Four artists have been shortlisted for the prestigious Turner Prize, including a spoken word performer whose work explores Britishness, class, race, and masculine identity.
Shortlisted Artists and Their Works
Simeon Barclay is nominated for his hour-long performance The Ruin, which draws on his upbringing in Huddersfield and his lived experience of the industrial landscape of northern England. Featuring live percussion by James Larter and horn by Isaac Shieh, the jury praised his work for its evocative, experimental use of language and a psychologically immersive soundscape.
Kira Freije is nominated for her first major solo exhibition, Unspeak The Chorus, at The Hepworth Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The artist uses metal, fabric, and found materials to create sculptures that explore universal human emotions, featuring life-sized figures constructed from bare metal framework with expressive, stonecast faces. The jury highlighted the emotional depth of Freije's work and its unique sculptural vocabulary.
Marguerite Humeau is nominated for her solo exhibition Torches, which examines the formation of life, ancient human history, and imagined future worlds. The jury was impressed by her cinematic exhibition-making and her engagement with ecological and existential themes through inventive forms and speculative scenarios.
Tanoa Sasraku is nominated for her solo exhibition Morale Patch at The Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, which focuses on recent political and military histories of oil. Using object-like sculptures, works on paper, and film, the jury praised the precision and sophistication of the installation, noting how it addresses complex historical issues with strong contemporary resonances.
Exhibition and Award Ceremony
An exhibition of the shortlisted artists' work will be held at Teesside University's MIMA (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art) from September 26, 2026, to March 29, 2027. The winner will be announced on December 10, 2026, at an award ceremony at MIMA.
Alex Farquharson, director of Tate Britain and chairman of the Turner Prize jury, said: 'It is a privilege to announce this outstanding shortlist – congratulations to all four nominated artists. The Turner Prize continues to offer the public a compelling reflection of the breadth and vitality of contemporary British art. This year's selection presents a rich and diverse range of work, spanning installation and performance, with a strong emphasis on sculptural practice. Each artist invites us into carefully constructed scenarios, both real and imagined, that offer distinct perspectives through which to explore the world around us and to reflect on our place within it.'
About the Turner Prize
Established in 1984 and named after JMW Turner, the Turner Prize is one of the most prestigious awards for the visual arts, aiming to promote public debate around new developments in contemporary British art. It is awarded each year to a British artist for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation of their work. The winner receives £25,000, with £10,000 awarded to each of the other shortlisted artists.
