The Turner Prize has unveiled its 2026 shortlist, bringing together four artists whose practices span performance, installation and sculpture: Simeon Barclay, Kira Freije, Marguerite Humeau and Tanoa Sasraku.
Alex Farquharson, Director of Tate Britain and Chair of the 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, and 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.”
An exhibition of the shortlisted artists will open at Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA), part of Teesside University, from 26th September 2026 to 29th March 2027, with the winner announced on 10th December 2026. It marks the first time the Turner Prize exhibition will be staged within a university setting.
This year’s shortlist reflects a notable emphasis on sculptural language and immersive environments, with each artist constructing distinct scenarios that move between the real and the imagined.
Simeon Barclay is nominated for The Ruin, an hour-long spoken word performance combining live percussion and horn, first commissioned by the Roberts Institute of Art and presented at venues including the Institute of Contemporary Arts. Drawing on his upbringing in Huddersfield, the work explores Britishness, class and masculinity through a layered, psychologically charged soundscape.
Kira Freije is recognised for Unspeak the Chorus, her first major solo exhibition at The Hepworth Wakefield. Using metal armatures, stonecast faces and found materials, she creates a theatrical installation of life-sized figures that hover between vulnerability and unease. The jury highlighted the emotional depth of the work and its distinctive sculptural language.
Marguerite Humeau’s nomination centres on Torches, presented at ARKEN Museum of Contemporary Art and Helsinki Art Museum. Her practice moves across speculative histories and imagined futures, combining organic and otherworldly forms in environments shaped by light and sound. The work shifts attention away from human-centred narratives, instead proposing an ecological and existential perspective.
Tanoa Sasraku is shortlisted for Morale Patch, shown at the Institute of Contemporary Arts. The installation brings together sculpture, works on paper and film to examine the political and military histories of oil, drawing on corporate aesthetics to frame questions of power, control and global systems.
One of the most visible awards in contemporary art, the Turner Prize continues to function as a barometer of current practice in Britain. Established in 1984 and named after J. M. W. Turner, the prize awards £25,000 to the winner, with £10,000 granted to each shortlisted artist.
Dr Laura Sillars, Director at MIMA and Dean of Culture and Creativity at Teesside University, said:
“This shortlist promises an extraordinary Turner Prize exhibition at Teesside University’s cultural heart, MIMA. We all look forward to working with the artists over the coming months in Middlesbrough, a place with a strong and growing cultural confidence. As the first Turner Prize within a university setting, this moment creates a special context, where contemporary art can inspire discussion, dialogue and new ways of thinking.”
As the prize continues its UK-wide touring model, the 2026 edition reinforces its role not just as an award, but as a platform for engaging new audiences with contemporary art across different regions.
Turner Prize 2026, 26th September 2026 – 29th March 2027, Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art
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