In Canada today, the spotlight shines on the finalists for the 2026 Sobey Art Award to showcase contemporary art. The Sobey Art Foundation and the National Gallery of Canada unveiled the latest group of contenders from a previously announced list of hopefuls, representing six regions across the country.
The nominees for the 2026 Sobey Art Award include Melaw Nakehk’o from the Circumpolar region, Samuel Roy-Bois from the Pacific region, Audie Murray from the Prairies region, Lotus L. Kang from the Ontario region, Caroline Monnet from the Quebec region, and Shane Perley-Dutcher from the Atlantic region. These artists exhibit a diverse range of artistic disciplines such as textile art, sculpture, installation, and filmmaking, with four out of the six exploring themes related to their Indigenous heritage.
Jonathan Shaughnessy, chair of the Sobey Art Award jury and a representative from the National Gallery of Canada, commended the shortlisted artists for their innovative approach to materials and their profound connections to personal, cultural, and historical narratives. The winner of the $100,000 grand prize will be announced on November 14 at the NGC in Ottawa following deliberation by an independent jury of curators and gallery professionals.
Before the winner is revealed, the National Gallery of Canada will host an exhibition featuring the finalists’ works starting on September 4 in Ottawa. Notable past recipients of the Sobey Art Award include Tania Willard, Brian Jungen, Divya Mehra, Nico Williams, and Abbas Akhavan, each contributing significantly to Canada’s contemporary art scene.
Established in 2002, the Sobey Art Award originally targeted Canadian artists under 40 but removed the age restriction in 2021. The award’s mission is to amplify the voices of Canada’s most impactful artists and provide a platform for their artistic expressions.
