The Batsford Prize 2026

4 March 2026

Leading art book publisher Batsford presents The Batsford Prize 2026. The award is open for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying at a UK institution, with £4,000 worth of prizes to be won.

There are four categories to enter, with a £300 cash prize for the winner of each category:

• Applied Art and Textiles
• Fine Art
• Book Illustration
• The Geoffry Powell Award for Architecture

THE THEME

The theme for the Batsford Prize 2026 is ‘Connections’.

We are looking for entries that show innovative and well-crafted interpretations of the theme, in terms of subject or materials used, or a combination of the two. We accept both entries that have been made as a part of coursework as well as personal work.

THE PRIZES

There are £4,000 worth of prizes to be won!

• £300 cash prize for the winner of each category

• £300 for the overall winner

• £100 worth of Batsford books for the winners and £300 worth of books for their college

• £50 worth of books for two runners up in each category

• A copy of Artists of the East London Group publishing May 2026 for the winners

• A copy of The Book Cover for the runners up

• All shortlisted candidates will be invited to exhibit their entries at the Batsford Gallery in May 2026

Click here for more information on how to apply.