Young Archie competition 2026

Celebrating the creativity, imagination, and unique perspectives of young people across our region, the Young Archie exhibition offers 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 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 the Archibald Prize 2026 exhibition, Australia's beloved annual portraiture prize. 

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.

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

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

Location: The Ryan Family Children's Gallery, Level 2, SAM

Ticketed exhibition