image. Submission is through the National Portrait Gallery's competitions portal. The 2026 deadline was April 21; results announced November 2026 alongside the exhibition opening.