Artists across the Mid-Western Region and beyond are being encouraged to pick up their brushes, cameras or creative tools, with entries now open for the 2026 Mudgee Arts Precinct (MAP) Portrait Prize.
Returning for its third biennial exhibition, the popular competition offers a fantastic opportunity for artists to showcase their talents, with a $15,000 prize pool and the chance to have their work exhibited at one of the region’s leading cultural venues.
Open to emerging and established artists from across Australia, the MAP Portrait Prize welcomes works in all mediums, celebrating the faces, personalities and stories that make portraiture such a powerful art form.
Since its introduction in 2022, the exhibition has welcomed more than 26,000 visitors, with 150 finalists selected from over 500 entries, establishing itself as a highlight of the Mudgee Arts Precinct calendar.
For artists across Mudgee, Gulgong, Rylstone, Kandos and surrounding villages, the competition provides a wonderful platform to share their creativity alongside talented portrait artists from across the country. It is also an opportunity to celebrate local stories, familiar faces and the creative people who contribute to the region’s vibrant arts community.
This year’s major prize is the $10,000 Best Portrait Prize, generously sponsored by Alf Moufarrige AO. Local artists also have plenty of incentive to enter, with the $3,000 Best Local Artist Prize, sponsored by Mid-Western Regional Council, recognising creative talent within the region.
Visitors will also have their say through the People’s Choice Prize, with $1,500 awarded to the winning artist. Everyone who votes across the MAP Portrait Prize and Next Gen Portrait Prize exhibitions will also go into the draw to win $500.
Entries cost $35 per work, or $20 for local artists, with a maximum of three submissions per artist.
Finalists will be announced on Friday 20 November, ahead of the exhibition opening and winners’ announcement on Friday 27 November at 6pm. The exhibition will remain on display until 21 February 2027.
Entries close at 12 noon on Tuesday 3 November 2026.
For entry details, conditions and further information, visit www.mudgeeartsprecinct.com.au.
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or ready to share your work with a wider audience, this could be your moment to shine!
