Australia’s national photographic portrait prize 2026

Australia’s national photographic portrait prize 2026 – in pictures Thirty finalists were selected from more than 1,000 entries in the 2026 photographic competition which has a $30,000 cash prize for first place. This year’s winner is Nathan Beard’s portrait of his Thai-born aunt Mae Khong, who was recuperating after a debilitating fall. Judges said Beard’s portrait has an ‘immediate and compelling emotional pull’ and offers an insight into the relationship between the artist and subject. The exhibition is on now at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra Passed out on the grass ‘In this series, I use archival Dior hats to investigate the tension between mid-century decorum and contemporary excess. As an immigrant, I encountered the “trashy” imagery of the Melbourne Cup long before moving to Australia. These scenes of public euphoric intoxication, often swept under the rug, became a significant contemporary cultural reference point for me. By restaging an iconic cup photo in drag, I pair the elegance of a 1960s Dior hat with the debris on the grass. – Scotty So Photograph: Scotty SoFri 21 Aug 2026 20.00 EDT Last modified on Fri 21 Aug 2026 20.30 EDTExplore more on these topics