MEDIA RELEASE: The Lester Prize 2025 Finalists Exhibition, Australia’s richest Portrait Prize tours to Manjimup in 2026
December 2025
Western Australia’s home-grown national art prize, and Australia’s richest portraiture competition, The Lester Prize, is set to tour to the Manjimup Art Gallery from 11 April to 16 May 2026, bringing 40 of the nation’s most compelling contemporary portraits to the South West.
Following a major exhibition at the WA Museum Boola Bardip, the 2025 Lester Prize Finalists exhibition will travel to Manjimup thanks to the Lester Prize and the generous support from Talison Lithium. This regional tour extends the reach of this acclaimed showcase, staying true to the Prize’s enduring ethos of making “art accessible for all”.
More than 1,025 entries were received in 2025, the highest in the Prize’s history since its establishment in 2007, highlighting the continuing growth of portraiture as a powerful form of visual storytelling across Australia.
An independent judging panel selected works from both established and emerging artists, with finalists representing the diversity of the national arts community including 17 returning artists, 13 from Victoria and 12 from Western Australia.
Lester Prize, Executive Director, Shannon Yujnovich, says the strength of this year’s exhibition lies in its artist-first approach. “The Lester Prize is proud to place artists and community at the heart of what we do — rather than focusing solely on those sitting for portraits. Each year we continue to see exciting new voices joining artists who return to the Prize, creating an incredibly rich snapshot of contemporary Australian portraiture.”
Recent additions to the Main Awards prize pool mean The Lester Prize now offers more than $135,000 in total prize money, further reinforcing its position as one of Australia’s most prestigious and lucrative art prizes.
“The opportunity to host an exhibition of this calibre is truly a gift to regional communities. It not only enriches our cultural landscape but also ensures that world-class art is accessible to everyone, no matter where they live,” said Shire President, Donelle Buegge.
The Lester Prize Finalists will be on display from 11 April until 16 May 2026.
Enter The Lester Prize
Entries are currently open for the 2026 Youth Award, welcoming students from Years 7–12, with submissions closing 5 March 2026.
The call for entries for the 2026 Main Awards (Adults 18+) will open from mid-January to mid-June.
There are seven major awards including the Richard Lester Prize for Portraiture, the Tony Fini Foundation Artist Prize, the Minderoo Foundation Spirit Prize and the Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize. Full entry details are available at www.lesterprize.com
