The Archibald Prize is one of Australia’s most famous and prestigious art awards. It’s given annually for portrait painting. And the 2026 finalists are here!
From 9 May until 16 August, the finalists and winners are exhibited in the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney.
The subjects range from the artists themselves, their friends or family, colleagues, celebrities, politicians, and local heroes.
In 2026, there are 59 artworks which will be going on display.
One of the artworks by Meagan Pelham is of Jessica Rowe. Dubbed “Dreamland Jessica”. Meagan first met Jessica during Australian Fashion Week in 2024. They were both guests of Romance Was Born, a local designer. Meghan works with the brand frequently, and Jess is a huge fan and often sports their designs in public events (including our own Health Summit in Sydney, September 20-25 where Jess was the host.
“Jessica is part of my BFF (Best Friends Forever),” said Meagan of her subject. “She is a Super Star because she loves fashion and she loves Romance Was Born. People in fashion are my BFFs.”
“Jessica loves sparkles and bling bling bling. She has cute cats and a dog called Daphne. She is romantic, and she loves dresses. We both like to snort when we laugh, and I made Jessica one of my fancy bead BFF necklaces.”
Jessica’s beloved cats and dog are included in the portrait, as well as a Romance Was Born gown. In fact, it is the same one she wore in a photoshoot with The Australian Women’s Weekly. She was the inaugural guest on The Australian Women’s Weekly Love Stories podcast with her husband, Pete Overton.
“My favourite parts are the necklace I handmade with beading for Jessica, and I love the adorable babies, the doggy Daphne and the kittens. I’m so proud of my artwork. It makes me happy,” Meagan said to her studio, Studio A.
“This is a DREAM come true… thank you Meagan for capturing me (and my babies) so perfectly! It makes me cry happy tears 🦄🩷🦄” Jess responded to their post.
Other people who were subjects of the Archibald Finalists for 2026 include Adam Hyde aka Keli Holiday of Peking Duk by Sindy Sinn, Margaret Fink (producer of My Brilliant Career 1979 and pioneer of Australian cinema) by Nick Stathopoulos, journalist Jan Fran by Vicki Sullivan, actress Phoebe Tonkin by Zoe Young, fashion icons the Zimmerman sisters by Caroline Zilinsky, Bondi Hero Ahmed Al Ahmed by Julia Dover, Governor-General Sam Mostyn by James Powditch, world champion surfer Layne Beachley AO by Stephanie Galloway Brown, Commonwealth Games medallist and singer Cody Simpson by Kelly Maree to name just a few.
The winning artist of the Archibald Prize receives $100,000 prize money. There are two other prizes: The $50,000 Wynne Prize is given to the best landscape painting of Australian scenery or figurative sculpture, and the $40,000 Sulman Prize is given to the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project.
There is also the Packing Room Prize, which is chosen by the Art Gallery staff who unpack and hang the portraits. It is a $3,000 cash prize, and in 2026, it was awarded to Melbourne artist Sean Layh for his portrait of Australian actor Jacob Collins as Hamlet. It was Sean’s his first time as an Archibald Prize finalist.
The winners the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes for 2026 will be announced at 12 pm on Friday, 8 May 2026, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
See all the Archibald Prize finalists for 2026 here.
