Portrait Artist of the Year returns to Sky Arts and NOW on Wednesday 7 October 2026, with a new judging panel and a line-up of high-profile celebrity portrait sitters including Vanessa Williams, Sheridan Smith, Rylan Clark, Louis Theroux and Deborah Meaden.
The 13th series will see artists from across the UK compete for the 2026 Portrait Artist of the Year title, with the winner securing the opportunity to paint actor and musician Damian Lewis for the National Portrait Gallery.
The new series also marks a major change behind the judging desk, with portrait artist Jonathan Yeo, Frieze Director of EMEA Eva Langret and art historian Katy Hessel joining returning host Stephen Mangan.
When is Portrait Artist of the Year 2026 on?
Portrait Artist of the Year starts on Sky Arts and NOW on 7 October 2026.
The new series will air weekly, with 12 episodes running for 60 minutes each.
The series is produced by Storyvault Films, with Danielle Graham and Samantha Richards serving as executive producers.
Who are the new Portrait Artist of the Year judges?
The 13th series introduces an entirely new judging panel.
Jonathan Yeo
Jonathan Yeo is one of the best-known portrait painters of his generation and is recognised for portraits of prominent figures including King Charles III and David Attenborough.
His work is known for exploring the psychology and character of his subjects.
Eva Langret
Eva Langret, Director of EMEA at Frieze, joins the panel following her involvement with Landscape Artist of the Year last year.
She is a prominent figure in the contemporary art world and brings her experience as an art-world director and curator to the competition.
Katy Hessel
Art historian, curator and broadcaster Katy Hessel also joins the judging panel.
Hessel founded The Great Women Artists and has become known for highlighting overlooked and underrepresented artists and challenging traditional approaches to the art canon.
Who are the celebrity sitters on Portrait Artist of the Year?
The new series features a wide-ranging selection of celebrity portrait sitters from entertainment, broadcasting, music, sport and the arts.
The line-up includes:
- Jamie Lloyd – theatre director
- Alison Balsom – musician
- Danielle de Niese – opera singer
- Vanessa Williams – actor
- Joanna Scanlan – actor
- Dexter Fletcher – actor
- Sheridan Smith – actor
- Arti Shah – actor
- Lennie James – actor
- Rylan Clark – television presenter
- Louis Theroux – broadcaster
- Yalda Hakim – broadcaster
- Grace Dent – broadcaster and writer
- Grace Campbell – comedian
- Munya Chawawa – comedian
- Michelle de Swarte – comedian
- Deborah Meaden – Dragons’ Den star
- Jeremy King – restaurateur
- Anthony Scaramucci – financier and broadcaster
- Nikita Gill – poet and playwright
- Jung Chang – author
- Kojey Radical – artist and musician
- Danny Beard – drag performer
- Matt Weston – athlete
The series will also feature Bridgerton stars Daniel Francis and Ruth Gemmell, who will sit for artists during the semi-final.
The final will feature culinary pioneer Heston Blumenthal as the portrait sitter.
Who will the winner of Portrait Artist of the Year paint?
The winner of the 2026 series will have the opportunity to paint Damian Lewis for the National Portrait Gallery.
The prestigious commission will provide the eventual winner with the chance to create a portrait of the British actor and musician for one of the country’s most important collections of portraiture.
Phil Edgar-Jones OBE, Executive Director, Unscripted at Sky UK said: “Portrait Artist of the Year continues to surprise and inspire us with the extraordinary range of talent on show, and we’re delighted to introduce our new panel of expert judges to put the artists through their paces. With another brilliant mix of sitters on the way, we can’t wait to put artists and their creativity centre stage as we celebrate the very best of the UK’s vibrant arts community.”
Where can you watch Portrait Artist of the Year?
Portrait Artist of the Year will be available to watch on Sky Arts and NOW from 7 October 2026.
The series will air weekly, giving viewers another chance to see artists compete to create portraits of well-known figures while working against the pressures of the competition.
With a new judging panel, a large celebrity sitter line-up and a National Portrait Gallery commission at stake, the 13th series marks a new chapter for the long-running Sky Arts competition.
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