Now in its 8th edition, The Derwent Art Prize is open for submissions for 2026.

The Derwent Art Prize is one of the world’s top art competitions, celebrating excellence in contemporary pencil art. Created in 2012 by Derwent, the Prize invites artists worldwide to submit their finest 2D and 3D artworks crafted in any pencil—including colour, water-soluble, pastel, graphite, and charcoal pencils.

Dedicated to championing art made in pencil and supporting artists in their careers, the Derwent Art Prize presents an international exhibition at OXO Gallery, London, UK and offers a prize fund totaling £13,500 to winning artists.

The 2026 prize list includes:

• First prize: £4,000 + a year’s supply of Derwent products
• Second Prize: £2,000
• Young Artist Awards (Under 25s): £6,000 across two prizes
• People’s Choice Award: £500
• New Artist Award: £500
• Educators Award: £500
• Tin of Derwent Lightfast Pencils for each winner

The exhibition at OXO Gallery in central London will be in April 2026.

Approximately 80 artworks will be shortlisted and shown in the Derwent Art Prize exhibition at OXO Gallery in London, from 8 April 2026.

So far, the Derwent Art Prize competition has attracted more than 20,000 entries from 75 countries.

The Derwent Art Prize 2026 – Entry Fees

The entry fee is £15 for the first work and £5 for each additional work. Artists may only enter once, with a maximum of 6 images.