£6,000 prize fund announced as international art competition returns to Milford Haven
THE WALES CONTEMPORARY ART COMPETITION is set to return this summer – and for the first time in its history, film and animation will be included alongside traditional and contemporary visual art forms.
Now in its sixth year, Wales Contemporary will open its 2026 exhibition on August 29 with an awards ceremony at Sybil House, a flagship building of the Port of Milford Haven.
Exhibition works will be displayed next door at The Waterfront Gallery – home of Wales Contemporary – as well as at additional nearby venues.
Organisers say the continued support of the Port of Milford Haven has ensured the competition’s growth, with this year’s event promising to be “bigger, better and more inclusive” than ever.
Open to artists of all ages
The competition is open to artists and makers of all ages, working in any medium, based in the UK or internationally, provided they have a strong connection to Wales.
Awards will recognise excellence across all disciplines, with a total prize fund of £6,000, alongside opportunities for solo exhibitions. The deadline for online submissions is June 29, 2026.
Artists eligible to enter must either have been born in Wales, live or work in Wales, produce work responding to the landscape, heritage or culture of Wales, or contribute to the arts in Wales through exhibitions, gallery representation, community projects or charitable support. Under-18s may enter with written parental permission via The Waterfront Gallery website.
Distinguished judging panel
This year’s competition will be judged by three prominent figures from the Welsh and international art world.
Tim Davies, originally from Pembrokeshire, studied in London, Norwich and Canterbury and later led the fine art course at Swansea College of Art, receiving a personal professorship in 2012. He has exhibited extensively in Wales, across the UK and internationally.
His accolades include the Mostyn Open Prize and a Gold Medal at the National Eisteddfod of Wales. He was the only European artist selected for the inaugural Artes Mundi Visual Arts Prize exhibition in 2004 and represented Wales in a solo show at the Venice Biennale in 2011. His multi-media work is held in major public collections including the British Council and Amgueddfa Cymru.
Joining him is Laura Tho mas, an award-winning textile artist and designer known for producing innovative textiles for contemporary spaces. A graduate of Birmingham University and the Royal College of Art, she has worked across public art, commercial design and curation.
Her work features in prominent collections including the V&A, The Powerhouse Museum in Australia and the National Wool Museum. Alongside her creative practice, she has lectured widely and has been a part-time lecturer at Carmarthen School of Art since 2004.
The third judge, Sarah Williams, graduated from Aberystwyth University with a degree in fine art and has exhibited throughout Wales. Her work, rooted in Welsh myth, culture and environment, explores storytelling and place through painting and intricate hand-painted cut-outs.
A Welsh speaker, she is known for engaging with communities to amplify local voices and has illustrated the work of numerous Welsh poets. She is also one of ten artists featured in ‘Hon: Female Artists in Wales’, a publication celebrating women in the Welsh visual arts community.
Expanding creative horizons
By welcoming film and animation for the first time, organisers say Wales Contemporary 2026 reflects the evolving nature of artistic practice while maintaining its core mission of celebrating creativity with a strong connection to Wales.
Further announcements will follow in the lead-up to the August exhibition.
