Contemporary art in Canada is showcased through the 2026 Sobey Art Award shortlist, recently unveiled by the Sobey Art Foundation and the National Gallery of Canada. The selection of six finalists from various regions includes 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.
The diverse group of artists engages in a wide range of artistic disciplines, such as textile art, sculpture, installation, and filmmaking, with four of them drawing inspiration from their Indigenous heritage. Jonathan Shaughnessy of the NGC, who chairs the Sobey Art Award jury, notes that these artists demonstrate innovative approaches to materials, weaving personal, cultural, and material histories into their work.
An independent jury of curators and gallery professionals will determine the recipient of the $100,000 grand prize, to be announced on November 14 at the NGC in Ottawa. Prior to the announcement, a group exhibition featuring the finalists’ artworks will open on September 4 in Ottawa.
The previous year’s award went to Tania Willard, a Secwépemc artist known for her land-based art practice. Notable past winners include Brian Jungen, Divya Mehra, Nico Williams, and Abbas Akhavan, who currently represents Canada at the Venice Biennale. The Sobey Art Award, established in 2002, previously had an age limit but removed it in 2021, aiming to amplify Canada’s artistic voices.
