What would $100,000 do for your art career? That is not a hypothetical. This is an actual question that the Future Generation Art Prize is asking right now. And it is open to any artist in the world aged 35 or younger. No restrictions on gender, nationality, race, or artistic medium. Applications opened May 11, 2026. They close June 28, 2026. You have a narrow window. Here is everything you need to know before you apply.
What is the Future Generation Art Prize?
The Future Generation Art Prize is a biannual global contemporary art prize established by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in 2009, created to discover, recognise, and give long-term support to a future generation of artists. Since its founding, the Prize has supported the artistic development and production of new works of over 100 artists in exhibitions at the PinchukArtCentre in Kyiv and as official collateral events at the Venice Biennale in 2011, 2013, 2017, and 2019.
This is now in its 8th edition. This gives this prize a notable track record. It has a global jury and some serious money attached to it. If you are a young artist and you have never heard of this prize, that changes today.
How Much Money Are We Talking About?
The main prize winner receives $100,000 split between a $60,000 cash prize and a $40,000 investment in their artistic practice. On top of that, up to five special prizes are awarded at the discretion of the jury, with a total of $20,000 distributed among special prize winners to support projects that develop their artistic practice.
So, the main winner walks away with $60,000 in cash and $40,000 invested directly into their next body of work. That is not a one-time cheque. That is a career accelerator. And up to five other artists each receive a share of $20,000. That means up to six artists leave this prize with real funding behind them.
If you are a young artist who has been told that prizes like this are only for people who already know the right people, read the next section carefully.
Who Can Apply?
This is where it gets genuinely exciting. All artists up to 35 may apply with their work without any restrictions concerning gender, nationality, race, or artistic medium. The artists apply through an open call via the Internet. It does not matter your medium, country or background. The only condition is age. You must be 35 or younger.
You can also apply multiple times in future editions as long as you still meet the age requirement. Former prize winners are the only ones excluded from reapplying. This is one of the most genuinely open art prizes in the world. The fact that it accepts applications directly online means a young artist in Nairobi or Kuala Lumpa has exactly the same entry point as one in New York or Berlin.
How Does the Selection Work?
The process runs in two parallel tracks. The first is the open call you are reading about right now. Any eligible artist applies directly through the online portal before June 28, 2026.
Additionally, 300 correspondent art experts from all over the world will nominate a minimum of two and a maximum of five candidates each. These experts are curators, artists, critics, and tutors at art colleges and academies from around the world.
So, you are competing alongside artists who have been nominated by established curators. That might sound intimidating. But here is the reality. Direct applicants make it to the shortlist every edition. The jury looks at the work. Not the pathway that got it in front of them.
A selection committee will review all applications and select up to twenty artists for the exhibition. The selection committee consists of experts on contemporary art, with members put forward by the jury.
The Timeline
Here is what the calendar looks like from now until the award ceremony. Applications are open right now and run until June 28, 2026. The shortlist of up to twenty artists will be announced on September 14, 2026. The exhibition of shortlisted artists takes place at PinchukArtCentre in Spring 2027. The award ceremony and prize announcement follow in Spring 2027.
That gives you a clear picture of the journey. You apply now and if you are shortlisted, your work goes on exhibition in Kyiv. And then one of you wins $100,000.
Why This Prize Matters Beyond the Money
The cash is significant. But, the visibility is arguably more valuable. Being shortlisted for the Future Generation Art Prize means your work is exhibited at the PinchukArtCentre – one of the most respected contemporary art institutions in Eastern Europe. It means your name appears on a list that curators, collectors, and gallery directors around the world pay attention to.
Previous editions have had collateral events at the Venice Biennale, the most prestigious art exhibition in the world. That kind of platform does not appear on a CV and then disappear. It compounds.
If prizes and competitions are part of how you are building your creative career, it is also worth looking at architecture and design competitions where students and young creatives can win up to €100,000. Different discipline, same principle – international exposure and real funding for young talent.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted online through the official portal. There is no entry fee. You apply directly at the Future Generation Art Prize website before June 28, 2026.
You will need to prepare documentation of your work. Think carefully about how you present your practice. The jury looks at hundreds of applications. Your submission needs to show not just what you have made but who you are as an artist and where your work is heading.
Do not apply with your oldest work. Apply with the work that most honestly represents where you are right now and where you want to go.
Apply here: futuregenerationartprize.org
Final Thoughts
If you are a young creative professional – whether you make art, architecture, music, film, or design – prizes and awards are one of the most underused tools for building a career. Most people assume they will not win and therefore never apply. That reasoning is self-defeating.
The people who win these prizes are not always the most famous or the most connected. They are often simply the people who took the application seriously and submitted. For more opportunities that reward young talent across different fields, browse our Young Innovators Award currently open for 2026 and our roundup of 7 fully funded fellowships open right now – some of which are open to artists and creative professionals.
Looking for more prizes, competitions, and opportunities for young people? Browse our full Events section for regular updates.
