Hornsby Art Prize 2026 Call for Entries

The Hornsby Art Prize returns for 2026 with a total prize pool of $23,000, including a major prize of $10,000. Run by Hornsby Shire Council in partnership with the Hornsby Art Society and established in 2009, the non-acquisitive prize invites artists to submit work in painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, and sculpture.

The prize is open to all Australian citizens and permanent residents who currently reside in Australia and are aged 18 or over as at 20 August 2026. This year's judges are artists Guido Maestri and Mirra Whale. Selected finalists will be shown in the Hornsby Art Prize Finalists' exhibition at the Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre in Hornsby, on view from 16 October until 1 November 2026.

Entries open on 15 June 2026 and close on 20 August 2026 at 5pm, with the prize winner announced on 16 October 2026. As a non-acquisitive prize, the award lets winning artists retain ownership of their work while receiving prize money and the exposure of a public finalists' exhibition. Artists should prepare high-quality documentation of their work, confirm their eligibility, and review the full entry conditions before the August deadline.

The finalists' exhibition gives entrants a public platform at an established regional arts venue in New South Wales, and the spread of categories from drawing to sculpture makes the prize accessible to artists across a range of disciplines. With a strong total prize pool and recognised artist judges, the Hornsby Art Prize is a notable opportunity for Australia-based visual artists.