Applications now open for AIB Portrait Prize and Young Portrait Prize 2025 at National Gallery of Ireland

The National Gallery of Ireland is delighted to announce that the AIB Portrait Prize and Young Portrait Prize 2025 competitions are now open for entries from people of all ages. The AIB Portrait Prize highlights contemporary portraiture, welcoming entries from artists working in all media, both in Ireland and from Irish artists living abroad. The AIB Young Portrait Prize invites submissions from young artists aged 18 and under. The closing date for receipt of entries for both competitions is 10pm on Friday, 04 July 2025.

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The AIB Portrait Prize aims to spark interest in contemporary portraiture and to highlight the nation’s portrait collection at the National Gallery of Ireland. It plays a vital role in celebrating a wide range of artistic practices and interpretations of portraiture. Hundreds of artworks by artists working across all disciplines are considered by an expert judging panel, to be announced in the coming months.

The winning artist will be awarded a prize of €15,000 and a commission worth €5,000 to produce a new work for inclusion in the national portrait collection. Two additional prizes of €1,500 are awarded to highly commended works. 

The AIB Young Portrait Prize aims to foster and support creativity, originality, and self-expression in children and young people. There are four age categories: aged 6 and under, 7–11, 12–15, and 16–18. Winners in each category, as well as an overall winner, are selected from a shortlist of works. Prizes include a beautiful bespoke art box and a cash prize for the winner.

Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, said, "The AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize provide a platform to spotlight the exceptional talent of Irish portrait artists while encouraging the public to engage with modern Irish portraiture. Each year, the works selected showcase an impressive diversity of artistic voices. We are proud to continue our partnership with AIB and look forward to seeing the inspirations and subjects that have sparked creativity among artists of all generations."

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Colin Hunt, CEO of AIB, said “As a long-term supporter of the arts in Ireland, AIB is delighted to continue our sponsorship of the AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize. This partnership not only champions the exceptional talent of Irish portrait artists, but also fosters a national conversation around creativity and artistic expression. We look forward to seeing this year’s portraits and the unique perspectives they bring to life, and we are excited that the public will have the opportunity to enjoy them.”

The exhibitions will run in the National Gallery of Ireland’s Portrait Gallery from 8 November 2025 to 15 March 2026.

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The highly commended artists, category winners, and overall winners of the AIB Portrait Prize and Young Portrait Prize will be announced at a prize-giving ceremony in November 2025, after the exhibitions have opened to the public at the Gallery.

Applications are now open and available online via the National Gallery of Ireland website. Find out more at www.nationalgallery.ie.