The Lester Prize for Portraiture 2026 Main Awards Exhibition

The Lester Prize

Selected from a record-breaking 1,177 entries, the exhibition brings together 40 finalist artists from across Australia, each offering a distinctive interpretation of portraiture, identity and the human experience. From intimate studies and deeply personal encounters to bold, experimental and thought-provoking works, the exhibition reveals the many ways artists can capture a person, their story and their place in the world.

With a prize pool of more than $140,000, The Lester Prize is one of Australia's most significant national portrait prizes, providing artists with a prestigious platform to have their work seen by audiences across the country.

Throughout the season, visitors will have opportunities to go beyond the artworks and hear directly from the artists who created them. Artist talks will be presented alongside their works on both the opening and closing weekends, offering insight into their creative processes, subjects, influences and approaches to portraiture.

The program continues throughout the exhibition with artist workshops, talks and other public events, inviting audiences to explore portraiture from different perspectives, develop their own creative skills and engage more deeply with the exhibition.

Whether you are a dedicated art lover, an aspiring artist or simply curious about the stories and people behind contemporary Australian portraiture, The Lester Prize 2026 Main Awards offers a compelling opportunity to see Australian artists at work and experience the breadth of portraiture today.
Entry to the exhibition is included with admission to WA Museum Boola Bardip ($15 / $10 concession) which also doubles as a 12-month membership with unlimited entry.

Visit the Lester Prize website for the latest information on artist talks, workshops and events, and to find out how you can vote for the Baldock Family People's Choice Prize 2026.

The Lester Prize thanks the City of Perth, The Lester Group, WA Museum Boola Bardip, and all sponsors for their support.

About the Lester Prize
Founded in 2007 as the Black Swan Prize, The Lester Prize for Portraiture has grown into a nationally recognised celebration of contemporary Australian portraiture.

At its heart, The Lester Prize is about giving artists a platform and creating meaningful connections between artists, their subjects and audiences. The Prize champions artistic excellence while embracing the many different ways contemporary artists use portraiture to explore identity, relationships, culture, memory and lived experience.

Each year, artists from across Australia are invited to submit works that reflect their individual perspectives and creative practices. The resulting exhibitions provide audiences with an opportunity to encounter a diverse cross-section of contemporary portraiture and the people and stories that inspire it.

Beyond the exhibition, The Lester Prize delivers an ongoing program of artist talks, workshops, education programs, guided tours and community activities, extending engagement with the artworks and making the experience accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Through its national exhibition program and community engagement, The Lester Prize contributes to Western Australia's cultural life, supports artists and helps connect audiences across metropolitan and regional communities with Australian art.