The 2026 Hornsby Art Prize opens for entries on Monday 15 June, once again offering Australian artists across painting, drawing, printmaking, photography and sculpture the chance to compete for $23,000 in prize money. The major prize alone is worth $10,000.
This year’s judging panel carries real weight. Guido Maestri, an Archibald Prize winner, joins Mirra Whale, widely regarded as one of Australia’s finest still life painters, to assess finalists and decide where the money goes. The prize is non-acquisitive, meaning artists keep their work regardless of outcome — a detail that matters more than it might seem for those protective of pieces they’ve spent months creating.
The rules are straightforward: works must have been made within the last two years and not previously entered in any art prize competition. Entry costs $40 and must be completed online before Thursday, 20 August.
Australian residents aged 18 and over are welcome to enter. Hornsby Shire residents have the additional option of nominating for the Local Artist Award, a category that carves out space specifically for talent within the shire.
Finalist works will be displayed publicly at Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre from 16 October to 1 November 2026, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm. Entry to the exhibition is free, making it one of the more accessible opportunities to see a curated cross-section of contemporary Australian art this spring.
Visit hornsby.nsw.gov.au/artprize to enter or find out more.
