From nearly 4,000 entries submitted by 1,338 photographers around the world, four works have been shortlisted for the Winston Taylor Photo Portrait Prize 2026. Open to professionals and amateurs alike, the competition will award one winner a3 15,000 and a commission to be added to the collection of London9s National Portrait Gallery. An exhibition of the best entries will be shown at the museum from November 5 to January 17, and the winner will be announced on November 3.
The shortlist
- Max Pattenden, 22Havannah, Lee Moor 22 from the series 22Men May Come and Men May Go, But I Go On Forever 22 (2025)
- James Clifford Kent, 22Neisser, Pinar del Rio, Cuba 22 from the series 22Yuma 22 (2025)
- Marcie Docherty, 22PE 22 from the series 22In Pursuit of Muscle 22 (2026)
- Katie Hitchcock-Smith, 22Moroccan (Amazigh) Cowboys 22 from the series 22Tajine Westerns 22 (2025)
Together, the selections reflect the breadth of contemporary portrait photography cited by the prize: intimate encounters, street scenes, and images set against rural expanses feature across the wider field of submissions.
Across the wider selection
Additional works featured among the entries include Tom Parker9s 22Venice Boxers 22 from the series 22Venice Beach, 22 Felicity Crawshaw9s 22Huw 22 (2026), Ellie Ramsden9s 22A Young Elvis 22 from the series 22The Elvies 22 (2025), Nora Obergeschwander9s 22In the space of becoming 22 from the series 22Threshold moments 22 (2026), and Ron Timehin9s 22Surface 22 from the series 22We Who Belong 22 (2025). Cheryl Newman9s 22Six Weeks Away 22 from the series 22Six Weeks Away 22 (2025) is also highlighted. Images are credited to the photographers, courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London.
The prize culminates with the announcement on November 3, followed by the exhibition opening on November 5 at the National Portrait Gallery, where the shortlisted portraits and other standout entries will be on view through January 17. Details are available on the museum9s website.
