Image: National Portrait Gallery, London
The exhibition is free to visit and closes 7 October.
Applications for the 2027 edition are now open.
The exhibition explores a variety of approaches to portraiture, from the classic to the contemporary, encouraging viewers to reflect on the creativity of the artists’ processes.
The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award makes a welcome return to the National Portrait Gallery for 2026.
Since its inception over 40 years ago, the competition has attracted over 40,000 entries from more than 100 countries. Over 6 million people have seen the exhibition.
The catalogue includes extended interviews with all prize-winning artists by journalist Richard McClure, alongside descriptive captions for exhibited works.
