Nominations are now open for the 2026 VANGUARD Impact Prize, a $50,000 unrestricted award recognising an artist whose practice demonstrates exceptional cultural impact and artistic innovation.
The Prize, now in its second edition, is open to artists working in any medium who are based in or have significant ties to the MENA region, Africa, or South Asia. Nominations may be submitted by curators, gallery directors, museum professionals, critics, and fellow artists.
Last year’s inaugural laureate, Fatima Al-Rashid, used the award to fund a year-long residency and the production of a major new body of work that has since been acquired by three international museums.
“The Impact Prize is not about career stage or market visibility,” explains Managing Director Karim Abdel-Nour. “It is about recognising artists whose work is making a genuine difference — culturally, socially, and aesthetically.”
The nomination period runs from 1 March to 15 April 2026. A shortlist of five artists will be announced in May, with the laureate revealed at a ceremony during the VANGUARD exhibition in June. Full nomination guidelines and forms are available on the Impact Prize page.
