Craft in Britain stands at a defining moment: it is ambitious, diverse and in urgent need of sustained recognition. The new House & Garden Craft Prize celebrates the most exciting and inspiring artists working in the UK today.
To us, contemporary craft is a serious artistic discipline – one operating within the same critical and commercial framework as fine art. This prize honours work conceived with permanence and cultural consequence in mind; these will be pieces destined for galleries, significant private collections and museum contexts.
A landmark moment for contemporary craft in the UK
With Sotheby’s and the Crafts Council as Strategic Partners, the 2026 House & Garden Craft Prize arrives at a pivotal moment for the country’s creative industries.
Across the UK, artists and makers are redefining traditional disciplines through research, sustainable processes and cross-disciplinary exchange. From rural workshops to urban studios, contemporary British craft is characterised by experimentation and increasingly sophisticated engagement with community and culture.
‘We have decided to launch the Craft Prize this year because, now more than ever, supporting and celebrating the work of artisans is vital,’ says Talib Choudhry, editor of House & Garden. ‘Across our platforms, we have championed craft in all its guises. Now we are seeking to highlight those who are taking time-honoured skills and giving them contemporary relevance.’
Open to established and emerging practitioners living and working in the UK, the prize welcomes submissions across scale and media – from unexpected explorations of clay and textile, to ambitious creations in wood and fine metalwork.
Update: The 2026 House & Garden Craft Prize is no longer receiving submissions. The Shortlist will be contacted by April 8th.
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Reframing artistic merit and cultural relevance
The House & Garden Craft Prize asserts unequivocally that contemporary craft – when driven by discipline and imagination – belongs in the same cultural, intellectual and commercial arenas as painting, sculpture or couture.
Chaired by Talib Choudhry, editor of House & Garden, the 2026 judging panel includes TF Chan, fair director of Collect, Julia Fischel, director at Sotheby’s London, and Keith Brymer Jones, master potter and judge on The Great Pottery Throw Down.
Submissions will be assessed for:
- Technical mastery
- Originality
- The capacity to advance a discipline
Guided by a Steering Committee comprising Pratyush Sarup, director of content strategy at House & Garden, Natalie Melton, executive director of the Crafts Council, and Magnus von Wistinghausen, executive director of World Monuments Fund Britain, there will be 10 works shortlisted, with each receiving dedicated editorial exposure.
The shortlisted works will be exhibited from May 11-17 at Sotheby’s New Bond Street, W1, during London Craft Week 2026. The winner announcement will take place at a VIP reception on May 11.
Building infrastructure for British Craft
The winner will receive support designed to accelerate long-term artistic development:
- A cash bursary
- Sustained editorial exposure
- Mentorship through House & Garden
By connecting UK-based makers with collectors, curators and design leaders, House & Garden Craft Prize will reposition the cultural and institutional value of contemporary craft
‘As the director of Collect art fair, I’ve experienced first-hand how contemporary craft – with its combination of creativity and confidence of the hand – can create artworks and objects that enrich our lives, encourage cultural dialogue and stand the test of time,’ says TF Chan. ‘By offering a prestigious platform and reaching audiences beyond specialist circles, the House & Garden Craft Prize can play a meaningful role in supporting craft in our country.’
‘The House & Garden Craft Prize is incredibly significant as it gives exposure to the value of making something by hand,’ adds Keith Brymer Jones. ‘As humans, we have a uniquely individual capacity for creativity and adaptability. This prize celebrates that.’
For Julia Fischel, director at Sotheby’s London, the House & Garden Craft Prize is an opportunity to discover material applications, skills and stories we might not have encountered before. ‘I’m looking for those pushing the boundaries of craft with creativity and ambition, whilst building on the shoulders of generations of crafts people who have worked before them,’ she says. ‘I'm looking forward to being surprised and delighted!’
How to apply for the 2026 House & Garden Craft Prize
Artists and makers can apply by completing the official application form. Please read the information below before submitting your work. Incomplete submissions will be disqualified.
Eligibility criteria for the 2026 House & Garden Craft Prize
- The entry must be submitted through this official form (Note: Submission deadline has passed, the form is now closed)
- The artist (aged over 18) must be living and working in the UK
- The work must have been made in the UK, no earlier than January 1, 2024
- The artist must have participated in a gallery showcase or art fair (solo or group) within the past two years
- The work must be hand made and not have won any award previously
- The work must be wholly owned by the artist, from creation until the end of the 2026 House & Garden Craft Prize promotion cycle (July 2026)
- The artist to be responsible for the work to travel to London for exhibition (dates mentioned above)
- These Specific Terms and the General Terms: General Terms and Conditions – The Condé Nast Publications Ltd) shall govern the competition.
Key dates for the 2026 House & Garden Craft Prize
- March 28, 2026, 10pm GMT – Submission deadline
- April 8, 2026 – Shortlist notified
- May 5-6, 2026 – Delivery of shortlisted work to Sotheby’s London, New Bond Street (*)
- May 7-8, 2026 – Installation
- May 10-11, 2026 – Photography, videography and artist documentation
- May 11, 2026, 10.30am GMT – Exhibition opens for public view at Sotheby’s London
- May 11, 2026, 7pm GMT – VIP Preview and winner announced (**)
- May 17, 2026 – Exhibition closes at 5pm
- May 18, 2026 – De-installation and return of work to artist (*)
(*) Artists to ensure delivery and return of shortlisted artwork
(**) The decision of the panel of judges will be final
Important notice: House & Garden will not accept competition entries that are: (a) automatically generated by computer or created by artificial intelligence (including but not limited to generative AI (“GenAI”) such as chatbots or similar software applications); (b) completed by third parties or in bulk; (c) illegible, have been altered, reconstructed, forged or tampered with; (d) photocopies and not originals; or (e) incomplete.
