BPOTY Auction FAQs
Once the BPOTY winners have been selected and announced, this extraordinary collection of images embarks on an international exhibition tour lasting approximately one year.
But what happens when the exhibition comes to a close?
Firstly, the original entrants are offered the opportunity to purchase their framed prints and accompanying exhibition materials at wholesale cost. Should they decide not to, these award-winning images are then made available to the public through an online auction.
Find everything you need to know about the BPOTY Exhibition Auctions below!
(Listings live from 21st June 2026)
'Winter Pink' by Alan Murphy - Best Portrait Gold Award 2024
Auction FAQs
What is the BPOTY Auction?
The BPOTY Auction is a one-off sale of framed prints that were awarded and exhibited in the BPOTY touring exhibitions.
Each image included in the auction will have an individual listing on eBay, which can be found on our profile when they go live.
Not all prints from the exhibitions will be included, as some will have already been purchased by the image creator.
When are the BPOTY 2024 and BPOTY 2025 auctions and when will I receive my prints if I win?
Sunday 21st June 2026 -- Auctions opens on eBay for 1 week only
Sunday 28th June 2026 -- Auctions close
Friday 10th July 2026 -- Prints will be shipped
Why is BPOTY auctioning these prints?
After the exhibitions come to a close, the prints and materials go into storage. As well as taking up much-needed space, the main reason for holding an auction is that it would be a huge shame for these stunning prints to be left to gather dust in storage or be unnecessarily disposed of.
Because of this, we hold an auction each year with the aim of:
Reducing unnecessary waste
Preventing these stunning images and exhibition materials from going to landfill
Donating profits from the auction to charity
Which charity will you be donating profits from the auction to?
We will be donating all auction profits to our charity partner, Birds on the Brink.
You can find out more about their amazing work on their website.
Do you have permission to auction these images?
Yes - In May 2026, we contacted all the BPOTY 2024 winners seeking their permission, and only images where we have obtained this permission will be included in the auction.
As per the updated competition rules, when you enter images into BPOTY, you are granting us permission to auction your image at the end of the touring exhibition. This was implemented for BPOTY 2025 and applies to all future competition cycles. We will always offer the original entrant the opportunity to purchase their image before including it in the auction. To see the full terms and conditions relating to the auction of BPOTY prints, please see Section 8 of the competition rules.
Where is the auction being held and how do I bid on a print?
The auction of the BPOTY 2024 and 2025 exhibitions will take place online through eBay. Each print will be individually listed, and these listings will show on our profile when they are live from 21st - 28th June 2026.
We will then ship all prints by 10th July 2026.
To place a bid, you will need to sign up for an account, which you can do through the eBay website - www.ebay.co.uk.
You can find out more about how eBay works and how to bid here.
What am I bidding on?
Each print is the original that was displayed in the touring exhibition, which has now come to a close. This is limited to one print of each included image, and no further images will be produced.
Every image is printed on high-quality paper and framed (without glass) in a simple black frame. Where possible, we will also include the mounted caption that accompanied the print in the exhibition.
Most prints are 600mm on the longest side, but there are a few with different dimensions - please check the auction listing descriptions on eBay from 21st June 2026 for more information.
How much will the prints cost?
The cost of each print depends on how many bids are individually received during the auction.
The price will include the framed print and, where possible, the mounted caption. Shipping costs will be automatically generated by eBay based on your location.
Will you be holding another auction?
There will only be one auction of prints from each touring exhibition, and items are extremely limited, with only one print available of each image - so don't miss the chance to get your favourites!
We look forward to seeing these prints find new homes! If you have any further questions, please contact us.