From 6 February through 7 June, Erarta’s Grand Hall is hosting the exhibition of artworks by the 40 Erarta Prize nominees selected by the museum’s team following an open call for entries. The Erarta Prize is the only art prize awarded through a public vote rather than by a board of experts. The show features paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, photographs, installations, as well as other contemporary art media.
This year sees the fourth edition of the Erarta Prize. Inaugurated in 2023, the project became a mainstay of both the local cultural scene and the Russian contemporary art in general. The enthusiastic feedback received from everyone involved – artists and viewers alike – keeps the Erarta Prize going. The prize amount grew as the project evolved: in 2026, the total prize value for the artists equals 3.5 million rubles. It will be distributed among the 40 nominees following the two rounds of viewers’ vote.
The first voting round is in progress right now and will last through 20 April. It will determine the 10 shortlisted artists whose works will compete in the second round scheduled to run from 21 April through 3 June. Every vote matters – your support can help any artist achieve a higher ranking, win a bigger prize, and ultimately claim the Grand Prix of 500,000 rubles.
For the 2026 edition of the Prize, all nominated artists enjoy the opportunity to sell their works featured in the exhibition through the agency of the museum. Now the viewers not only have their say in the prize money distribution, but can also purchase their favourite artwork, lending additional support to its creator. All nominated exhibits that are sold prior to the awarding of the Prize will remain on display for the duration of the show and will be transferred to their new owners only after the project’s results are announced. Please inquire with the Erarta Prize Curatorial Team for more information.
The winners of the 2026 Erarta Prize will be announced at the closing awards ceremony on 4 June. Stay tuned for more important news!
To learn more about the voting and prize awarding procedure, visit the guidelines for the judging viewers and voting procedure pages. To vote for the artwork of your choice, log in to my Erarta account.
