MIMA welcomes Turner Prize 2026 shortlisted artists to Teesside University

Teesside University’s Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA) is proud to welcome the four artists shortlisted for the Turner Prize 2026, ahead of a major exhibition that will place Middlesbrough at the centre of contemporary British art.

Tate Britain has announced Simeon Barclay, Kira Freije, Marguerite Humeau and Tanoa Sasraku as the shortlisted artists for one of the world’s most prestigious visual arts awards.

An exhibition of their work will be shown at MIMA from 26 September 2026 to 29 March 2027, marking the first time the Turner Prize exhibition has been held in a university setting.

The Turner Prize winner will be announced at a special awards ceremony at MIMA on 10 December 2026.

As the cultural heart of Teesside University, MIMA will work closely with the artists over the coming months to realise a landmark exhibition that brings leading contemporary practice into direct conversation with communities and partners across the Tees Valley.

Dr Laura Sillars, Director of MIMA and Dean of Culture and Creativity at Teesside University, said: 'This shortlist promises an extraordinary 'Turner Prize exhibition at Teesside University's cultural heart, MIMA.

'We all look forward to working with the artists over the coming months in Middlesbrough, a place with a strong and growing cultural confidence.

'As the first Turner Prize within a university setting, this moment creates a special context, where contemporary art can inspire discussion, dialogue and new ways of thinking.'

Alex Farquharson, Director of Tate Britain and Chair of the Turner Prize Jury, said: 'The Turner Prize continues to offer the public a compelling reflection of the breadth and vitality of contemporary British art.

'This year’s selection presents a rich and diverse range of work, spanning installation and performance, and with a strong emphasis on sculptural practice.

'Each artist invites us into carefully constructed scenarios, both real and imagined, that offer distinct perspectives through which to explore the world around us, and to reflect on our place within it.'

Simeon Barclay is nominated for The Ruin, a powerful spoken word performance drawing on his upbringing in Huddersfield and the industrial landscapes of northern England. Through language and sound, his work explores Britishness, class, race and masculine identity.

Kira Freije is shortlisted for Unspeak the Chorus, her first major solo exhibition at The Hepworth Wakefield. Using metal, fabric and found materials, Freije creates sculptural tableaux that explore universal human emotions through expressive, life size figures.

Marguerite Humeau is nominated for Torches, shown at ARKEN Museum of Contemporary Art in Copenhagen and Helsinki Art Museum. Her immersive installations combine sculpture, sound and light to explore ancient histories, speculative futures and humanity’s relationship with the natural world.

Tanoa Sasraku is shortlisted for Morale Patch, presented at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London. Her work examines geopolitical and military histories of oil through precisely constructed sculptural installations, film and works on paper.

Established in 1984, the Turner Prize celebrates outstanding developments in contemporary British art and aims to spark public debate and conversation. Tate frequently partners with venues across the UK to bring the prize to new audiences, and MIMA’s role continues this national tradition while offering a distinctive university-led context.

Admission to the exhibition will be free, ensuring that local communities and visitors from across the country can engage with the shortlisted artists’ work.

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