Sydney Contemporary, in partnership with Principal Partner MA Financial Group, has officially announced the five finalists for the 2026 MA Art Prize.
The Fair also announced a new Art + Dine series and partner activations ahead of its 10th anniversary edition at Carriageworks across September 3-6.
The 2026 finalists include Yolŋu artist Binygurr Wirrpanda showing with Alcaston Gallery (Melbourne / Naarm), Melbourne-based photographer Alex Walker showing with Void_Melbourne (Melbourne / Naarm), Sydney-based multidisciplinary artist Jackson Farley showing with NO FANTASY (Melbourne / Naarm), Melbourne-based artist Rebecca Diele showing with The Renshaws' (Brisbane / Meanjin, Sydney / Gadigal Country) and Australian-born, New York-based painter Renée Estée showing with COMA (Sydney / Gadigal Country).
Now in its fourth consecutive year, the MA Art Prize was established to celebrate and champion emerging and early-career artists exhibiting at Sydney Contemporary.
This year the acquisitive prize has increased to $25,000, and will be awarded to one early-career artist showcasing their work at the Fair, with the winner selected from the finalist list announced today and to be revealed later this month.
The finalists were selected by a judging panel comprising Andrew Martin, managing director & head of Asset Management, MA Financial Group, Amelia Hill, senior advisor, MA Financial Group, Jarrod Rawlins, director of Curatorial Affairs, MONA, Sue Cato AM, principal, Cato Counsel, and Alison Kubler, editor & chief, VAULT Magazine and 2026 MA Art Prize Panel Chair.
"The calibre of entries for this year's MA Art Prize has been exceptional, with a record number of submissions reflecting the strength, diversity and ambition of Australia's emerging and early-career artists," said MA Financial Group managing director and head of Asset Management, Andrew Martin.
"We congratulate the five finalists, whose work demonstrates remarkable creativity and artistic vision.
"At MA Financial, we are proud to support the next generation of Australian artists through the MA Art Prize and our partnership with Sydney Contemporary. We believe investing in the arts helps foster a vibrant cultural landscape, while creating meaningful opportunities for artists to gain recognition, connect with new audiences and advance their careers.
"As the MA Art Prize continues to grow, it is rewarding to see its increasing impact and reputation within the contemporary arts community. We look forward to celebrating the finalists and shortly announcing this year's deserving recipient."
Since launching in 2023, the MA Art Prize has built a track record of identifying artists on the cusp of major recognition.
All three past winners have sold out their booths at the Fair in the years they won, and have gone on to build significant momentum in their practices since.
Last year's winner, Juanita McLauchlan, is a Gamilaraay artist living on Wiradjuri Country in Wagga Wagga, and won for her work Mandaymanday / String of Stars, a large-scale contact print that draws on her Gamilaraay identity, history and language shown at CASSANDRA BIRD.
Corban Clause Williams, a Manyjilyjarra artist from the Pilbara, won the inaugural MA Art Prize in 2023, showing with EG Projects in the Fair's Futures sector. Williams' star has continued to rise since, with two further sell-out shows, a new projection commission for Parrtjima Festival 2026, and a limited-edition range of frames with Specsavers nationally.
Most recently, Williams was named one of only six recipients of the inaugural Creative WA Fellowship, beginning a 12-month period of creative development in 2026 that will culminate in an international presentation of new work in 2027.
Alongside the MA Art Prize, Sydney Contemporary 2026 will host an expanded program of partner activations across the Fair floor, Collector Lounge and throughout the city.
"The MA Art Prize has become one of the highlights of our calendar, and reflects just how much conviction MA Financial Group has in the early-career artists coming through the Fair," said Sydney Contemporary fair director Zoe Paulsen.
"As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we're also proud to expand that spirit of discovery beyond the Fair floor through Art + Dine with Destination NSW, and with the continued support of our partners who each bring their own way of connecting audiences with contemporary art and culture."
The new Art + Dine program, supported by Destination NSW, takes the conversations sparked by contemporary art at the Fair beyond Carriageworks and into Sydney's bars and restaurants.
The program includes a dedicated In Conversation event series pairing artists with writers, curators and gallerists over food and drink, alongside a bespoke cocktail series created in partnership with Saison Aperitifs and Four Pillars Gin, with the work of leading contemporary artists inspiring a series of limited-edition drinks that celebrate their distinctive practices.
The artist cocktails will be served at the Fair and at participating bars, restaurants and special events across Sydney in the lead-up to and during the event, inviting audiences to experience contemporary art through taste and conversation as part of Sydney Art Week.
Saison Aperitifs has created cocktails inspired by the work of Reko Rennie, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Joan Ross and Michael Zavros, while Four Pillars Gin has collaborated with Tom Polo on a cocktail and Nell on a mocktail using native ingredients.
As part of Art + Dine, In Conversation sessions will take place at partner hotels The Ace Hotel Sydney, The EVE Hotel and Capella Sydney, including an evening with Reko Rennie on the 27th of August, in conversation with journalist Ariela Bard on the 2nd of September and much more.
Sydney Contemporary is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and events agency, Destination NSW.
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