Australian Photography Awards 2026: Winners and Highlights

The Australian Photography Awards 2026 have announced their winners, showcasing a diverse range of photographic works from across the country. The Open category winner is Poppy Steer for her series 'Homebody', which documents trans and queer individuals in their homes, aiming to present queer life beyond stereotypes. Other Open winners include Shoshanna Brott, an emerging multidisciplinary artist from the Arts Project Australia Studio in Melbourne, and Rosanna Lang for 'Snowed in for the winter', a scene from post-blizzard Hokkaido. In the student category, Xinshuo Zhuo and Jessica Tormey share the joint win for 'Among the Interstices #2A' and 'Mother dearest', respectively. Honourable mentions were awarded to Emma Crook, Emma Parker, and Carly Earl for their works 'Matrescence', 'Fishermen’s Friend', and 'Riley and the Roma Southern Road'. The gallery also features works by Miyarrka Media, Jorge Serra, William Philipp, Elle Leontiev, Robyn MacRae, Isabella Melody Moore, Cara Mand, Bec Lorrimer, Bernard Singleton, Raquel Trejo, Natalie Finney, and Ellen Smith. These images cover themes of identity, memory, nature, and cultural heritage, with several entries highlighting Indigenous perspectives and stories. The awards celebrate the breadth of contemporary Australian photography, from intimate portraits to landscapes and conceptual works.