The winners of the prestigious Portrait of Britain award for 2026 have been unveiled, presenting a powerful and diverse snapshot of life across the United Kingdom. The selected images, which will feature in the upcoming Portrait of Britain Vol 8 book from Bluecoat Press, capture moments of resilience, identity, community, and personal transformation from Glasgow to London.
A Tapestry of British Life and Identity
The collection is remarkable for its breadth, documenting stories that might otherwise go unseen. In one frame, Adam Docker captures Liela, a Sudanese-born community organiser in London who endured a difficult journey back to the UK after being caught in Sudan's war in 2023. In another, Tom Barrett presents a heartwarming scene of Adam and his nan, Janet, sharing tea in Norwich, a portrait that evolved from a chance street meeting into a deeper connection.
The project consistently explores themes of belonging. Jaiyana Chelikha's work, Go Back to Where?, features Jounaid on Dartmoor, wearing a traditional Moroccan gandoura against a landscape synonymous with British identity. Similarly, Kirtana Rajeev's portrait of Kate in Brixton delves into the Guyanese-Caribbean experience of navigating a dual heritage while growing up British.
Community, Advocacy, and Personal Journeys
Many winning photographs highlight community action and support networks. Kymara Akinpelumi's image from Manchester shows Mannie, who founded a youth running club after his release from prison, literally lifting up a young runner named Mateo. Yvonne E Maxwell documents the residents and activists of the Lesnes Estate in Thamesmead, London, opposing demolition plans by Peabody Housing Association.
Personal and physical journeys are also central. Margaux Revol's poignant shot, Venus of Pain, portrays Augustine, a young woman in London living with the agony of endometriosis, supported by friends. Katie Burdon's celebratory portrait captures model Emily in London after a haircut, marking a departure from their modelling career and a step towards a truer self.
Celebrating Spaces and Faces
The portraits also serve as a record of cultural spaces and local characters. Jennifer Forward-Hayter photographed drag performer Bimini Bon-Boulash backstage at the LGBTQIA+ Mighty Hoopla festival in Brockwell Park, an event that faced cancellation battles. Jack Lawson immortalises Elvira, the formerly impeccably dressed owner of a now-closed independent shop on Clapham High Street.
From the synchronised swimmers of Almost Synchro in Bristol, using performance to protest water pollution, to Stuart Edwards' portrait of the sharply dressed 78-year-old Henry at Glasgow's Barras Market, the collection is a profound testament to the individuals and communities that shape contemporary Britain. The winning images, all taken in 2025, together form a complex, moving, and celebratory national portrait.
