The Turner Prize Heads North to Middlesbrough in 2026

Britain’s most prestigious contemporary art award will be hosted by the North Yorkshire town Middlesbrough next year, building on its commitment to sparking public debate about art across the U.K.

Tate announced on Monday the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA), recently hailed as a ‘beacon and catalyst for other developments’ by Arts Council England chair Nicholas Serota in an interview with The Guardian, will be the venue for its next flagship prize.

The selection came to the delight of Mayor Chris Cooke, who said Middlesbrough has been hard at work on a mission to become the ‘Most Creative Town’.

That mission is evidenced by an ambitious Towards 2030 strategy which has seen £80 million for investment in creative infrastructure like establishing galleries, artist studios, and restoring buildings for cultural production.

Tate’s choice to bring the Turner Prize, known for catapulting artists like Steve McQueen and Lubaina Himid to prominence, to MIMA builds on the London institution’s commitment to showcase contemporary art beyond the capital. 

Since 2017, the award’s venue has alternated between Tate Britain and post-industrial cities like Coventry and Liverpool or seaside towns like Hull, Margate, and Eastbourne.

This year’s exhibition—featuring nominees Nnena Kalu, Rene Matić, Mohammed Sami, and Zadie Xa—will be held at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Bradford from 27 September, with the winner announced on 9 December. 

Alex Farquharson, Tate Britain director and jury chair, said the Turner Prize exists to spark public conversation around contemporary art. ‘Its enduring popularity is due to the way it spotlights the rich cultural offerings of our towns and cities’.

Meanwhile, MIMA director Laura Sillars said ‘bringing the Turner Prize to Middlesbrough will connect artistic communities, bringing a global focus to our thriving arts scene’. —[O]

Main image: Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art. Courtesy MIMA. Photo: Rachel Deakin.