Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) eagerly invites local schools across the Goulburn Valley and Hume regions to participate in this year’s Young Archie competition, to be held at SAM from 5 September to 1 November alongside the museum’s presentation of the Archibald Prize 2026 exhibition during its regional tour from Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Now in its 14th year, the Art Gallery of New South Wales’s annual Young Archie competition is a portrait challenge for young artists inspired by and running concurrently alongside Australia’s oldest and most famous portrait prize, the Archibald Prize.

Celebrating the creativity, imagination, and unique perspectives of young people across our region, a SAM edition of Young Archie 2026 will offer local students aged between 5 years and 18 years an exciting opportunity to create and submit a portrait of someone near and dear to them.

The 26 finalist works, to be selected by SAM from the local submissions, will be showcased in SAM’s Ryan Family Children's Gallery from 5 September to 1 November 2026, giving budding artists the chance to see their creativity celebrated alongside Australia's most beloved portraiture prize when it tours to the region.

SAM warmly invites schools throughout the Goulburn Valley and Hume region to coordinate artwork entries with students and submit them to SAM by 4pm, Wednesday 5 August. In addition to the 26 finalist artworks selected for physical display, all received submissions will be digitally showcased throughout the SAM building across the exhibition period.

Gabriella Calandro, SAM Head of Engagement, says about the competition:

“Hosting the Archibald Prize 2026 is significant for our community, and we’re thrilled to be presenting an opportunity to local students to be a part of this celebrated event. The Archibald Prize is beloved across the nation and will be a huge drawcard for our region; we hope schools and students are excited by this chance to contribute their own portraits and have their talent recognised by the thousands of visitors who will be travelling to Shepparton during the exhibition’s run.”

From the finalists, four artists will have their artworks crowned as the winners of the SAM Young Archie. Winners will be selected from the categories of primary school-aged and secondary school-aged finalists, and will be awarded a gift pack from the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

To learn more, visit the SAM website or get in touch with SAM Education staff at education@sheppartonartmuseum.com.au.

Archibald Prize 2026 is an Art Gallery of New South Wales touring exhibition

ENDS

Featured artwork: Annabelle Choo (age 6), 'Japanese Annabelle', Young Archies 2026 finalist, 5-8 year olds

Key dates: 

• Entries must be received by 5 August 2026, 4pm

• Finalists will be displayed 5 September – 1 November 2026 in the SAM Children’s Gallery; all submissions will be displayed digitally on screens across the SAM Facility

• Finalists will be notified 7 August 2026, and winners will be announced on 14 October 2026
• Winners announced: TBC