© National Portrait Gallery 2026
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196
Portrait Artist of the Year: Season 2
Event, On ABC iview and TV from 16 August
Season 2 of ABC’s hit series Portrait Artist of the Year is here! See artists at work over eight episodes as 54 contestants vie for the opportunity to have their work hang at the National Portrait Gallery!
Andy Griffiths portrait coming soon
Event, On view from 26 September
Once upon a time, in a not-so-faraway land, there was a Gallery that decided to commission a portrait of Andy Griffiths!
Courtney Act portrait coming soon
Event, On view from 24 October
Canberra’s about to get a lot more sparkly! Grab your tallest pair of heels and your fiercest outfit, because our new portrait of Australian drag icon and international superstar, Courtney Act, is in the making!
Portrait Play
Event, Selected days from Monday 28 September
Join us these school holidays for Portrait Play, a gentle and creative program for families and young children.
Power of Portrait Photography
Event, Selected days until Thursday 24 September
Join us for an engaging and interactive program tailored for upper primary students, where they will build critical thinking skills to interpret photographic portraits.
Virtual Highlight Tour
Portrait Reflections
Event, Tuesday 22 September
Join Experience Facilitator Samantha to explore the use of reflections in three Australian portraits.
Portrait Journey around Australia
History (upper primary)
Event, Selected days until Thursday 19 November
From First Nations perspectives to the contribution of migrants, from the opening of Parliament to environmental protest, Australian history is full of fascinating stories – and we have the portraits to explore them.
Portrait Quest!
Civics and Citizenship (upper primary)
Event, Selected days until Thursday 12 November
Join us for an interactive, curriculum-aligned program that explores the lives and contributions of significant Australians.
Portrait Exploration: Art and Identity
Visual Arts (upper primary)
Event, Selected days until Thursday 5 November
Join us for an engaging and interactive program tailored for upper primary students, where they’ll develop the confidence and critical thinking skills to interpret portraits.
In Conversation
Courtney Act and Paul Yore
Event, Saturday 24 October
Join drag queen, singer and television personality Courtney Act in conversation with artist Paul Yore as they discuss their new portrait.
Little Faces
Event, Starts Monday 21 September
Join us for a playful morning together as we look at Harold Thornton’s portrait of Bob Brown, Dr Brown and Green Old Time Waltz. Explore forests, faces and feelings through sensory play, singing and making.
Virtual Highlight Tour
Exhibition walkthrough: NPPP2026
Event, Tuesday 6 October
Join Visitor Experience Coordinator Marina for a final virtual tour of the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2026 live from the galleries.
Let me show you around
Welcome tour
Event, Daily
Explore the Gallery with a team member as they share their current favourite portrait playlist with you.
Andy Griffiths – Art. Make. Create.
Event, Saturday 26 September
Join best-selling children’s author Andy Griffiths to celebrate the launch of his new portrait by artist Ronnie van Hout. Be prepared to laugh your head off with Andy’s interactive session and explore his portrait through playful talks and family tours.
Everyday Scientists
Event, Available until August 2027
Join the National Portrait Gallery for a special National Science Week on demand session designed for Years 4–8, where art, history and hands-on science experiments come together.
50 Years of Deadly
Visual Arts & First Nations (high school)
Event, Available until April 2027
Join Dr Lilly Brown from Shifting Ground as she guides high school students through a series of powerful portrait explorations inspired by the 2026 NAIDOC theme: 50 Years of Deadly.