50 Finalists Announced for the 2026 Bowness Photography Prize

The Museum of Australian Photography has revealed the shortlist for the 21st William & Winifred Bowness Photography Prize, selected from more than 750 entries, with the exhibition opening in September.

The Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh), on behalf of the MAPh Foundation, has announced the 50 finalists for the 2026 William & Winifred Bowness Photography Prize. The shortlist was selected from over 750 entries by judges Natasha Bullock, Petrina Hicks and Anouska Phizacklea.

Now in its 21st year, the prize is one of Australia’s most significant awards for photography. This year’s field ranges across installation, portraiture, landscape and darkroom-based practice, reflecting the breadth of contemporary Australian photographic work and the varied ways artists are approaching scale, technique, equipment and perspective.

The winner will receive $50,000, with two honourable mentions awarded $2,500 each and all shortlisted artists paid loan fees for the exhibition of their work. The increased prize pool follows a substantial philanthropic gift from the Bowness Family Foundation in 2025, which the museum says reinforces the standing of the prize and its long-term commitment to the medium.

Several additional awards will be presented during the season. One artist will receive the $10,000 Wai Tang Commissioning Award — supported by Kee Wong and Stacey Wang — and the opportunity to exhibit a new body of work during the 2027 Bowness season. The RACV People’s Choice winner will receive $5,000, with public voting open from the exhibition’s opening on 12 September 2026.

The finalists span established, mid-career and emerging practitioners. They are: 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 & 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 & 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.

The 21st Bowness Photography Prize, curated by MAPh Director Anouska Phizacklea, runs from 12 September to 8 November 2026 at the Museum of Australian Photography, 860 Ferntree Gully Road, Wheelers Hill, Victoria. The opening night event and winner announcement will be held on Thursday 17 September 2026.

Images: Julie RRAP, Un-becoming monument #4 2026 from the series Un-becoming monuments, digital print. courtesy of the artist