Fifty photographers from across Australia have been shortlisted for the 2026 William & Winifred Bowness Photography Prize, with the finalists selected from more than 750 entries for one of the country’s leading photography awards.
The Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh) announced the finalists on behalf of the MAPh Foundation, with judges Natasha Bullock, Petrina Hicks and Anouska Phizacklea choosing works that reflect the breadth of contemporary Australian photography.
The shortlisted works span a wide range of approaches, from intimate portraiture to large-scale installations and experimental image-making. Together, they offer a snapshot of how Australian photographers are responding to personal experiences, cultural questions and changing creative practices through the medium.
According to MAPh, this year’s selection highlights artists working across different techniques, scales and perspectives, with photography continuing to evolve through both traditional and contemporary processes.
The prize carries a first award of $50,000, following an increase introduced last year. Two honourable mentions will each receive $2,500, while all shortlisted artists are paid loan fees for exhibiting their works. The expanded prize pool was made possible through a philanthropic gift from the Bowness Family Foundation in 2025, supporting the long-term future of the award and its role in promoting photographic practice.
Alongside the main prize, one artist will receive the $10,000 Wai Tang Commissioning Award, providing the opportunity to develop and exhibit a new body of work during next year’s Bowness Photography Prize season. The award is supported by Kee Wong and Stacey Wang.
Visitors will again have the opportunity to vote for their favourite work, with the RACV People’s Choice Award offering a $5,000 cash prize. Public voting opens when the exhibition begins on 12 September.
The 2026 shortlist brings together established names alongside mid-career and emerging artists, reflecting the diversity of Australia’s photographic community. The selected artists include Robert Ashton, Aurélie Beeston, Madeline Bishop, Danica Chappell, Maree Clarke, Timothy Coad, Nyree Cox, Ellen Dahl, J Davies, Penelope Davis, Tamara Dean, Yask Desai, damian dillon, Nathanael Edwards, Odette England, Adam Ferguson, Murray Fredericks, Silvi Glattauer, John Gollings, Dr Kristian Häggblom, Paul Harris, Leo Razak Harunah, Siri Hayes, Crystal Hua, The Huxleys, Ingvar Kenne, Shea Kirk, Bec Lorrimer, Clare McCracken, Heather Hesterman and Andrew Ferris, Kent Morris, Rebecca Najdowski, Harry Nankin, Brett Nannup, Ruth O’Leary, Felix Oliver, Jake Preval, Kiah Pullens, Clare Rae, Julie Rrap, Damien Shen and James Tylor, Scotty So, Valerie Sparks, Tobias Titz, Teo Treloar, Shan Turner-Carroll, Julia Rose van Haren, Justine Varga, Drew Waters, Lydia Wegner and Grace Wood.
Photography prizes have become an important platform for artists to present new work and gain wider recognition. The Bowness Photography Prize has built a reputation over two decades for showcasing a broad cross-section of Australian photographic practice, often introducing audiences to emerging artists alongside recognised figures.
The shortlisted works will be exhibited at the Museum of Australian Photography in Wheelers Hill, Victoria, from 12 September to 8 November 2026. Curated by MAPh Director Anouska Phizacklea, the exhibition will culminate in the winner announcement during the opening night event on 17 September.
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