June 2026 Arts Prizes: Winners and Open Calls
British photographer Rene Matić received the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2026 for AS OPPOSED TO THE TRUTH at CCA Berlin, earning £30,000. The winners of the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction will be revealed on 25 June 2026 at the Bloomsbury Theatre. Charlotte English from Bird Conservatoire was honored with the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year award. Sasha Debevec-McKenney claimed the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize for Joy Is My Middle Name, receiving £20,000. The Footnote x Counterpoints Prize 2026 has shortlisted six writers. The National Portrait Gallery will showcase four shortlisted artists for the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award from 25 June to 7 October 2026. Lyse Doucet won the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction, while Virginia Evans took home the Women's Prize for Fiction. Alina Akbar won the Football Art Prize for Footwork. The ACS Studio Prize, offering £6,000, has applications closing on 30 June 2026. Fair Play Art Fair applications are due by 22 June 2026. Entries for the Ivors Composer Awards close on 10 July 2026, and the Royal Society of Marine Artists open call ends on 24 July 2026. Polka Theatre's Playwriting Award submissions must be in by 19 July 2026.
Key facts
- Rene Matić won the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2026 for AS OPPOSED TO THE TRUTH at CCA Berlin.
- The Orwell Prize for Political Fiction shortlist includes eight books; winners announced 25 June 2026.
- Charlotte English won the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year competition.
- Sasha Debevec-McKenney won the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize for Joy Is My Middle Name.
- The Footnote x Counterpoints Prize 2026 shortlisted six writers from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
- Four artists shortlisted for Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award; exhibition 25 June to 7 October 2026.
- Lyse Doucet won Women's Prize for Non-Fiction; Virginia Evans won Women's Prize for Fiction.
- Alina Akbar won Football Art Prize for Footwork; exhibition at Millennium Gallery and National Football Museum.
- ACS Studio Prize offers £6,000 to recent graduates; applications close 30 June 2026.
- Fair Play Art Fair applications close 22 June 2026; free stands for independent artists.
- Ivors Composer Awards 2026 entries close 10 July 2026.
- Royal Society of Marine Artists open call closes 24 July 2026.
- Polka Playwriting Award submissions close 19 July 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Rene Matić
- Jane Evelyn Atwood
- Weronika Gęsicka
- Amak Mahmoodian
- Tahmima Anam
- Susan Choi
- I.O. Echeruo
- Ben Lerner
- Daniyal Mueenuddin
- Liadan Ní Chuinn
- Douglas Stuart
- Stephanie Sy-Quia
- Charlotte English
- Taziva-Faye Kastsande
- Rosie Sutton
- Sasha Debevec-McKenney
- Eleanor Chan
- Jose Hall
- Erica Li
- Joel Mordi
- Ahmed Najar
- Maryam Namazie
- Chloe Cox
- Marc Dalessio
- Joel Nichols
- Michael Slusakowicz
- Lyse Doucet
- Virginia Evans
- Alina Akbar
- Conor Rogers
- Philip Mould
- David Dawson
- Sir Gabriele Finaldi
- Viscountess Bridgeman
- Ryan Stanier
- Jeremy Chapman
- George Orwell
- Stephen Sondheim
- Dylan Thomas
- Charles Pears
- Anna Goldsworthy
- Debbie Millman
Institutions
- Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation
- CCA Berlin
- Orwell Prize
- Bloomsbury Theatre
- University College London
- Stephen Sondheim Society
- Bird Conservatoire
- Sondheim Theatre
- University of Oxford
- Swansea University
- Footnote Press
- Counterpoints
- National Portrait Gallery
- Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
- Women's Prize for Non-Fiction
- Women's Prize for Fiction
- BBC
- Hutchinson Heinemann
- Michael Joseph Ltd
- FIFA World Cup
- Millennium Gallery
- National Football Museum
- Artists Collecting Society
- Gurr Johns
- National Gallery
- Fair Play Art Fair
- One Marylebone
- Frieze
- The Other Art Fair
- Ivors Academy
- Royal Society of Marine Artists
- Mall Galleries
- Polka Theatre
- Methuen Drama
- ArtsHub
- ScreenHub
- The Sydney Morning Herald
- The Australian
- Woman's Day
- B&T
- Quarterly Essay
- Vivid Sydney
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany
- London
- United Kingdom
- West End
- Swansea
- Wales
- Sheffield
- Manchester
- Adelaide
- Australia
- Canada
- United States
- Afghanistan
- Kabul