The collection display includes a wide selection of portraits that tell extraordinary stories of encounter, exploration, independence, individuality and achievement in Australia.

From Shakespeare to Winehouse, Darwin to Dickens, the Beatles, Brontë sisters and Beckham, the National Portrait Gallery London holds the world’s most extensive collection of portraits.

Take a 30 minute tour of the Portrait Gallery exploring the collection and the building.

The Darling Portrait Prize is a national prize for Australian portrait painting honouring the legacy of Mr L Gordon Darling AC CMG (1921-2015). The winner receives a cash prize of $75,000.

The exhibition is selected from a national field of entries, reflecting the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.

Little Darlings is for primary and secondary students, with four separate categories across Kindergarten to Year 12. Responding to the theme ‘identity’, students painted, drew, photographed, printed or combined all of these to make their portrait.

Experience the very best new portrait paintings and photographs from across Australia.

Join Australian photography curator, historian and writer, Helen Ennis for a conversation about photographers challenging the conventions of personal and public space in their portraits.

Calling on Canberra Cathies! Help celebrate Canberra’s sixth The Most Wuthering Heights Day ever and our special exhibition, Shakespeare to Winehouse, featuring a beautiful portrait of the Brontë sisters.

This school holidays, remember to hop (like Peter Rabbit) into our play plot! Inspired by Beatrix Potter’s portrait in our special exhibition, Shakespeare to Winehouse.

Are you aged between 4 and 8 years old? Why not join us in the galleries to explore portraits through drawing and creative activity?

Come and celebrate NAIDOC week with a reading of Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country written by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing, followed by some colourful and playful activities.

Celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples this NAIDOC week and join Ronnie Jordan a Kalkadoon Pitta Pitta woman, who will share her traditional ecological knowledge with you.

Are you aged between 4 and 8 years old? Why not join us in the galleries to explore portraits through drawing and creative activity?

Explore the main collection before our usual opening hours. We welcome anyone of any age who would benefit from a more relaxed gallery experience. We’ll have low sensory spaces, quiet areas and a creative activity for families to enjoy together.

Join Sandra Bruce, Director Collection & Exhibitions, and Rebecca Ray, Associate Curator, as they explore some of their favourite portraits in our exciting new exhibitions.

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Fire up your brain and fingers this winter and make a no-knit neuron! Artists Pat Pillai and Rita Pearce of Neural Knitworks – craft a healthy brain will help you discover connections between art and brain health.

Celebrate the change in the seasons, the joy of art and coming together as a community in the warmth of the National Portrait Gallery!

Boost your creativity and build a toolkit of practical strategies to develop positive creative learning experiences for your students.

Draw while listening to the Pop Up Choir, singing songs that will leave your toes tapping and heart full.

Join us in the Gallery as we explore the collection with our tour for visitors who are blind or have low vision. Sighted companions and guide dogs are more than welcome.

Join award winning writer, illustrator, musician and composer Matt Ottley for an intimate conversation focussed on his latest ground-breaking work, The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness, about one boy’s journey into mental illness.

Join award winning writer, illustrator, musician and composer Matt Ottley for an intimate conversation focussed on his latest ground-breaking work, The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness, about one boy’s journey into mental illness.

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Draw while listening to a gentle sound work based on mandolin and electronics with sound artist Lynden Bassett.

Featuring more than two-hundred works by Australian artists, the exhibition explores our inner worlds and outer selves, as well as issues of sociability, intimacy, isolation, celebrity and ordinariness.