AS reported in the Adviser in the 24/12/2025 edition, Australia’s most prestigious portrait prize, the Archibald Prize, is coming to Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) this September.
SAM will be the only Victorian venue on the national tour and the very first stop after the exhibition closes at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
“We are honoured to be the exclusive Victorian host of the Archibald Prize 2026. As the first destination on the regional tour and the only opportunity for Victorian audiences to experience these works in their home state,” said SAM Artistic Director, Danny Lacy.
“We look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to SAM and celebrating the extraordinary talent showcased in this iconic exhibition. We know this experience has been heavily anticipated by our community, and we’re thrilled to be bringing such a significant event on the nation’s cultural calendar to the Goulburn Valley.”
The Archibald Prize 2026 at SAM will be accompanied by a dynamic program of public events, including artist talks, guided tours, hands-on workshops, educational and community activities designed to engage art lovers of all ages.
The Archibald was first awarded in 1921 following the receipt of a bequest from J. F. Archibald, who died in 1919. It is administered by the trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales and awarded for “the best portrait, preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in Art, Letters, Science or Politics, painted by an artist resident in Australia.”
The Archibald Prize 2026 exhibition will be on display at SAM from Saturday, September 5, until Sunday, November 1.
