ITALTHAI PORTRAIT PRIZE 2026 – Competition Details

About Italthai Portrait Prize

The Italthai Portrait Prize is Thailand’s first national portrait painting competition, established in 2020. Proudly supported by the Italthai Group in collaboration with River City Bangkok, the prize was founded with a clear vision: to propel Thailand’s art scene forward—nurturing growth, expanding possibilities, and elevating artistic excellence to new heights. Now entering its sixth year, the Italthai Portrait Prize invites artists from across the country to become part of this evolving narrative. Through the eloquence of brushstrokes and the intimacy of portraiture, participants are called to tell stories that transcend the canvas under the theme “The Ordinary Extraordinary”.

The theme “The Ordinary Extraordinary” invites artists to look closer—beyond headlines, beyond accolades, beyond the language of success—and into the quiet poetry of everyday life. Not all heroes stand on stages or leave monuments behind. Some arrive at work before sunrise. Some sit patiently beside hospital beds. Some buy two cups of coffee—one for themselves, and one for a stranger no one else sees. These gestures rarely make history, yet they hold the power to alter a single morning, to soften a difficult day, to restore faith in humanity in ways both tender and profound. In their own quiet way, they are small offerings of peace in a restless world.

This year, we celebrate the ‘unnoticed individual’. Those who do not seek recognition, yet move through the world with small acts of care, resilience, dignity, and quiet generosity. The “extraordinary” in this theme does not demand grandeur. It lives in repetition, in responsibility, in kindness offered without witness. It exists in the mundane moments that, when truly seen, reveal depth, grace, and quiet courage. 

This competition welcomes artists of all genders and generations—Thai nationals and foreign residents living in Thailand alike. Whether you are a seasoned professional, a passionate art enthusiast, or a student taking your first bold steps into the creative world, you are invited to be part of this journey in discovering artists brimming with talent, vision, and dreams. 

The competition is divided into four distinguished awards:

1. Portrait Prize

Awarded 500,000 THB, selected by an esteemed panel of judges representing the business sector, public institutions, and private organizations.

2. Packing Room Prize

Awarded 200,000 THB, selected by the exhibition team of River City Bangkok.

3. People’s Choice Prize

Awarded 100,000 THB, determined by public vote following the conclusion of the exhibition.

4. Youth Prize

Awarded 100,000 THB, presented to an outstanding artist aged 16 years or younger.

Submit your work now via the link : https://bitly.cx/IPP2026Apply

Submission Guidelines for Italthai Portrait Prize 2026

1. Participants are free to employ any materials or mixed media in the creation of their work—such as oil, acrylic, watercolor, canvas, acrylic sheets, and beyond. However, all submitted works must be entirely non-digital. Artworks must not be created using digital devices or software, nor may they involve printed imagery, projector-assisted rendering, mechanical transfer, or any other form of digital or machine-generated production.

2. Each participant may submit only 1 artwork.

3. The dimensions of the submitted artwork must not exceed a combined total of 2.25 meters (width + length + height).
   (For example, a work measuring 1.5 meters x 1.5 meters would exceed the permitted size and therefore be disqualified.)
   

Please note that this limitation applies strictly to the artwork itself. If selected as a finalist, the total height of the artwork including the frame (which must be prepared by the artist) must not exceed 2.5 meters.

4. All portraits must be created from a live sitter. The subject must be physically present during the creation process. As part of the application, participants are required to submit photographic evidence taken during the making of the artwork. This documentation must clearly show: The artist, The sitter(s), The artwork in progress
   
   
5. Submissions must be completed between 20 April – 31 August 2026 (by 23:59 hrs.) via the official Google Form application (link pending). Applicants are required to provide accurate and complete information as requested by the competition.
   
   
6. Eligible participants must either hold Thai nationality or be foreign residents who have lived in Thailand for at least 12 months. Finalists will be required to present official documentation verifying their eligibility.

For Thai Nationals:

Finalists are required to submit a valid copy of an official government-issued identification document, such as a Thai National ID card, passport, house registration document, or driver’s license. 

Please ensure that The document has not expired, any sensitive personal information appearing on the document—such as religion or blood type—is concealed prior to submission and the name on the identification document exactly matches the name used during competition registration.

For Foreign Nationals:

Finalists must provide a copy of their valid passport along with proof of residency in Thailand for 12 months or longer, such as a Work Permit, Non-Immigrant OA Long Stay Visa, or equivalent documentation. All identification documents must clearly correspond to the name used at the time of competition registration.

The competition will be divided into two categories:

1. Participants aged 17 years and above
Eligible for the Portrait Prize, Packing Room Prize, and People’s Choice Prize.
2. Participants aged 16 years and below
Eligible for the Youth Prize and People’s Choice Prize.

Applicants must carefully select the appropriate competition category based on their age at the time of registration. Submissions entered under an incorrect age category may be subject to disqualification.

Award Announcement Details

1. All finalists will also be notified via email from [email protected] by 16 October 2026. Finalists are required to respond within 7 days to confirm their identity. Should a finalist fail to make contact within the specified timeframe, the Company reserves the right to immediately revoke their eligibility for this year’s competition without prior notice.
   
   
2. The Italthai Portrait Prize 2026 Award Ceremony—for the Portrait Prize, Packing Room Prize, and Youth Prize—will take place on 24 November 2026 at River City Bangkok. All finalists are required to attend in person to be eligible for the official announcement of this year’s award recipients.
   
   
3. All shortlisted works will be presented in the exhibition “Italthai Portrait Prize 2026” at River City Bangkok from 25 November 2026 – 14 January 2027.
   
   
4. Each participant is eligible to win only one award per competition year.
   
   
5. The winning artworks of the Portrait Prize, Packing Room Prize, Youth Prize, and People’s Choice Prize will become works under the sole stewardship and care of River City Bangkok.

Other Terms and Conditions

1. Artists who have previously applied for or participated in the Italthai Portrait Prize or the RCB Portrait Prize remain eligible to submit works for this year’s competition and future editions. However, all submitted artworks must be original pieces that have never been entered into any other competition.
   
   
2. In the event that a participant fails to fully comply with the rules, terms, and conditions of the competition, demonstrates dishonest intent, or commits any act of misconduct affecting the integrity of the competition process, the Company reserves the right to immediately revoke their eligibility and/or prize entitlement without prior notice.
   
   
3. Should any act of fraud, misconduct, or violation of the competition rules be discovered—even after the official announcement of the awards—the Company reserves the right to retroactively withdraw and cancel the prize granted to the participant in question.
   
   
4. The Company reserves the right to amend the competition’s rules, conditions, timelines, dates, and/or prizes as deemed appropriate. Any such changes will be communicated to all participants in advance.
   
   
5. All decisions made by the judging panel are final.
   
   
6. By submitting an entry, all participants acknowledge that they have read, understood, and fully accepted all rules and conditions of the competition stated above.