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THE BERGER PRIZE

The Leading Book Prize for Art History 

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The winner of the 2025 Berger Prize has now been announced.
Submissions for the 2026 prize are now open.

ABOUT THE
BERGER PRIZE

The Berger Prize is the leading book prize for art history. The annual prize of £5,000, with five shortlisted winners of £500, celebrates brilliant writing and scholarship about the arts and architecture of the United Kingdom. Awarded since 2002, the prize is offered by The Walpole Society through the generosity and inspiration of the Berger Collection Educational Trust.

HOW TO ENTER

Nominations for the 2026 prize open on the 1st January.  To enter the prize, please follow the steps outlined below:

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  1. Titles may be nominated for the prize by their author(s), publisher or any associated organisation.

  2. Nominations should be sent to admin@walpolesociety.org.uk with the subject heading '2026 Berger Prize Nomination', to arrive by midnight on 27 March 2026.

  3. In the first instance, nominations must include a single pdf containing: (i) an abstract of the book; (ii) the contents page; (iii) any relevant press release and author information; (iv) contact details for the publisher's press office.

  4. At the nomination stage, publishers also undertake to supply judges with a complete pdf or hard copy of their nominated book, if so requested.

  5. Publishers of long-listed titles undertake to provide a hard copy of their book to each of the six judges and to the Berger Collection Educational Trust (8 copies in total) on request.

ELIGIBILITY

A book is eligible where it meets these criteria:

  1. It is on the subject of British art history, conceived broadly to include fine arts, decorative arts, architecture, collecting and patronage, in Britain or by a British artist.

  2. It was published in hard copy by any publisher during the preceding calendar year (1 January to 31 December).

SELECTION

  1. Eligible books are judged by a panel of six assessors which includes two Trustees of the Walpole Society. Biographies of the jury are published here.

  2. A Long List of approximately 15 titles is established by assessment of all nominated works.

  3. A Short List of 6 works is chosen from the Long List.

  4. An overall winner is chosen from the Short List.

  5. At the Prizegiving, the overall winner receives £5000 and the five other shortlisted books receive £500 each.

GOVERNANCE

For rules and governance of the Berger Prize, see our policy below, and for further information please email admin@walpolesociety.org.uk​

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BERGER PRIZE

POLICY

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