Discover a comprehensive list of major Australian art prizes that artists can enter in 2026, including key details such as prize money, entry deadlines, exhibition dates, and submission costs—your essential guide to finding the best art competitions in Australia and planning your next opportunity to exhibit and grow your art career.

1. Archibald Prize

• Location: Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney

• Prize Money: ~$100,000

• Entry Cost: ~$50 (recent typical fee)

• Entry Dates: Usually Feb–March

• Deadline: Around early–mid March

• Exhibition Dates: May – August (then touring)

• Website: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/

2. Wynne Prize

• Location: Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney

• Prize Money: ~$50,000

• Entry Cost: ~$50 (similar to Archibald)

• Entry Dates/Deadline: Same as Archibald

• Exhibition Dates: May – August

• Website: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/wynne/

3. Sir John Sulman Prize

• Location: Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney

• Prize Money: ~$40,000

• Entry Cost: ~$50

• Entry Dates/Deadline: Same as Archibald

• Exhibition Dates: May – August

• Website: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/sulman/

4. Ramsay Art Prize

• Location: Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide

• Prize Money: $100,000

• Entry Cost: ~$50

• Entry Dates: Early year (biennial)

• Exhibition Dates: e.g. May–Aug (2025 example)

• Website: https://www.agsa.sa.gov.au

5. Doug Moran National Portrait Prize

• Location: Touring / Moran Arts Foundation

• Prize Money: $150,000

• Entry Cost: Not clearly confirmed

• Status: Currently on hold (recent years)

• Website: http://www.moranprizes.com.au

6. Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize

• Location: Touring exhibition

• Prize Money: ~$100,000 total pool

• Entry Cost: Not confirmed

• Status: Not run recently (paused)

• Website: http://www.moranprizes.com.au

7. National Photographic Portrait Prize

• Location: National Portrait Gallery, Canberra

• Prize Money: ~$30,000 (typical recent value)

• Entry Cost: ~$30–$40 (varies)

• Entry Dates: Late year

• Exhibition: Following year

• Website: https://www.portrait.gov.au

8. Blake Prize

• Location: Touring (often NSW)

• Prize Money: ~$100,000 (varies by category)

• Entry Cost: ~$40–$60

• Focus: Spiritual / religious themes

• Website: https://www.blakeprize.com.au

9. National Works on Paper Prize

• Location: Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery (VIC)

• Prize Money: ~$15,000–$20,000

• Entry Cost: ~$40

• Frequency: Biennial

• Website: https://mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au

10. National Emerging Art Prize

• Location: Online / Bluethumb

• Prize Money: ~$20,000+ (varies)

• Entry Cost: Often free or low-cost

• Website: https://bluethumb.com.au

11. National Still Life Award

• Location: Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery (NSW)

• Prize Money: ~$30,000

• Entry Cost: ~$40

• Frequency: Biennial

• Website: https://coffs.rezdy.com

12. Bluethumb Art Prize

• Location: Online + exhibitions

• Prize Money: ~$250,000+ total categories

• Entry Cost: ~$20–$30 per artwork

• Entry Dates: Mid-year

• Website: https://bluethumb.com.au

13. Kennedy Prize

• Location: Various (QLD-based origins)

• Prize Money: ~$25,000

• Entry Cost: ~$50

• Website: https://kennedyprize.com.au

14. Lester Prize for Portraiture

• Location: WA (Art Gallery WA & touring)

• Prize Money: ~$50,000

• Entry Cost: ~$45

• Entry Dates: Early year

• Website: https://www.lesterprize.com

15. Mandorla Art Award

• Location: Western Australia

• Prize Money: ~$30,000

• Entry Cost: ~$35–$50

• Focus: Spiritual themes

• Website: https://www.mandorlaartaward.com.au

16. Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize

• Location: SA Museum / touring

• Prize Money: ~$50,000

• Entry Cost: ~$40

• Website: https://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au

17. Hadley’s Art Prize (Landscape)

• Location: Hobart, Tasmania

• Prize Money: $100,000

• Entry Cost: ~$50

• Entry Dates: Early year

• Website: https://hadleysartprize.com.au

18. Gallipoli Art Prize

• Location: Sydney (Gallipoli Memorial Club)

• Prize Money: ~$20,000–$50,000

• Entry Cost: ~$40–$50

• Theme: Response to Gallipoli / service

• Website: https://gallipoliartprize.com.au

19. Artbank + Australian Artists Prize

• Location: National (Artbank)

• Prize Money: ~$15,000–$20,000

• Entry Cost: Usually free

• Website: https://www.artbank.gov.au

20. Olive Cotton Award (Photography)

• Location: Tweed Regional Gallery (NSW)

• Prize Money: ~$20,000

• Entry Cost: ~$35–$50

• Frequency: Biennial

• Website: https://tweedregionalgallery.com.au

Notes

• Entry fees (~$30–$50) are fairly standard across major Australian prizes

• Many prizes run annually, but some are biennial (Ramsay, Still Life, Works on Paper)

• Dates shift slightly each year — best to treat them as seasonal patterns

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