Since 1826, The Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) has been home to art and architecture that reflects the history of two centuries as the world’s transformed through the Industrial Revolution, two world wars, the invention of the telephone, and the birth of the internet. In this bicentenary year, the RSA is inviting artists and architects from across Scotland and beyond to contribute to a landmark showcase of contemporary creative practice. All mediums are welcome.
From Saturday 9 May to Sunday 14 June 2026, the 200th Annual Exhibition will mark a major milestone in Scotland’s cultural life. Applications are now open.
196th Annual Exhibition Opening at the Royal Academy of Scotland. Photo by Julie Howden
What is special about this exhibition?
The bicentenary exhibition promises to be the largest and most ambitious yet, bringing together hundreds of new artworks in the RSA’s iconic galleries, alongside an expanded online exhibition with global reach. Selected works will hang alongside celebrated Academicians such as Joyce W. Cairns PPRSA, whose first memories of the Annual Exhibition date back to 1963 when she first visited the Academy as a schoolgirl. Cairns would first exhibit in the show in 1971, being reviewed in The Scotsman by celebrated art critic Edward Gage.
The exhibition will be seen by thousands of visitors and there are over 25 awards on offer, including three new awards for 2026 totalling more than £15,000: the RSA Jack Vettriano Award, the RSA David McClure Centenary Travel Award and the RSA Changing Ideas Award.
199th Annual RSA exhibition. Photo by Julie Howden
The New Awards
The newly launched RSA Jack Vettriano Award will grant one artist £7,500. Funded by the Estate of the late Jack Vettriano (1951-2025), the award aims to support an artist who has not received formal Art School training and whose talent has so far gone unrecognised. Vettriano himself acknowledged the 162nd RSA Annual Exhibition as his turning point. He submitted two paintings, both were sold on the first day, leading to significant gallery interest which would launch his career.
The RSA David McClure Centenary Travel Award will be granted to an artist working in drawing, painting or printmaking. This £5,000 award is funded by the family of David McClure RSA (1926 – 1998) in celebration of the centenary of his birth. It will fund a period of European travel for an artist, allowing them to research, develop and produce new work.
The RSA Changing Ideas Award, is a £3,000 award recognising an artwork that addresses an important social issue. All eligible works engaging with themes of social justice will be highlighted both in the gallery and in a dedicated online viewing room. The award is funded by Changing Ideas, a charity that supports projects addressing human rights and social injustice, backing causes that make a tangible difference to the lives of the most vulnerable, including support for public interest campaigners, lawyers and journalists.
Feedback from past award winners
Jayne Stokes received the An Talla Solais Award at the 199th RSA Annual Exhibition, which granted her use of a studio at An Talla Solais and support for her expenses. She said:
‘Receiving the An Talla Solais Award was a great honour and so valuable to my progression as an artist. I realise how competitive these prizes are and always feel very fortunate to win an award.’
Jacob Venit received the W. Gordon Smith & Jay Gordonsmith Award at the 199th RSA Annual Exhibition. He said:
‘It was unbelievably exciting just to have my work exhibited on the prestigious walls of the RSA, and to be given an award of this scale on top of that truly blew my mind. I still don’t think I’ve processed it properly. Only a year into my degree at Glasgow School of Art, I hope to use it as a platform for my career, and the prize fund has since helped me through some of my study abroad semester in the US. I’m so grateful to the RSA for recognising me so early in my artistic journey.’
198th Annual Exhibition at The Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture. Photo by Julie Howden
Full list of RSA Annual Exhibition 2026 Awards
W. Gordon Smith & Jay Gordonsmith Award £4,000 for any category
Lyon and Turnbull Award £1,000 for any category
The Highland Society of London Award £500 for the best work by a Highlander in the RSA Annual Exhibition, including Western Isles, Shetland and Orkney
The Scottish Gallery | William Macaulay Award £250 for an outstanding work in any category
Scottish Arts Club Prize Free membership to the SAC for two years and a solo exhibition at their premises
The Scottish Artists’ Benevolent Association (SABA) Award £500 for any category
Roy Wood Prize for Printmaking £300 for printmaking
An Talla Solais Award: use of a studio at An Talla Solais (Ullapool Visual Arts) for up to four weeks
Edinburgh Art Shop Prize £200 materials voucher
Edinburgh Printmakers Residency Award: 30 sessions, a 1-year membership, a printmaking course, accommodation in EP’s artists apartment and £100 materials budget
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
