All competitions · Prize / award
John Moores Painting Prize
National Museums Liverpool (Walker Art Gallery) with the John Moores Painting Prize Trust · Liverpool, United Kingdom
Biennial open-submission painting prize held at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, for artists living or professionally based in the UK. First prize £25,000 and a solo display; selected works shown in a six-month exhibition.
Your eligibility
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Who can enter
- Location
- United Kingdom (by residence or nationality)
- Age
- 18 and over
- Career stage
- Any
- Mediums
- Painting
- Entries
- Up to 1 work per artist
- Sale
- Work must be for sale
- Size limits
- Max 3m x 3.75m when packed; must project no more than 0.5m from the wall (2025 rules)
- Submission
- Online submission
- Also
- Must live or be professionally based in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, NI, Channel Islands, Isle of Man); 18+ at registration. One painting per artist, preferably made since 1 Jan 2024 (2025 rules), in any painted medium, available for sale. Stage 1 is digital only; shortlisted works delivered physically.
About
The John Moores Painting Prize is the UK's longest-running painting competition, held every two years at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. Artists submit one painting through a first-stage digital entry; shortlisted works are then delivered for physical judging and exhibition.
It is open to artists aged 18 or over who live or are professionally based in the UK (including the Channel Islands and Isle of Man). Works must be recent, in any painted medium, designed to hang on a wall and available for sale.
In 2025 the first prize was £25,000 plus a solo display at the Walker, with a Lady Grantchester Prize (£5,000, residency and materials) and a Visitors' Choice Award. The 2027 edition, marking the prize's 70th anniversary, has not yet been announced.