Everyone’s an Art Critic: Introducing the VAO People’s Choice Award

The Visual Art Open 2026 is delighted to announce a brand-new category joining this year’s awards – the People’s Choice Award.

Long recognised for championing a wide and diverse range of artistic practices, the VAO continues to evolve alongside its growing community of artists and audiences. The introduction of the People’s Choice Award brings the total number of award categories to eight and, for the first time, opens the conversation up even further by putting the public directly in the frame.

Selected from the official VAO 2026 Shortlist, the People’s Choice Award invites everyone to have their say. It gives audiences the chance to vote for the artwork that stops them in their tracks, sparks a connection, or simply refuses to be forgotten. This is a celebration of impact, accessibility and the joy of discovering work that resonates beyond the walls of the judging panel.

The new award sits alongside the Visual Art Open’s established categories, which span both medium and professional context:

• Painting

• Mixed Media, Collage & Printmaking

• Drawing & Illustration

• Sculpture

• Photography & Digital Art

• Student Artist

• Art Educator

Together, these categories reflect the richness of contemporary visual practice in the UK and beyond, supporting artists at different stages of their careers while remaining attentive to material, process and pedagogy.

Here's what VAA Director, Laura O'Hare has to say about the new category:

“We’re thrilled to introduce the People’s Choice Award to the Visual Art Open 2026. Art is made to be seen, felt, and shared, and this award gives everyone the chance to have their voice heard. It’s about celebrating connection, creativity, and the joy of discovering work that truly resonates with audiences.”

As ever, the awards are underpinned by a substantial package of prizes designed to offer meaningful, long-term support rather than one-off recognition. The Overall Winner of the Visual Art Open 2026 will receive a £2,000 cash prize, VAA Premium Annual Membership, a place on the VAA Annual Mentorship Programme and the VAA Momentum Programme, alongside a solo exhibition in London, inclusion in the London exhibition of finalists and a Certificate of Achievement.

Category Winners will each receive a £250 cash prize, VAA Premium Annual Membership, access to the VAA Momentum Programme, inclusion in the London exhibition of finalists, additional online promotion and a Certificate of Achievement.

The People’s Choice Award brings a new energy to the Visual Art Open, putting audiences at the heart of the awards and celebrating the joy of collective choice. While expert judging remains central to the Visual Art Open, this new category celebrates the collective voice of art lovers everywhere, recognising that contemporary art thrives when everyone is invited to look closely, respond honestly and take part.

Applications for the Visual Art Open 2026 are currently open. Apply now to one of the best international art awards.