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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

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Events

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Painting workshop at the National Portrait Gallery in 2022

Winner’s Workshop

With Australia’s Portrait Artist of the Year

Event, Starts Friday 30 January

Join the inaugural winner of Portrait Artist of the Year for a painting workshop at the National Portrait Gallery.

Portrait Artist of the Year

Event, On ABC iview and TV from 2 November

Celebrate the art of portraiture with the ABC’s brand-new series Portrait Artist of the Year. Across eight episodes, amateur, emerging and professional artists go head-to-head, competing for the ultimate prize: a life-changing commission to hang in the National Portrait Gallery.

People participating in crafting activities

Portrait Play

Event, Daily from Monday 5 January

Join us these school holidays for Portrait Play, a gentle and creative program for families and young children.

Still from The Matildas, 2025 Angela Tiatia

Little Kickers

At the National Portrait Gallery

Event, Selected days from Monday 19 January

Discover the magic of sport and storytelling through art and play!

Portrait Quest!

Civics and Citizenship (upper primary)

Event, Selected days until Tuesday 24 March

Join us for an interactive, curriculum-aligned program that explores the lives and contributions of significant Australians.

An evening at Yarra Cottage, Port Stephens

Portrait Journey around Australia

History (upper primary)

Event, Daily

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 Exploration: Art and Identity

Visual Arts (upper primary)

Event, Daily

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.

Little Faces

Event, Starts Wednesday 28 January

Do we have a treat for the smaller humans in your life! Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Little Faces

Event, Starts Wednesday 25 February

Do we have a treat for the smaller humans in your life! Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Children with a soccer ball in front of the National Portrait Gallery

Matildas: Game Face

Event, Daily until Sunday 1 February

Celebrate our new commissioned portrait of the CommBank Matildas by artist Angela Tiatia.

Visitors in front of where will the story take us, 2002-2024 (printed 2024) (detail) Katrin Koenning

Guided Tour

The art of portraiture

Event, 11:00am daily

Learn about the architecture of the building before journeying through the Gallery to hear about the lives and legacies of the portrait subjects and the artistic techniques used to tell their stories.

Visitors in front of The Quickening, 2022 (detail) Ying Ang

Introduction tour

Welcome highlights

Event, 2:00pm daily

Join a short introductory tour of the National Portrait Gallery and discover a few key portraits.

The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy

Visual Arts & First Nations (high school)

Event, Available until 2 April 2026

Join the National Portrait Gallery for an engaging 15 minute On Demand resource to explore this year's NAIDOC theme The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. For students aged 13 to 18.

Shelley Ware with Blood money - infinite dollar note - Aunty Regina Pilawuk Wilson, 2023. Dr Ryan Presley

The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy

Visual Arts & First Nations (upper primary)

Event, Available until 2 April 2026

Join the National Portrait Gallery for an engaging 45 minute On Demand session to explore this year's NAIDOC theme The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. For students aged 8 to 12.

Two people viewing artworks in the In Bloom exhibition

Guided Tour

In Bloom: Famous faces and florals

Event, Daily until Sunday 21 December

Led by knowledgeable guides, our tours are conversational, friendly and informative.

Shelley Ware with Albert and Vincent, 2024. Vincent Namatjira OAM

The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy

Visual Arts & First Nations (lower primary)

Event, Available until 2 April 2026

Join the National Portrait Gallery for an engaging 45 minute On Demand session to explore this year's NAIDOC theme The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. For students aged 5 to 8.

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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency