---
title: 'Call for Submissions: The Kingston Prize 2026'
description: >-
  Canada's national portrait competition. $25,000 prize + Toronto exhibition.
  Open to Canadian artists 18+. Deadline Sept 1, 2026.
url: 'https://www.artsume.com/programs/124782bb-d997-418f-8a8c-5972c77aa239'
type: program
status: closed
createdAt: '2026-05-05'
updatedAt: '2026-09-30'
programType: Prize/award
organization: The Kingston Prize
organizationUrl: 'https://www.artsume.com/o/the-kingston-prize'
deadline: '2026-09-01'
location: 'Toronto, ON, Canada'
isOnline: false
compensationRange: >-
  $25,000 winner's award; two honourable mentions at $3,000 each; People's
  Choice Award of $1,000
disciplines:
  - painting
  - drawing
---

# Call for Submissions: The Kingston Prize 2026

**Hosted by:** The Kingston Prize

**Type:** Prize/award | **Location:** Toronto, ON, Canada | **Deadline:** September 1, 2026

## About This Program

> "Contemporary portraiture of Canadians by Canadian artists"

Canada's national portrait competition celebrating contemporary portraiture. Open to Canadian artists 18+, works must portray Canadian citizens or permanent residents based on real-life meetings between artist and subject, executed in traditional painting or drawing media (oil, tempera, acrylic, watercolour, ink, graphite, charcoal on canvas, paper or panel). Works must be produced between September 2, 2025 and September 1, 2026. Thirty finalists selected by jury for exhibition in Toronto, November 2026.

## Eligibility & Requirements

- **Geographic Eligibility:** National
- **Disciplines:** painting, drawing
- **Age Requirements:** 18+ years old
- **Note:** Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents 18+ as of the deadline. Each artist may submit one portrait. Board members and jury members are not eligible. Portrait must depict a specific Canadian citizen or permanent resident based on a real-life meeting between subject and artist. Works must be produced between September 2, 2025 and September 1, 2026. Non-traditional materials as primary or dominant component are not eligible.

### Additional Requirements

One portrait per artist. Portrait must depict a specific Canadian citizen or permanent resident, based on a meeting between artist and subject. Traditional painting or drawing media only (oil, tempera, acrylic, watercolour, ink, graphite, charcoal on canvas, paper or panel). Produced between September 2, 2025 and September 1, 2026. Maximum dimensions 150cm x 150cm x 10cm including frame. Work must be available for the Toronto exhibition.

## Compensation & Benefits

$25,000 winner's award; two honourable mentions at $3,000 each; People's Choice Award of $1,000

**Includes:** Prize

## Timeline

- **Opens:** May 5, 2026
- **Deadline:** September 1, 2026

## Contact

**Email:** info@kingstonprize.ca

## How to Apply

Apply at: https://kingstonprize.ca/how-to-enter-2/