Artist of the Year Awards

Artist of the Year Awards VAA Artist of the Year Award 2026
£10,000 in Prizes | Exhibit Your Art | Grow Your Art Career

The VAA Artist of the Year 2025 Award celebrates artistic excellence, recognising talent at all levels. With a £10,000 prize package, career-boosting courses and memberships, and a prestigious group exhibition in London for the overall winner, this award provides artists with the recognition, support, and opportunities they deserve to elevate their careers. Artists can compete in categories includ

ing Best International Artist, Best Professional & Established Artist, Best New & Emerging Artist, as well as the Members’ Choice Award and five Highly Commended Artists. Four new categories have just been announced, with awards that will honour key artistic styles, including Still Life, Wildlife, Abstract, and Landscape, ensuring a diverse range of art is represented. Entries will be judged by a distinguished panel of industry experts. The AOTY25 Award is open to all – whether you’re an emerging talent or an established professional, this is your chance to gain recognition and take your artistic career to new heights!

The VAA Artist of the Year Awards 2026 Longlist has been announced! ✨Congratulations to all of the artists whose work ha...
29/07/2026

The VAA Artist of the Year Awards 2026 Longlist has been announced! ✨

Congratulations to all of the artists whose work has been selected for the VAA Artist of the Year Awards 2026 Longlist.

With an exceptional standard of work submitted this year, reaching the Longlist is a fantastic achievement. We are thrilled to celebrate the artists whose work has progressed to the next stage of judging.

If you've submitted work to the VAA Artist of the Year Awards 2026, be sure to check your inbox for your judging update.

What's next?

✨ Shortlist Announced – September 2026
✨ Finalists Announced – September 2026
✨ Winners Announced – September 2026
✨ Overall Winner of AOTY26 – London Group Exhibition: 7th - 11th October 2026
✨ AOTY Winners Virtual Exhibitions – March 2027

Congratulations once again to all of our Longlisted artists, and thank you to everyone who entered the VAA Artist of the Year Awards 2026. We can't wait to share the next stage of the awards with you.

Less than 12 hours left to enter the VAA Artist of the Year Awards 2026 ✨This is your final chance to submit your work a...
23/07/2026

Less than 12 hours left to enter the VAA Artist of the Year Awards 2026 ✨

This is your final chance to submit your work and be in with the opportunity to win a prize package worth over £10,000, including cash prizes, mentorship, exhibitions, professional development, and industry recognition.

👉 Final Deadline: Midnight tonight, 23rd July
👉 Free entry for VAA Premium Members
👉 Discounted entry for Student Artists

Apply now: https://www.artistyearawards.com

One final week to enter the VAA Artist of the Year Awards ✨You asked, we listened - we've extended the deadline! Followi...
17/07/2026

One final week to enter the VAA Artist of the Year Awards ✨

You asked, we listened - we've extended the deadline! Following requests from artists who wanted more time to complete their submissions, we've extended the deadline for the VAA Artist of the Year Awards 2026 by one week. You now have until Thursday 23rd July to perfect your application.

Don't miss this final opportunity to submit your work, gain recognition, and discover whether you could be crowned the VAA Artist of the Year 2026.

Designed to support artists beyond the award itself, the prize package includes cash prizes, mentorship, professional development, exhibitions, VAA membership, art supplies, and industry recognition, with a combined value of over £10,000.

Apply Now: https://www.artistyearawards.com
Deadline Extension: Midnight, 23rd July

Free Entry For VAA Premium Members
Discounted Entry For Student Artists

Only 12 Hours Left to Enter the VAA Artist of the Year Awards! ✨The deadline for the VAA Artist of the Year Awards 2026 ...
16/07/2026

Only 12 Hours Left to Enter the VAA Artist of the Year Awards! ✨

The deadline for the VAA Artist of the Year Awards 2026 is almost here. Don't miss your chance to showcase your work, gain recognition, and take the next step in your artistic career.

• 7 award categories
• £10,000 prize fund
• £1,000 Overall Winner cash prize
• Mentorship, exhibitions, courses & VAA membership

📅 Entries close today.
🎓 Free entry for VAA Premium Members
🎨 Discounted entry for student artists

Apply now: https://www.artistyearawards.com

Your final chance to enter - just 24 hours remain.The VAA Artist of the Year Awards 2026 deadline is almost here. If you...
15/07/2026

Your final chance to enter - just 24 hours remain.

The VAA Artist of the Year Awards 2026 deadline is almost here. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to submit your work, this is it.

Join artists from around the world and take the opportunity to gain recognition, showcase your practice, and access career development opportunities designed to support your artistic journey.

With a £10,000 prize fund and 7 award categories, the awards offer opportunities for both emerging and established artists.

• 7 award categories
• £1,000 Overall Winner cash prize
• £10,000 total prize fund
• Mentorship, exhibitions, courses & VAA membership
• Category winner prizes and professional support

Every entry also includes exclusive artist resources to support your journey beyond submission.

📅 Deadline: 16th July 2026
🎓 Free entry for VAA Premium Members
🎨 Discounted entry available for student artists

Don’t miss your chance to be recognised as part of the VAA Artist of the Year Awards 2026.

Apply now: https://www.artistyearawards.com

Could you be the next Artist of the Year?

Artists shape, challenge, and illuminate the world – their talent deserves to be seen. The VAA Artist of the Year Awards...
15/07/2026

Artists shape, challenge, and illuminate the world – their talent deserves to be seen. The VAA Artist of the Year Awards celebrates and champions creativity at all stages.

Hear from VAA Artist of the Year 2023 Highly Commended Artist, Joshua Donkor, on what being a Commended Artist meant for his practice:

"Being announced as one of the Highly Commended Exhibitors of the Professional Artist Award 2023 was a lovely moment. To have my work recognised by a really impressive panel of judges and in amongst all of the applications is very special and encouraging."

Apply Now: https://www.artistyearawards.com

Deadline: 16th July 2026
Free Entry For VAA Premium Members
Discounted Entry For Student Artists

Every artist’s vision deserves to be seen.

The hardest part of any application isn't filling in the form... it's pressing submit.If you've ever wondered whether yo...
15/07/2026

The hardest part of any application isn't filling in the form... it's pressing submit.

If you've ever wondered whether your work is good enough, finished enough, or whether you should wait just a little longer, you're not alone.

In our latest article, The Risk of Waiting Until You're Ready, we explore why perfectionism can quietly hold artists back - and why some of the biggest opportunities come from sharing your work before you feel completely ready.

Take a few minutes to read it here:
https://www.artistyearawards.com/post/the-risk-of-waiting-until-you-re-ready

If it resonates with you, perhaps it's time to stop waiting and start sharing your work. The VAA Artist of the Year Awards close soon. We hope to see your application ✨

48 Hours Left: Could You Be the Next VAA Artist of the Year? 🏆The final countdown has begun - there are just 48 hours le...
14/07/2026

48 Hours Left: Could You Be the Next VAA Artist of the Year? 🏆

The final countdown has begun - there are just 48 hours left to enter the VAA Artist of the Year Awards 2026.

This is your final opportunity to put your work in front of a wider audience, gain industry recognition, and access career development opportunities designed to support your artistic journey.

Open to emerging and established artists worldwide, the awards celebrate creativity across 7 categories, with a £10,000 prize fund and opportunities to grow your practice.

✨ 7 award categories
✨ £1,000 Overall Winner cash prize
✨ £10,000 total prize fund
✨ Mentorship, exhibitions, courses & VAA membership
✨ Category winner prizes and professional support

Plus - every entry includes exclusive artist resources to help support your journey beyond submission.

Deadline: 16th July 2026
Free entry for VAA Premium Members
Discounted entry available for student artists

Don’t wait until the deadline - submit your work today.

Apply now: https://www.artistyearawards.com

14/07/2026

This is what happens when artists put their work forward ✨

A growing collection of bold, thoughtful, and inspiring submissions for Artist of the Year 2026.

Ready to add yours?

Featured Artists:
Tamara Andjus .andjus
Fiona Hodges
Loren Frame
Paris Tooraji
Alison Johnston
Jacqueline Tory
Linda Chapman
Sharon Steinbach

Apply Now: https://www.artistyearawards.com
Deadline: 16th July 2026
Free Entry For VAA Premium Members
Discounted Entry For Student Artists

3 Days Left: Could You Be the Next VAA Artist of the Year? 🏆The countdown is on - there are just 3 days left to enter th...
13/07/2026

3 Days Left: Could You Be the Next VAA Artist of the Year? 🏆

The countdown is on - there are just 3 days left to enter the VAA Artist of the Year Awards 2026.

Open to emerging and established artists worldwide, this is your opportunity to gain recognition, showcase your work to a wider audience, and access career-changing support.

✨ 7 award categories
✨ £1,000 Overall Winner cash prize
✨ £10,000 prize fund across the awards
✨ Mentorship, exhibitions, courses & VAA membership
✨ Category winner prizes and professional development opportunities

Plus - every entry includes exclusive artist resources designed to support your creative journey beyond the awards.

Deadline Approaching: 16th July 2026
Free entry for VAA Premium Members
Discounted entry available for student artists

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the VAA Artist of the Year Awards 2026.

Apply now: https://www.artistyearawards.com

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