Artists from across Aotearoa are invited to pick up their brushes, connect with a subject, and create work that captures the essence of a living New Zealander to enter the Adam Portraiture Award, presented by the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata and generously supported by The Adam Foundation. 

Now one of the country’s longest running and most respected art prizes, the Adam Portraiture Award offers artists the opportunity to gain national recognition, a place in a major touring exhibition, and a chance to win the newly increased first prize of $30,000.

Artists entering the 2026 Adam Portraiture Award must be New Zealand citizens or residents, and all entries must be predominantly painted - including mediums such as oil, acrylic, watercolour or pastel - and completed after 21 March 2024.

This year’s Award also introduces a significant update to its entry criteria: all submitted works must be painted portraits of living New Zealanders and must be based on at least one live sitting or study from life. This emphasis on direct, in-person engagement encourages artists to forge a deeper connection with their subject, allowing for closer observation and the chance to capture the presence, character, and essence of the individual with immediacy and authenticity.

Another major development for 2026 is the re-introduction of an international guest judge to select all finalists and winners - a move that brings a clear, unified curatorial perspective to the award. The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata is pleased to announce that Jude Rae, an internationally acclaimed painter known for her masterful portraits and still lifes, will serve as the sole judge for this year’s competition.

The winner of the competition and recipient of a $30,000 cash prize will be selected by the judge at the start of the public exhibition showcasing all finalists’ works at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery, and an additional prize of $2,500 will be awarded for the runner up alongside another $2,500 prize for the People’s Choice, awarded at the end of the Adam Portraiture Award exhibition.

Entries close at 4pm on Wednesday 18 March 2026.

For further information, and to enter, please visit:
www.nzportraitgallery.org.nz/adam-portraiture-award