2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the AWARE Prizes and the opening of a new chapter in their history, with the event inscribed in the institutional calendar of the Centre Pompidou – Musée national d’art moderne, which AWARE joined in January. Since their creation in 2016, the AWARE Prizes — the Nouveau Regard Prize and the Outstanding Merit Prize — have played an essential role in promoting and recognizing women, trans and non-binary artists on the French art scene. This initiative has proved itself to be a powerful driver of visibility for artists, both in France and internationally, as evidenced by current exhibitions and the awarding of major contemporary art prizes. This year, four professionals from the cultural sector will once again preselect a pair of artists each for the Nouveau Regard and Outstanding Merit Prizes. They will present and defend their nominees before a jury of seven prominent cultural figures.