THE 2026 Ipswich Art Awards will be held from November 7-14, celebrating 26 years of artistic excellence with a prize pool of $18,000.
The Ipswich Art Awards 2026 marks the 26th year of this prestigious event, showcasing the creativity and skill of both emerging and established artists from Ipswich and beyond.
With multiple categories, including Acrylic, Oil, Watercolour, 3D, Drawing and Pastels, Photography, Mixed Media, Print Making, and New Media, the public exhibition will be at 1 Nicholas St, Ipswich Central, providing visitors the opportunity to view and purchase artworks.
Esteemed judges for 2026 are Sophie Chapman from the Condensery Art Gallery and Andrea Higgins from Museums and Galleries Queensland.
The Ipswich Art Awards is a key cultural event in the region, attracting over 1500 visitors annually and providing artists with exposure, confidence, and opportunities to sell their work.
In 2025, the exhibition achieved over $22,000 in artwork sales, highlighting its importance for local artists.
The awards support Ipswich’s vision to be a nationally recognised creative city and celebrate the diversity and talent of its artistic community.
The gala awards night is being held on Saturday, November 7 from 6pm, where winners of each category will be announced, including the prestigious Best of Show.
Tickets for this event are $20 per person and are on sale now and can be secured via shapeyouripswich.com.au – get in quick before they are sold out.

