What’s Happening
Townsville’s largest art prize has named its 2026 finalists after attracting hundreds of entries from across Australia.
The Percivals 2026 will open on Saturday, May 23, at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery. Entry is free.
The biennial Townsville City Council art awards attracted 388 entries across three prize categories. A total of 114 artists were selected as finalists.
The competition includes the Percival Portrait Painting Prize, the Percival Photographic Portrait Prize, and the Percival Animal Portrait Prize.
Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto said the strong response showed the competition’s national standing.
“Receiving 388 entries shows just how highly regarded The Percivals has become – not only across North Queensland, but right across Australia,” Cr Dametto said.
“There’s no doubt artists around the country pencil The Percivals into their calendar every two years. It’s a standout competition that attracts a diverse range of artists, all keen to showcase their best work right here in the arts capital of Northern Australia.”
The launch will include speeches from artists and dignitaries.
Why It Matters
The Percivals gives Townsville a major national arts moment every two years.
It also brings local artists into the same exhibition as finalists from other Australian states and territories.
This year, 31 Townsville-based North Queensland finalists were selected. Another 83 finalists came from other parts of Australia.
Cr Dametto said the local presence showed the strength of the region’s creative community.
“The Percivals is shaping up to be another impressive exhibition,” he said.
“The Townsville City Galleries team is preparing to install the shortlisted artworks at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and welcome our judges, who certainly won’t have an easy job selecting the prize winners.
“I’m especially impressed that more than a quarter of this year’s exhibiting artists are locals. We have an incredible depth of artistic talent across the north, and it’s fantastic to see our local artists recognised alongside creatives from across the country.”
By The Numbers
- The Percival Portrait Painting Prize received 223 entries, with 54 works shortlisted for competition.
- The Percival Photographic Portrait Prize received 88 entries, with 45 works shortlisted.
- The Animal Portrait Prize received 77 entries, with 23 works shortlisted.
Local Impact
Townsville will have a strong presence in this year’s exhibition.
The Painting Prize shortlist includes 28 Queensland finalists, including 11 from North Queensland.
The Photographic Portrait Prize shortlist includes 29 Queensland finalists, with 11 from Townsville.
The Animal Portrait Prize shortlist includes 16 Queensland finalists, including nine from Townsville.
The exhibition will also give young artists a place on a major gallery platform.
Four artists under 18 have been selected for the 2026 exhibition.
Twelve-year-old Alan Leparq Potokar and eight-year-old Travis Conroy will exhibit in the Percival Photographic Portrait Prize.
Fourteen-year-old Sienna Frewen-Lord and eight-year-old Finn Gorman have works in the Percival Animal Portrait Prize.
“It’s great to see emerging artists stepping onto a platform like this,” Cr Dametto said.
“I’d like to congratulate Alan, Travis, Sienna and Finn on having their work selected for such a significant exhibition. That’s a considerable achievement, and they should be incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished.”
Zoom In
Townsville City Galleries now has the detailed task of hanging 122 artworks at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery.
The shortlisted works will be installed before the exhibition opens on Saturday, May 23.
The competition carries three prizes.
The Percival Portrait Painting Prize offers a $40,000 acquisitive prize.
The Percival Photographic Portrait Prize offers a $10,000 acquisitive prize.
The Percival Animal Portrait Prize offers a $1000 prize.
Zoom Out
The Percivals continues to position Townsville as a major regional arts centre.
Its reach now extends well beyond North Queensland, while still giving local artists strong visibility.
The 2026 finalist list shows how the competition can draw national attention while keeping local talent in focus.
What To Look For Next?
The Percivals 2026 opens on Saturday, May 23, at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery.
A Judges’ Floor Talk will be held on Sunday, May 24.
The talk will feature judges Sasha Grishin for Painting, Serena Bentley for Photography, and Ron McBurnie for Animal.
The winners will be selected from a large field of shortlisted works, giving judges a difficult task this year.
