Contemporary art in Canada is thriving, as evidenced by the recently announced finalists for the 2026 Sobey Art Award. The Sobey Art Foundation and the National Gallery of Canada unveiled the shortlist, featuring artists from six different regions.
The nominees for this year’s award include Melaw Nakehk’o from the Circumpolar region, Samuel Roy-Bois representing the Pacific region, Audie Murray from the Prairies region, Lotus L. Kang hailing from Ontario, Caroline Monnet from Quebec, and Shane Perley-Dutcher representing the Atlantic region.
These artists work across a diverse range of mediums such as textile art, sculpture, installation, and filmmaking. Notably, four out of the six artists incorporate elements of their Indigenous heritage into their art.
According to Jonathan Shaughnessy of the National Gallery of Canada, who chairs the Sobey Art Award jury, the shortlisted artists showcase a wide spectrum of contemporary visual practices. Their works, shaped by personal, cultural, and material histories, offer innovative and compelling transformations of materials.
The winner of the $100,000 grand prize will be announced on November 14 at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, following deliberations by an independent jury. Before the winner is revealed, the gallery will host an exhibition featuring the finalists’ work, starting on September 4 in Ottawa.
Last year’s recipient was Tania Willard, known for her land-based art practice. Previous winners include Brian Jungen, Divya Mehra, Nico Williams, and Abbas Akhavan, who is currently representing Canada at the Venice Biennale.
Established in 2002, the Sobey Art Award was previously limited to Canadian artists under 40 years old, but the age restriction was lifted in 2021. The award aims to provide a platform for Canada’s most significant artistic talents.
