Applications are now open for the RISE by Henley Festival Emerging Artist Prize 2026, following a successful inaugural edition last year.
Launched in 2025, the prize recognises and supports emerging talent in the visual arts and forms part of Henley Festival’s charitable RISE programme, which aims to champion the next generation of creatives. The award is open to early-career visual artists who have yet to establish a reputation among curators and collectors.
Three finalists will be selected for the 2026 prize. The overall winner will receive £1,000, with two runners-up awarded £500 each. All three finalists will also have the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work at the RISE Gallery during Henley Festival 2026, which takes place from 08 to 12 July on the banks of the River Thames.
Henley Festival is the UK’s only black-tie music and arts festival, combining world-class performances with comedy, visual arts, sculpture and fireworks. Alongside its entertainment programme, the Festival operates as a charity, with the RISE initiative providing funding, mentoring, professional advice and paid opportunities for emerging musicians, visual artists and future backstage professionals.
The RISE by Henley Festival Emerging Artist Prize was created to nurture and promote artists at a pivotal stage in their careers. Last year’s inaugural winner Raoul Orzabal received £1,000 for his detailed landscapes and cityscapes, while runners-up Curtis Chan and Susan Kellaway were awarded £500 each.
Submissions for the 2026 prize close on 31 March. A shortlist of artists will be announced on 07 April, with three finalists revealed on 14 April. All shortlisted artists will be judged by a panel drawn from across the arts sector.
Emma Ellis, Head of RISE programme development at Henley Festival, said:
“After the success of last year’s inaugural RISE by Henley Festival Emerging Artist Prize, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to support rising talent in the visual arts space again this year. The RISE programme is truly at the heart of Henley Festival and drives us forward in everything we do.
“This prize, along with all other elements of the RISE programme, ensures that the most promising young creatives have the platforms they need to thrive in their chosen fields and thus ensures a bright future for the arts overall.”
Katie Newman, Managing Director of David Messum Fine Art, added:
“The opportunity for emerging artists to exhibit at Henley Festival’s RISE presents a unique platform to showcase their work, in a professional and creative environment, to a wide range of discerning art collectors.”
Read more: RISE by Henley Festival opens 2026 Emerging Artist Prize applications
Henley Festival 2026 will take place from 08 to 12 July, with the full programme due to be announced in February. Further details about the RISE Emerging Artist Prize and how to apply are available via the Henley Festival website.
