City of Canning expands Art Awards to welcome more artists in 2026

More Western Australian artists than ever before will have the opportunity to showcase their creativity, with the City of Canning increasing the capacity of its annual Art Awards from 200 to 250 entries this year.

Entries are now open for the 2026 City of Canning Art Awards, inviting emerging and established artists to exhibit their work in a professionally curated exhibition with the opportunity to gain recognition within the arts community and compete for a range of cash prizes.

Mayor Patrick Hall said the Art Awards continue to provide an important platform for artists to share their work while enriching the City's cultural landscape.

"The Canning Art Awards celebrate the incredible creativity that exists within our community and across Western Australia. By increasing the number of exhibition places from 200 to 250, we're creating more opportunities for artists to showcase their work and connect with like-minded audiences."

"Whether you're an emerging artist exhibiting for the first time or an established professional, the Awards provide a welcoming platform to gain recognition, celebrate creativity and be part of one of the City's premier cultural events. We're also pleased to continue working with the Canning Arts Group, with two new awards this year providing further opportunities to recognise the talent of artists within our community," he said.

The City of Canning Art Awards is an annual highlight on the City's events calendar, providing artists with the opportunity to exhibit their work in the wider community while competing for category and special awards worth up to $1,000.

Artists may enter one artwork across seven categories, including Painting on Canvas, Painting on Paper, Drawing, 3D Sculpture and Textile, Mixed Media, Photography and Digital Art. Categories are open to both Adults and Young Artists aged 12 to 17 years, with additional awards recognising Canning residents, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and the People's Choice Award.

New in 2026, the Awards will also feature two overall awards presented by the Canning Arts Group, recognising excellence across 2D and 3D artworks. The Canning Arts Group 2D Award will be open to eligible adult entries across Painting on Canvas, Painting on Paper, Drawing and Mixed Media, while the Canning Arts Group 3D Award will recognise eligible adult entries in the 3D Sculpture and Textile category.

To be eligible for either Canning Arts Group award, entrants must be a current Canning Arts Group member for 2026. Further information about membership and eligibility is available through the Canning Arts Group website.

Entries are now open and will close on Friday 28 August 2026, or earlier if the maximum capacity of 250 eligible entries is reached. Artists are encouraged to register early to secure their place in the exhibition.

Following the judging process, selected artworks will be exhibited at Riverton Library from 25 September to 3 October, where visitors can enjoy a diverse collection of works from some of Western Australia's most talented artists. Many artworks will be available for purchase throughout the exhibition.

This year's program also introduces a change to the popular Opening Night and Awards Presentation, which will now be held on Thursday 24 September, instead of its traditional Friday evening. The earlier opening gives visitors more opportunities to experience the exhibition across the opening weekend. Opening Night is a ticketed event with limited capacity and attendees are required to have a ticket in advance. Tickets will be available for purchase to the public from late August.

Throughout the exhibition, visitors will be invited to vote for their favourite artwork via QR code, with the People's Choice Award to be announced on Monday 12 October.

Artists can submit their entries and find more information by visiting www.canning.wa.gov.au/artawards26.