2026 Governor General Awards Winners Announced, Exhibition at Beaverbrook Art Gallery
On 16 September, the 2026 Governor General Awards revealed eight recipients, which include Chung-Im Kim, Roger Lee, Faye HeavyShield, Carole Itter, Zacharias Kunuk, Lyne Lapointe, Marie-Jeanne Musiol, and Skawennati. Since their inception in 1999, these awards have honored up to eight individuals each year: six for artistic excellence, one for fine craft, and one for significant contributions to contemporary visual arts. Each laureate is awarded a bronze medallion along with C$25,000. Roger Lee was recognized with the outstanding contribution award for his impact on Asian and diasporic art history, while Chung-Im Kim received the Saidye Bronfman Award. An exhibition showcasing the winners' works will debut at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton on 7 November.
Key facts
- The 2026 Governor General Awards winners were announced on 16 September.
- Eight winners were named, including Chung-Im Kim, Roger Lee, Faye HeavyShield, Carole Itter, Zacharias Kunuk, Lyne Lapointe, Marie-Jeanne Musiol, and Skawennati.
- The awards were created in 1999 by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Governor General of Canada.
- Up to eight awards are given annually: six for artistic achievement, one for fine craft, and one for outstanding contribution.
- Each winner receives a bronze medallion and C$25,000 ($18,000).
- Roger Lee received the outstanding contribution award for his work in Asian and diasporic art history.
- Chung-Im Kim is the Saidye Bronfman Award recipient; the Canadian Museum of History will acquire her work.
- An exhibition of winners' works opens at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton, New Brunswick, on 7 November.
Entities
Artists
- Chung-Im Kim
- Roger Lee
- Faye HeavyShield
- Carole Itter
- Zacharias Kunuk
- Lyne Lapointe
- Marie-Jeanne Musiol
- Skawennati
- Al Neil
- Paul Apak Angilirq
- Pauloosie Qulitalik
- Norman Cohn
- Kent Monkman
- Daina Augaitis
Institutions
- Canada Council for the Arts
- Governor General of Canada
- University of Regina
- Canadian Museum of History
- Inuit Broadcasting Corporation
- Igloolik Isuma Productions Inc
- Beaverbrook Art Gallery
Locations
- Ontario
- Canada
- Vancouver
- Kainai First Nations
- Québec
- Montréal
- Cookstown
- Gatineau
- Igloolik
- British Columbia
- Sunshine Coast
- Lockeport
- Nova Scotia
- China
- Fredericton
- New Brunswick
- Switzerland