FOURTH PLINTH SCHOOLS AWARDS RETURN — LONDON’S YOUNG ARTISTS TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT CITY HALL
The winners of the Fourth Plinth Schools Awards 2026 have been announced, with this year’s selected works now on display at London’s City Hall until mid-June.
The annual competition, linked to Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, invites schoolchildren across London to respond to one of the capital’s most visible public art platforms. It runs alongside the rotating contemporary commissions that have made the plinth a focal point for public debate and visibility in art.
This year’s winning entries span ages 5 to 15, with three standout works chosen from more than 1,800 student submissions. The winners are: Balloon Face by Edith (Godwin Junior School, Newham), Everything by Anh and Gabriel (Pickhurst Academy, Bromley), and Sabertooth Tiger by Hector (Sutton Grammar School).
The works are being shown as part of a wider exhibition marking ten years of Cass Art’s sponsorship of the awards, which has supported young artists through art materials and recognition since its involvement began.
Judging this year was led by illustrator Marion Deuchars, known for her children’s art books and education-focused practice. She described the entries as varied in tone and confidence, ranging from playful ideas to more reflective responses to public space and imagery.
The awards are designed to connect classroom creativity with London’s public art programme, using the Fourth Plinth as a prompt rather than a fixed subject. Schools across the capital are invited to respond using any medium, from drawing and painting to sculpture and digital work.
Over the years, the programme has generated more than 40,000 entries and has been judged by a rotating panel of artists and cultural figures. Previous judges include names from across contemporary British art practice.
The Fourth Plinth itself continues to rotate major commissions in Trafalgar Square, with works such as Mil Veces un Instante by Teresa Margolles currently in place, followed by upcoming installations including Lady in Blue by Tschabalala Self.
Feature photo:
Age group 5-7: Balloon Face by Edith from Godwin Junior School, Newham;
Age Group 8-11: Everything by Anh and Gabriel from Pickhurst Academy, Bromley;
Age Group 12-15: Sabertooth Tiger by Hector from Sutton Grammar School
Elena Leo is the Culture & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.