Artists urged to apply for Liverpool Sculpture Prize 2026

Artists are being invited to apply for the Liverpool Sculpture Prize, as it opens for its third year.

The winning artist will see their work displayed in Liverpool for twelve months with a prize fee of £2500. 

Liverpool Sculpture Prize, created and managed by Liverpool Business Improvement District and Liverpool Parish Church, is open to any sculptor working and living in the UK. 

The call for entries opens on Sunday 8 February and is open until 8 April 2026. A judging panel, featuring people from within the arts, business and creative communities, will decide the winning entry, which will be unveiled to the public in June 2026. 

The work will be displayed at Liverpool Parish Church, either on the plinth on Chapel Street, or in the church gardens overlooking Liverpool’s waterfront. The plinth was the site of Brian Burgess’s ‘Christ on a Donkey’ and The Liverpool Plinth from 2018 – 2023. In the gardens at Liverpool Parish Church, various works have also been installed including Ranti Bam as part of Liverpool Biennial. 

The winner of the 2025 Sculpture prize was Wirral artist Ben Stephenson. His cylindrical work, ‘Laminae’, inspired by his travels to South America, used rammed earth evoking mystery and interiority. Monumental yet impermanent, the sculpture speaks to cycles of time, erosion, and regeneration. 

Katie Bentley, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications at Liverpool Business Improvement District, said:

“Ben’s winning work last year is one of my favourite pieces of sculpture and it has given me a lift every time I walk past it. It goes to show the impact public art can have. It animates the public realm but it helps us to connect to our stories and shared past. We are looking for artwork that is thought provoking, animating and that will catch the eye of those who walk past. This is a high profile location with tourists, office workers, residents and visitors on its doorstep and we are excited to see the submissions we will receive”. 

Applications are open now but only until April 8th, so be quick if you fancy getting involved this year!

You can apply for the Liverpool Sculpture Prize here.

Have you entered our competition to win a trip from Liverpool to London? Get more info here.

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