The John Ruskin Prize 2026 is now open for submissions, inviting entries from artists, designers, and makers worldwide.
Now in its 9th edition, the prize celebrates work that reflects John Ruskin's enduring belief in the value of craftsmanship, social engagement, and making with consequence in mind.
Attracting 4000 entries by 2,000+ artists, in its last edition, it is one of the fastest-growing multidisciplinary art prizes in the UK.
This year's theme, Not for Present Delight, takes its name from Ruskin's own words in The Seven Lamps of Architecture: "Let it not be for present delight, nor for present use alone; let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for." The theme invites artists, designers and craftspeople to question the role of the maker today, asking what it means to create with an awareness of consequence and to make work that looks beyond the immediate moment. The exhibition welcomes work that functions as a tool for change or critique, while also posing the challenge: must art serve a purpose beyond itself? Can it exist simply for pleasure, independent of moral or social obligation?
Open to emerging and established creatives working in any 2D or 3D medium, the prize welcomes painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, textile, ceramics, performance, installation, photography, film, animation, digital, mixed media and more.
Up to 80 artists will be shortlisted by a panel of art industry experts, including:
- Adam Nathaniel Furman, London-based artist and designer
- Clare Twomey MBE, artist, researcher and curator
- Ishbel Myerscough, painter
- Nichola Johnson OBE FSA, Director of the Guild of St George
A total of £9,500 in prize money will be awarded across four categories:
- 1st Prize: £3,000 Made possible by support from the Guild of St George, this prize is awarded to an outstanding work that reflects the theme of this year's prize.
- Ruskin Mill Trust Prize: £3,000 Generously donated by the Ruskin Mill Trust, this prize, for a beautifully crafted functional object, celebrates exceptional craftsmanship and the enduring value of skill, making, and material sensitivity.
- Chelsea Arts Club Trust Prize: £2,500 Kindly donated by the Chelsea Arts Club Trust, this prize recognises the achievement of a mid-career artist demonstrating sustained creative excellence.
- The Alan Davidson Under 26 Prize: £1,000 Awarded to a young artist whose work shows promise, originality, and thoughtful engagement with the prize's theme.
Prize winners will be announced at the private view and awards ceremony on Wednesday 27 January 2027.
The deadline for entries is Tuesday 17 November 2026 at 5pm GMT.
Key Dates:
- Entry deadline: Tuesday 17 November 2026, 5pm GMT
- Notification of results: By 11 December 2026
- Private View and Awards Ceremony: Wednesday 27 January 2027
- Exhibition: 28 January to 21 February 2027 at Trinity Buoy Wharf, London
To learn more and enter, visit ruskinprize.co.uk
