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Four Finalists Announced for Winston Taylor Photo Portrait Prize 2026

award · 2026-08-10

The Winston Taylor Photo Portrait Prize 2026, which used to be called the Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize, has announced its four finalists at the National Portrait Gallery in London. The winner will receive £15,000, while the second place will earn £3,000, and the fourth place will get £2,000. There’s also an £8,000 commission for one finalist to contribute to the gallery’s collection. The finalists include James Clifford Kent, Marcie Docherty, Katie Hitchcock-Smith, and Max Pattenden, chosen from 1,338 entries by judges like Emma Dabiri FRSL and Nadine Ijewere. The exhibition is scheduled from November 5, 2026, to January 17, 2027, marking the prize's 19th year, supported by Winston Taylor.

Key facts

  • The Winston Taylor Photo Portrait Prize 2026 has four finalists: James Clifford Kent, Marcie Docherty, Katie Hitchcock-Smith, and Max Pattenden.
  • The winner receives £15,000 (over $20,200); second place £3,000; fourth place £2,000.
  • One finalist will earn an £8,000 commission to create an artwork for the National Portrait Gallery.
  • The exhibition runs from November 5, 2026, to January 17, 2027, at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
  • The judging panel included Emma Dabiri FRSL, Nadine Ijewere, Mary McCartney, and Brandei Estes.
  • 1,338 photographers entered the competition.
  • The prize was formerly known as the Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize.
  • The prize is supported by Winston Taylor, a transatlantic law firm, now in its 19th year.

Entities

Artists

  • James Clifford Kent
  • Marcie Docherty
  • Katie Hitchcock-Smith
  • Max Pattenden
  • Emma Dabiri FRSL
  • Nadine Ijewere
  • Mary McCartney
  • Brandei Estes
  • Shane Gleghorn
  • Emma Dabiri
  • John Wayne
  • Clint Eastwood

Institutions

  • National Portrait Gallery
  • Winston Taylor
  • University of Havana
  • University of Plymouth
  • Winston Taylor Photo Portrait Prize

Locations

  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • England
  • Cuba
  • Pinar del Río
  • Boston
  • Morocco
  • North Pole
  • Amazon rainforest
  • Lee Moor
  • Erfoud
  • Devon

Sources