Prizes &
Opportunities
Each year Michael Harding is proud to sponsor a selection of art prizes and competitions that champion painters at every stage. Below are the awards we're currently supporting — with live status updates so you always know what's open for entries.
Almenara Art Prize 2026
An international online painting competition offering more than €30,000 in cash awards and €35,000 in products and other prizes. Michael Harding is an official materials sponsor. Categories include Figurative, Portrait, Drawing, Landscape and Plein Air Painting, Still Life, Wildlife and Animal, Religious and Spiritual, Fantastic Realism, and a Young category.
Jackson's Art Prize 2026 — Oil
Now in its eleventh year, Jackson's Art Prize invites artists working in all two-dimensional techniques. The 2026 prize drew 16,280 entries from 110 countries, with a top award of £6,000 plus £2,000 in art materials.
RWS Open 2026 — Michael Harding Grand Prize
The Royal Watercolour Society's annual open exhibition at Bankside Gallery, London. The prize list includes the Michael Harding Grand Prize and the RWS Young Artist Award, recognising excellence in watercolour painting.
OPA National Salon 2026
OPA's annual national juried exhibition and convention, with over $100,000 in cash and merchandise awards. A separate Exhibition of Small Paintings offers up to $20,000 in awards.
NOAPS Best of America 2026
The Best of America National Juried Exhibition, open to NOAPS members. The 2026 Small Works exhibition runs May at Anderson Fine Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, Georgia.
New Emergence Art Prize 2026
An international open call for emerging artists with a prize fund worth £5,000+. Includes the dedicated Michael Harding Oil Painter's Prize (£150+ worth of materials). Shortlisted artists featured in an online exhibition, August–September 2026.
Horse in Art 2026 — Tom Coates Best Oil Award
The Society's annual Horse in Art exhibition, featuring the Tom Coates Best Oil Painting Award and new awards for 2026. A UK charity promoting equestrian art across all media.
Ohio Plein Air Society Annual Competition 2026
The 24th annual OPAS competition, September 17–20 at Summit Artspace, Akron. Over $7,000 in prizes for plein air painters working on location.
Plein Air Southwest 2026
A juried membership paint-out hosted by the Galveston Historical Foundation. Part of OPS's programme of plein air paint-outs, exhibitions, and fellowship across the American South and Southwest.
San Diego Watercolor Society 46th International Exhibition
Now in its 46th year, SDWS's International Exhibition attracts entries from hundreds of water media artists worldwide. Show dates: September 27 – October 31, 2026.
Weardale Plein Air Festival 2026
A weekend of outdoor painting, competitions, workshops, and artist socials in the beautiful North Pennines. The 2026 festival ran 28th–31st May in St. John's Chapel, Weardale.
NSMA International Painting Competition 2026 — Director's Choice Award
Michael Harding sponsored the Director's Choice Award at the New Salem Museum and Academy of Fine Art's second International Painting Competition — a $2,500 gift certificate in Michael Harding Artist Materials, chosen at the Awards Gala by NSMA Director Michael Klein. The award was won by Rose Frantzen for 'Last Light' (2025, oil on linen). With nearly 1,600 submissions from 44 countries, 63 finalist works were exhibited at NSMA from May 13th–August 16th, 2026.
PAWA Plein Air to Studio Winter Exhibition 2026
PAWA's juried winter exhibition celebrating plein air painting, with a Best of Show Award of $1,000. January 9 – February 9, 2026.
Córdoba International Watercolour Festival 2026
An international watercolour festival and exhibition in Córdoba, Spain, featuring works by international masters and emerging artists.
Hampstead Art Society Annual Exhibition
Run by practising artists, the Society promotes and rewards excellence through annual exhibition opportunities, including the Works on Paper open call with cash prizes.
Palette & Chisel Academy Exhibitions
Chicago's historic Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, offering exhibitions, classes, and 60 hours of open studio per week. The Plein Air Painters Chicago (PAPC) is an affiliate organisation.
Plein Air South 2026
A plein air paint-out, competition, and sale bringing artists together for a weekend of outdoor painting and community.
Plein Air Marksville (PAM) 2026
The seventh annual Plein Air Marksville outdoor painting competition in historic downtown Marksville, Louisiana. Artists paint from 9am, with an awards reception and art sale at 5pm at the Avoyelles Arts Council Gallery on the Square.
North East Watercolor Society 50th Annual National Juried Exhibition
The 50th Annual National Juried Exhibition at Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, Garden City, NY. On view September 18 – October 25, 2026, with over $6,000 in awards. Michael Harding is a materials sponsor.
Palette & Chisel Emerging Artists Show 2026
An annual exhibition and competition at Chicago's Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts (founded 1895), dedicated to emerging artists. On view August 28 – September 27, 2026, with awards announced at the opening reception. Michael Harding is a materials sponsor.
NOMA Gallery International Juried Art Competitions 2026
NOMA Gallery's monthly online juried art competitions, open to artists worldwide. Each show awards Best of Show ($70–$500 cash), plus Blick Art Materials and Portal Vision awards. Michael Harding is a sponsor prize partner.
BTA Art Prize 2026
An international art competition championing emerging talent, open to artists in any 2D medium. Prizes worth £2,500+ including cash and art materials. Michael Harding served on the 2026 judging panel alongside Frances Featherstone and Peter Davis.
Weardale Plein Air Festival 2027
A celebration of plein air painting in the heart of the North Pennines, County Durham. The 2027 festival runs 28–31 May at St John's Chapel, Weardale, featuring paint-outs, competitions, workshops and artist socials. Michael Harding is a materials sponsor.
Plein Air Washington Artists 2026 Programme
A programme of plein air paint-outs, exhibitions and competitions across Washington State and beyond throughout 2026, including the Townsend 2-day Paint Out (Sept 9–10) and Plein Air LIVE! (Aug 20–21). Michael Harding is a materials sponsor.
Hampstead Art Society Summer Exhibition 2026
An open-call international art competition run by artists, for artists, with a main cash prize of £3,000 and numerous awards including materials prizes. The 2026 Summer Exhibition was held at Gallery 8, Duke Street, St James's, London. Michael Harding is a materials sponsor.
Michael Harding sponsored the Director's Choice Award at the New Salem Museum and Academy of Fine Art's 2026 International Painting Competition — a $2,500 gift certificate in Michael Harding Artist Materials, won by Rose Frantzen for Last Light.
View the finalistsLooking for more ways we support emerging painters?
Explore the Future Masters programme