England’s budding young artists gathered at eight prestigious cultural venues across the country on 17th and 18th June, as the Art Bytes 2026 programme reached its spectacular conclusion. Among the highlights: Majkl Morava from Lynnfield Primary School in the North East was crowned national primary winner, and Chance Enane from Northampton School for Boys in the East Midlands took the national secondary title.

This year’s events were live streamed, extending the reach of the celebrations to classrooms and families across the country. The reaction to both national winners was captured on video: watch Majkl finding out he has won here, and watch Chance receive the news here.

Independent research by Liverpool Hope University has validated the programme’s ability to nurture talent, raise ambition, and develop confidence and cultural capital among young people. Art Bytes is unique in its democratic approach: while competition winners are selected by a panel of respected arts professionals and a public vote, every participating child’s artwork can be viewed online and in augmented reality, ensuring every student is an exhibited artist.

Lucy Byrne, Managing Director of dot-art and Programme Director of Art Bytes, said: “The standard of work this year has been extraordinary. Seeing young people’s faces as their names are called out, knowing the journey they have been on, is exactly why we do this. Every child who took part this year should be enormously proud. Art Bytes exists to show them that creativity matters and that their ideas have value.”

Majkl’s teacher said: “It was such a special moment watching Majkl receive the news that he had become National winner. The video is something I am sure he will treasure forever… Thank you for making this competition happen and for providing our pupils with the opportunities to feel successful as artists.”

A parent added: “Art Bytes proves that creativity of kids is limitless and their talent should be nourished… it is performing a valuable role in bringing this out and creating avenues not only for it to be realised but also promoted.”

The Celebration Events took place across two days at eight venues:

2026 Celebration Event Venues

North East: Arts Centre Washington

North West: The Harris, Preston

Yorkshire: Leeds Art Gallery

West Midlands: The New Art Gallery Walsall

East Midlands: Usher Gallery, Lincoln

East of England: Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge

South West: The Holburne, Bath

London and South East: The National Gallery and St Martin-in-the-Fields, London

National Winners

Primary National Winner

Majkl Morava, Lynnfield Primary School (North East)

Primary National Runners Up

Rupertas Ambrozaitis, Whybridge Junior School (East)

Joshua Willmot, Wilson Primary School (South East)

Secondary National Winner

Chance Enane, Northampton School for Boys (East Midlands)

Secondary National Runners Up

Bori Szoboszlay, Barrs Hill School (West Midlands)

Lorelai Osborn, The Gryphon School (South West)

Regional Winners

Primary Regional Winners

North West: Venus Wong, The Willows Primary School, Timperley

North East: Majkl Morava, Lynnfield Primary School

Yorkshire: Grant, Crayke Church of England Primary School

West Midlands: Alex, Keresley Grange Primary Academy

East Midlands: Evelyn Smyth, Oakwood Junior School

East of England: Rupertas Ambrozaitis, Whybridge Junior School

Greater London: Cavon Villers-Core, Daubeney Primary School

South West: Nevaan Sathish, Lawn Primary School

South East: Joshua Willmot, Wilson Primary School

Secondary Regional Winners

North West: Leland Monks, Childwall Abbey School (SEN)

North East: Joseph Geraldi, St Aiden’s Catholic Academy

Yorkshire: Ella T, Castleford Academy

West Midlands: Bori Szoboszlay, Barrs Hill School

East Midlands: Chance Enane, Northampton School for Boys

East of England: Eden Miller, Harwich and Dovercourt High School

Greater London: Lucia Tuccio, UCL Academy

South West: Lorelai Osborn, The Gryphon School

South East: Polly Drayton, Beaconsfield High School

Community Engagement Award

Primary: Buttsbury Primary School (South East)

Secondary: Northampton School for Boys (East Midlands)

Art Bytes is a national art and EdTech programme for Year 5 and Year 9 students across all educational settings in England, combining an inter-school art competition judged by professional artists and arts professionals with a bespoke virtual gallery, augmented reality (AR) tools, and in-person Celebration Events at cultural venues in each of England’s nine regions. Managed by Liverpool-based social enterprise dot-art, the programme is working with almost 150 schools this year, with over 550 schools having taken part across the past five years and more almost 10,000 students participating since 2022.