2026 Hornsby Art Prize Opens with $23,000 Prize Pool

Hey, guess what? The Hornsby Art Prize for 2026 is now accepting submissions! This event, which the Hornsby Shire Council and the Hornsby Art Society put together, has been around since 2009 and celebrates modern Australian art with a prize total of $23,000. This includes a $10,000 grand prize, a $5,000 award for local artists, five $1,500 category prizes, and a $500 People's Choice Award. If you're an Aussie artist over 18, you can submit up to two pieces in different mediums, like painting or photography. The judges for this year are Guido Maestri, an Archibald Prize winner, and Mirra Whale. The exhibition will happen at the Wallarobba Arts Centre in October, and submissions are open from June 15 to August 20, with winners revealed on October 16. Last year’s winner, Silke Raetze, shared how much the prize helped her during her breast cancer treatment. In 2025, there were 415 entries, leading to 71 finalists, and 25% of art sales went to the Hornsby Art Society.