The Sasol New Signatures Visual Arts Competition 2026 has officially opened its call for entries, inviting emerging South African visual artists to submit work for one of the country’s most prestigious and long-running art competitions.

Now in its 64th year, Sasol New Signatures continues to play a defining role in discovering, supporting, and elevating emerging artistic talent across South Africa. The competition provides national exposure, professional recognition, and meaningful career development opportunities for new voices in contemporary visual art.

Key Dates and Competition Overview

Call for Entries: 28 April – 10 June 2026
Artwork Submission (Drop-off): 9 – 10 June 2026
Submission Times: 10h00 – 16h00
Eligibility: South African artists aged 18+ who have not held a professional solo exhibition
Maximum Entries: Two artworks per artist
Accepted Mediums: Painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, photography, video art, installation

Prizes and Recognition

The competition offers significant national recognition and career-defining opportunities for emerging artists:

• Overall Winner: R100 000 cash prize + solo exhibition at Pretoria Art Museum (2027)
• Runner-Up: R25 000 cash prize
• Five Merit Awards: R10 000 each

Approximately 100 finalists will be selected for exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum and featured in the official Sasol New Signatures catalogue.

Who Can Enter?

The competition is open to:

• South African citizens and residents aged 18 years and older
• Artists who have not previously held a solo exhibition
• Artists who may have participated in academic exhibitions linked to formal study programmes

The following are not eligible:

• Artists represented by established commercial galleries or agents
• Full-time visual arts or design lecturers

Artwork Submission Instructions

Artists must deliver entries in person at one of the official regional collection points.

Submission Dates: Tuesday 9 June – Wednesday 10 June 2026
Time: 10h00 – 16h00

Regional Artwork Collection Points (South Africa)

Bloemfontein

Oliewenhuis Art Museum
16 Harry Smith Street, Dan Pienaar
Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa

Cape Town

ArtB Gallery
The Library Centre, Carel van Aswegen Street
Bellville, Cape Town, 7530, South Africa

Durban

KZNSA Gallery
166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood (Berea)
Durban, 4001, South Africa

Johannesburg

Sasol Place
50 Katherine Street, Wierda Valley, Sandton
Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa

Polokwane

Polokwane Art Museum
Schoeman Street, Polokwane Central
Polokwane, 0700, South Africa

Gqeberha

NMU Bird Street Gallery
Bird Street Campus, Bird Street, Central
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape, South Africa

Potchefstroom

North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus)
11 Hoffman Street
Potchefstroom, 2531, South Africa

Pretoria

Pretoria Art Museum
Wessels Street, Arcadia
Pretoria, 0007, South Africa

Finalists Exhibition

The Sasol New Signatures Finalists Exhibition 2026 will be held at the Pretoria Art Museum from 9 September to 8 November 2026, showcasing selected finalists and award-winning works from across South Africa.

Entry Information

Entry forms, technical guidelines, and full competition resources are available via the official Sasol New Signatures website.

Website: https://www.sasolsignatures.co.za