supported by the MAMA Art Foundation.
- Key Dates
Application Opens: 31 October 2025
Application Closes: 20 February 2026 at 3:00pm
National Photography Prize 2026 finalists announced: March 2026
Opening event and Prize announcement: Saturday, 8 August 2026
Exhibition open to the public: 8 August – 1 November 2026
- Guidelines
2.1 Artists working in all forms of photographic and lens-based media are invited to submit work for consideration in the National Photography Prize 2026.
2.2 Artists are invited to submit a body of work or works in series for consideration.
2.3 The finalist exhibition of the National Photography Prize 2026 will be comprised of a select number of artists' bodies of work, allowing for a considered presentation that gives primacy to artists' practice.
2.4 The National Photography Prize consists of two awards:
The Audray Banfield Award for the overall winner of the National Photography Prize, and
The John and Margaret Baker Memorial Fellowship, awarded to an emerging artist
2.5 The Audray Banfield Award of $40,000 is acquisitive. MAMA curatorial staff will work with the winner of the Audray Banfield Award to make a selection of artwork for acquisition from the successful artist’s presentation that ensures fairness for the artist.
2.6 The John and Margaret Baker Memorial Fellowship of $5,000 for an emerging artist is non- acquisitive.
2.7 An artist fee of $1,200 will be paid to each of the finalists. Freight and domestic travel expenses are paid for by Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA).
- Application
3.1 Applicant must be an Australian citizen or resident of Australia at the time of submission.
3.2 Applicants should create a single PDF, Word or PowerPoint document containing no more than 10 images to illustrate their application. Image credits should include artist name, artwork title, year, medium, size and credit line for each artwork.
3.3 Applications consist of: the PDF, Word or PowerPoint document; artist’s CV; Artist Statement (150 words); Artwork Description (300 words)
3.4 All entries must be the original work of the artist.
3.5 All entries must have been created within two (2) years as at 20 February 2026.
3.6 Artists are asked to self-nominate as emerging artists to be eligible for the John and Margaret Baker Memorial Fellowship for an emerging artist. Acceptance of an individual artist’s nomination as emerging is at the selection panel and judge’s discretion.
3.7 Only online applications will be accepted.
3.8 Late entries will not be accepted.
3.9 Murray Art Museum Albury and AlburyCity staff, as well as MAMA Art Foundation members are not eligible to enter.
- Judging
4.1 National Photography Prize 2026 selection panel:
- Ellen Dahl – Artist; Winner, National Photography Prize 2024
- Alinta Maguire – Curator, First Nations, Murray Art Museum Albury
- Blair French – CEO, Murray Art Museum Albury
4.2 Artists will be notified by email of the selection outcome. The panel's decision will be final and no discussion or correspondence will be entered into.
4.3 Judging of Audray Banfield Award and the John and Margaret Baker Memorial Fellowship will be based on the finalist exhibition, with prize winners announced at the exhibition opening, 8 August 2026.
4.4 The judge of the National Photography Prize 2026 is:
- Natasha Bullock – Senior Curator, Photography, National Gallery of Victoria
- Exhibition
5.1 MAMA will work with selected artists to arrange artwork freight and be responsible for the costs of freight.
5.2 All artwork will be insured by MAMA whilst in transit, in situ, and on display.
5.3 The exhibition will be designed and installed by MAMA curatorial staff, in consultation with exhibiting artists.
- Copyright and Publications
6.1 The artist consents to the following: MAMA reserves the right to reproduce all images of artwork supplied by applicants at the Museum's discretion for non-commercial purposes, including but not limited to reproduction in all publications and publicity, inclusive of all electronic/digital or print media. MAMA also reserves the right to edit text for publication as deemed necessary.
6.2 MAMA are not liable to pay the artist any further fee, royalty or other form of remuneration for this right.
FAQs
Are emerging artists eligible for the $40,000 Audray Banfield Award?
Yes. Emerging artists are eligible for both the John and Margaret Baker Memorial Fellowship for an emerging artist ($5,000, non-acquisitive) and the Audray Banfield Award ($40,000, acquisitive) for the overall winner of the National Photography Prize.
Do artworks need to be framed for exhibition, or will MAMA frame my works?
Artworks should be provided to MAMA ready for exhibition. Any framing, mounting, or artwork specific installation devices are to be considered and supplied by the artist. Support for additional, artwork specific installation requirements is at the discretion of MAMA curatorial staff.
Are video and film artwork eligible for the National Photography Prize?
Yes. The National Photography Prize considers a wide range of media as part of the territory of photographic and lens-based practices.
Does the winner of the Prize have their whole presentation acquired? What if it is valued at more than the prize money?
The winner of the Audray Banfield Award does not necessarily have their whole presentation acquired. Factors considered here are the number of artworks presented and the financial value of the works. MAMA curatorial staff will discuss the selection of artworks for acquisition with the winning artist. These discussions are intended to make sure the winning artist receives a significant benefit from the prize and that a coherent and representative selection of their works enter the MAMA collection.
Are artists living internationally eligible to enter the National Photography Prize?
Artists must be either an Australian citizen or resident of Australia at the time of submission. This can include Australian citizens working internationally.
Are there size restrictions on entries?
No. However, if artworks are particularly large or have specific spatial requirements that may not be achievable in the exhibition, these issues will be worked through in discussion between successful applicants and MAMA curatorial staff.
Some artworks within a body of work were made more than two years ago. Does this mean the whole series is ineligible?
No, if the body of work or series was completed within the two years as at 20 February 2026, the body of work or series is eligible. However, applicants are advised against submitting largely historical selections of artworks with only a small number of recent works included.
