The Koori Mail Indigenous Art Award 2026 is a national award, open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists working in any medium. Artists at any stage of their career are encouraged to enter this non-acquisitive award. Entries are free.
First launched at Lismore Regional Gallery in 2021 in partnership with the Koori Mail Newspaper, this nationwide award focuses on the innovation and vibrancy of contemporary Indigenous art across Australia. The award aims to collapse the hierarchies between artists and arts organisations and is a chance to discover new talent and synergies between creative practices.
This year we are thrilled to announce Dr Kimberly Moulton as the guest judge of the Award. Dr Kimberley Moulton is a Yorta Yorta woman, curator and writer. Leading research and curatorial practice in connecting histories and futures at the intersection of historical collections and contemporary art, her work centres Indigenous and Global Majority art histories and ecological, cultural and relational creative practices. She is Senior Curator Exhibitions at RISING, Melbourne's International Arts Festival and recently held tenure as the Adjunct Curator Indigenous Art Tate Modern (2023-2026).
Shortlisted finalist artists will be included in an exhibition at Lismore Regional Gallery from 6 November 2026 to 14 February 2027.
Further details:
- Entries close midnight, 6 September 2026
- Finalist notified of selection by 25 September 2026
2026 Awards
- Major award: $20,000
- Further categories to be announced closer to the exhibition including a Youth Award (18 – 25 years)
Entry form, paper copies are available at the gallery or call for assistance 02 6627 4600.
Guest Judge, Dr Kimberly Moulton
Dr Kimberley Moulton is a Yorta Yorta woman, curator and writer. Leading research and curatorial practice in connecting histories and futures at the intersection of historical collections and contemporary art, her work centres Indigenous and Global Majority art histories and ecological, cultural and relational creative practices. She is Senior Curator Exhibitions at RISING, Melbourne's International Arts Festival and recently held tenure as the Adjunct Curator Indigenous Art Tate Modern (2023-2026). She holds a PhD in curatorial practice from Monash University Melbourne and in 2023 was made Curator Emeritus at Museums Victoria. Kimberley has written extensively on curatorial practice, Indigenous art and museums globally and is an alumni of National Gallery Australia Wesfarmers Leadership Program, Dhiraamalang and the inaugural International Fellow for the program. Kimberley is currently Deputy Chair of the Board Shepparton Art Museum and director on the board for the Adam Briggs Foundation.
