Finalist: Bowness Photography Prize 2026

Ellen Dahl

12 Sep - 8 Nov 2026

The William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize is Australia’s richest and most prestigious award for contemporary photography, offering a $50,000 cash prize to the winning artist.

Managed by the Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh) in Wheelers Hill, Victoria, the annual, non-thematic prize showcases the absolute pinnacle of analogue and digital photographic practice from both emerging and established Australian photographers.

This year’s shortlist was selected by Natasha Bullock (Senior Curator, Photography NGV) Petrina Hicks (artist + winner Bowness Prize 2014) and Anouska Phizacklea (MAPh Director).

Finalists:
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 | Grace Wood

Exhibition launch + winner announcement:

Thursday 17 September 2026

Museum of Australian Photography

860 Ferntree Gully Rd, Wheelers Hill VIC