The Lester Prize for Portraiture 2026

The Lester Prize for Portraiture is one of Australia's leading portrait prizes, open to any Australian resident aged 18 or over. The 2026 prize offers multiple awards totalling well over A$130,000, with the headline Richard Lester Prize worth A$50,000 (non-acquisitive).

Prize Awards:

• Richard Lester Prize: A$50,000 (non-acquisitive) — judged by The Lester Judges
• Tony Fini Foundation Artist Prize: A$20,000 — voted by fellow finalists
• Minderoo Foundation Spirit Prize: A$20,000 — judged by the Minderoo Judges (opt-in)
• Baldock Family People's Choice Prize: A$15,000 — voted by the public
• Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize: A$10,000 — for emerging artists, judged by The Lester Judges
• Barton Family Foundation Installers' Prize: A$10,000 — awarded by WA Museum staff
• Eyewall Foundation Highly Commended Prize: up to A$5,000

Who can enter?

You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. The subject of the portrait must also be an Australian resident. Portraits may be painted in oil, acrylic, watercolour, pastels, textiles, pencil, charcoal, ink, or mixed media. Sculptures, photographs, and digital media are not eligible. Diptychs and triptychs are welcome.

Entry fee: A$50 per portrait (inclusive of GST). Fee waivers are available for artists represented by Aboriginal art centres, artists who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or artists experiencing financial hardship — just get in touch with The Lester when applying.

Process: A pre-selection panel reviews all entries and selects 40 finalists for the Main Exhibition at WA Museum Boola Bardip in Perth. Finalists are announced by 15 July 2026. If selected, you'll need to deliver your work to IAS in Malaga, WA between 27–30 July 2026.

Artists retain intellectual property in their work. Finalists may optionally offer their portrait for sale during the exhibition (30% commission applies if sold).

For full terms and conditions and to enter, visit lesterprize.com.