Call for Submissions: The Kingston Prize 2026
Submit a portrait of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, executed in traditional painting or drawing media, produced between September 2, 2025 and September 1, 2026.
Does this fit your work? 5 questions score every call to your medium, location and budget. Free.
Get matched →- Deadline
- 32 days left
- Entry fee
- Not listed - check the source
- Award
- $25,000
- Location
- Toronto, Ontario
- Size cap
- ≤ 59.06" max dimension
About
Overview
The Kingston Prize is Canada's national portrait competition, now awarded annually. Founded in 2005, it celebrates contemporary portraiture and builds a lasting archive of Canadians by Canadians. Thirty finalists will be selected by a distinguished jury, with works featured in an exhibition in Toronto in November 2026.
Eligibility
The competition is open to Canadian artists (Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status) 18 years of age and over on the submission deadline. Board members and Jury members are not eligible.
What to Submit
Submit a portrait of a specific Canadian person or persons based on a real meeting between subject and artist. Group portraits and self-portraits are acceptable. Work must be executed in traditional painting or drawing media including oil, tempera, acrylic, watercolour, ink, graphite, or charcoal on canvas, paper, or panel. Non-traditional materials as a primary or dominant component are not acceptable.
Requirements
- Produced between September 2, 2025 and September 1, 2026
- Dimensions (including frame) must not exceed 150 cm height x 150 cm width x 10 cm depth
- Must be available for showing during the exhibition
- Original work must be available whether or not the artist is the owner
Awards
The winning portrait receives $25,000. Two honourable mentions earn $3,000 each. People's Choice Award: $1,000.
Key Dates
- Submission Deadline: September 1, 2026, 11:59pm ET
- Exhibition: November 2026, Toronto
Contact
For questions, contact [email protected]. Visit kingstonprize.ca for complete submission requirements.
- Award
- $25,000 award for winning portrait, two honourable mentions of $3,000 each, and a People's Choice Award of $1,000
- Entries per artist
- Up to 1
- Theme
- Contemporary portraiture celebrating Canadian citizens and permanent residents through real-life connections and encounters.
- Eligibility
- Open to Canadian artists (Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status) 18 years of age and over; one portrait per artist.
- Audience
- Canadian artists, 18 years of age and over
- Size & format
- not exceed 150 centimetres height x 150 centimetres width x 10 centimetres depth
- Also worth noting
- not exceed 150 centimetres height x 150 centimetres width x 10 centimetres depth
- Contact
- [email protected]
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.