Art prizes worth entering before the year is out
From major acquisitive painting awards to sculpture, drawing, printmaking and emerging artist opportunities, these Australian art prizes are currently open — and some offer life-changing prize money, exhibition opportunities and national exposure.
Your next opportunity could start with one entry.
Art prizes aren't only about winning. Being selected as a finalist can put your work in front of curators, collectors, galleries and audiences who may never have discovered you otherwise.
We've researched current Australian art prizes and checked the information against the organisations actually running them. Below are some of the most interesting opportunities still open for entry.
⚠️ Before entering - Always check the organiser's official conditions of entry before submitting. Eligibility, artwork size, framing, freight, commissions and acquisition conditions can vary considerably between prizes.
Major opportunities coming up
These prizes give you a little more preparation time — and several offer substantial acquisitive awards.
Banksia Art Prize
Location | Brisbane Powerhouse, QLD |
Prize pool | $100,000+ |
Entry fee | $50 |
Closes | September 2026 |
Exhibition dates | 11–29 November 2026 |
Basil Sellers Art Prize 2026
Location | Moruya, NSW |
Prize pool | $55,000+ |
Entry fee | $50 |
Closes | 11 September 2026 |
Frequency | Biennial |
One of Australia's significant regional acquisitive prizes, presented through the Basil Sellers Exhibition Centre.
$50,000 major acquisitive prize.
$5,000 Eurobodalla acquisitive award.
Painting, drawing and unique-state printmaking accepted.
National entry.
25th Dobell Drawing Prize
Location | Sydney, NSW |
Prize pool | $30,000 acquisitive |
Closes | 14 September 2026 |
Frequency | Biennial |
One of Australia's most important prizes dedicated to contemporary drawing, presented by the National Art School with the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation.
Approximately 50 finalists selected.
Winning work enters the National Art School collection.
Supports broad contemporary interpretations of drawing.
Redland Art Awards 2026
Location | Cleveland, QLD |
Prize pool | $30,500+ |
Closes | 21 September 2026 |
Frequency | Biennial |
A nationally recognised contemporary painting competition presented by Redland Art Gallery and Redland City Council.
$20,000 acquisitive first prize.
$6,000 second prize.
$3,000 third prize.
People's Choice and members' awards also offered.
Evelyn Chapman Art Award 2026
Location | Sydney, NSW |
Prize pool | $60,000 scholarship |
Closes | 21 September 2026 |
Frequency | Biennial |
Rather than a conventional exhibition prize, this significant scholarship is designed to further the education and development of a young Australian painter.
For eligible artists aged 18–44.
Focused on painters working in oils or tempera.
Supports up to two years of further art education.
Study can take place in Australia or overseas.
M16 Artspace Drawing Prize 2026
Location | Canberra, ACT |
Prize pool | $15,000+ |
Major Prize | $10,000 |
Closes | 4 October 2026 |
Frequency | Annual |
A national contemporary drawing prize that welcomes both traditional drawing and more experimental interpretations of the medium.
Running as part of M16's exhibition program since 2006.
Up to three entries per artist.
First Nations and eligible concession entrants can enter free.
Kilgour Prize 2027
Location | Newcastle, NSW |
Prize pool | $50,000+ |
Closes | 5 October 2026 |
Frequency | Recurring national prize |
A major Australian prize for figurative and portrait painting, administered by Newcastle Art Gallery.
Returns after a five-year pause.
Established through artist Jack Noel Kilgour's bequest.
2026 entries are for the 2027 exhibition.
Winner scheduled to be announced in April 2027.
Burnie Print Prize 2027
Location | Burnie, TAS |
Prize pool | $24,000+ |
Major Prize | $18,000 |
Closes | 30 October 2026 |
Frequency | Biennial |
A national acquisitive printmaking prize presented by Burnie Arts and established in 2007.
Open to a broad range of printmaking processes.
Includes relief, intaglio, planographic and stencil work.
Finalists exhibit from March to May 2027.
Before you hit submit
01
Read the conditions carefully
Pay particular attention to size limits, eligibility, commission, acquisition clauses and delivery requirements.
02
Photograph your work properly
Your first-round judging may happen entirely from the image you submit. Clear, accurate photography matters.
03
Make your artist presence easy to find
Curators, judges and collectors may look you up. Make sure your artist website, biography and recent work are current.
Is your artist website ready when someone looks you up?
Being selected for an art prize can bring new eyes to your work. Artsphere is purpose-built for artists, making it easy to present your artwork, exhibitions, biography, news and available works professionally — without wrestling with a complicated website.