Portrait Artist of the Year is back for its thirteenth series
This forthcoming offering sees, for the first time in the programme’s history, an entirely new judging line-up.
Host Stephen Mangan returns, joined by three new judges from across the contemporary art world: portrait painter Jonathan Yeo, Frieze London director Eva Langret, and art historian and broadcaster Katy Hessel. Together, they’ll be tasked with finding and crowning Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2026.
Since launching in 2013, the series has become one of Sky Arts’ signature shows, combining competition with a close look at the creative process. Over the years, its celebrity sitters have included Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Tom Jones, Jodie Comer, Brian Cox, Michaela Coel and Benjamin Zephaniah, among many others. Sitters for the new series will be announced soon.
Filming for the upcoming run will take place this spring at Battersea Arts Centre, with transmission later in the year.
The new judges
Jonathan Yeo
One of Britain’s best-known portrait painters, Yeo is recognised for his psychologically intense portraits of public figures. His recent painting of King Charles III attracted international attention, adding to a career that includes sitters such as Sir David Attenborough. His experience brings a strong technical and observational focus to the judging table.
Eva Langret
Director of Frieze London, Langret is already familiar to Sky Arts viewers through Landscape Artist of the Year, where she quickly established herself as a sharp and thoughtful critic. Her background as a curator gives her a global perspective and a strong interest in emerging talent.
Katy Hessel
An art historian, broadcaster and founder of The Great Women Artists, Hessel is known for championing overlooked artists and rethinking traditional art history narratives. On the show, she brings historical context alongside a clear engagement with contemporary practice.
A changing of the guard
Executive producer Danielle Graham thanked long-standing judges Kate Bryan, Kathleen Soriano and Tai Shan Schierenberg, who have been part of the programme for over a decade, crediting them with helping to broaden the audience for portraiture and supporting hundreds of artists.
She added that the new judges each bring a distinct viewpoint, marking a fresh chapter for the series.
Portrait Artist of the Year is produced by Storyvault Films and will air on Sky Arts later this year.
Meanwhile, Landscape Artist of the Year continues weekly on Wednesdays on Sky Arts and streaming service NOW.