DAREBIN: Art Prize at Bundoora Homestead
The Darebin Art Prize is a national multi-medium acquisitive art award celebrating excellence in contemporary visual art.
This biennial exhibition brings together contemporary artwork across all media, from painting, drawing, photography, sculpture and craft, through to video art and more.
The Darebin Art Prize 2026 presents the work of more than 50 renowned Australian artists and is set to transform the eritage-listed galleries of Bundoora Homestead Art Centre.
The winning artwork will be acquired into the Darebin Art Collection.
The 2026 finalists are: Abbra Kotlarczyk, Abdul-Rahman Abdullah, Alice Wormald, Amalia Lindo, Amy Carkeek, Annika Koops, Ara Dolatian, Aylsa McHugh, Benjamin Bannan, Bianca Hester, Britt Salt, Callum McGrath, Carly Fischer, Caroline Walls, Casey Jeffery, Cyrus Tang, Damien Shen, Darcey Bella Arnold, David Rosetzky, Deanna Hitti, Ella Dunn, Elyas Alavi, Ena Grozdanic, Felix Oliver, George Cooley, Grant Nimmo, Guy Grabowsky, HIBALL, Hugo Blomley, Jacqui Shelton, Jessica Long, Joseph Blair, Julien Comer-Kleine, Katie Paine, Kym Maxwell, Mandy Quadrio, Matthew Asling, Nick Devlin, Nikki Lam, Oliver Hull, Pearl Austin, Pia Johnson, Setareh Hosseini, Shannon Lyons, Shoufay Derz, Simon Degroot, Steven Bellosguardo, Tara Denny, Thang Do, Tim Woodward, Virginia Keft, William Versace, Zainab Hikmet.
This year’s judging panel brings together three Victorian arts professionals: Amita Kirpalani, Curator, Contemporary Art at National Gallery of Victoria; Nicholas Mangan, Artist and Associate Professor, Fine Art at Monash University; and Sarah Werkmeister, Curator at Bundoora Homestead Art Centre.
The prize pool includes a $10,000 acquisitive award for the winning work, as well as a $1000 People’s Choice Award. The People’s Choice winner will be announced in the final weeks of the exhibition.
The Opening Event and Prize Announcement for the Darebin Art Prize will be from 6pm-8pm on Saturday, February 288. The exhibition runs from Wednesday, February 25 until Saturday, June 20.
Bundoora Homestead Art Centre is a public art gallery for the City of Darebin. The Queen Ann-style mansion houses contemporary art, ideas, a public garden and café, on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country.
Bundoora Homestead Art Centre is at 7 Prospect Hill Dr, Bundoora. Open: Wednesday to Friday: 11am–4pm; Saturday: 10am–4pm. Entry is free