Rotorua Museum Art Awards 2026 Finalist Exhibition

Highlighting the exceptional talent of artists throughout the Bay of Plenty, this exhibition will showcase winners and finalists from the 2026 Rotorua Museum Art Awards. The exhibition will be on display at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre, Rotorua, from 5 February until 1 March 2026.

The Awards will be judged by highly regarded highly regarded New Zealand Art Gallery Director, Julie Catchpole. She recently concluded an exceptional 17-year career at the helm of The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū (Nelson) when she announced her retirement last November. Julie will judge three of the four award categories and will also select the works for the finalist exhibition.

This year’s awards include the Rotorua Museum Supreme Award with a prize of $15,000, the Lockwood Youth Award prize of $1,000 (open to entrants age 18 years and under) and the Watts & Hughes Innovation Award prize of $1,000.

While the exhibition is on display people can vote for their favourite artwork. The Coombes Johnston BMW People’s Choice Award will offer $500 to the artist whose work receives the most public votes and $500 to a voter following a random draw of all people that voted.

Entry to the exhibition at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre, is free and will be open daily between 10am – 4pm from 5 February until 1 March 2026.

A second exhibition will be displaying works that were not chosen for the finalist exhibition in a Salon des Refusés. This exhibition will be hosted at the Lockwood Show Homes Village (43 Fairy Springs Road, Rotorua) from 5 February until 1 March 2026, open daily between 10am – 4pm.

Proceeds from the sale of the Rotorua Museum Art Awards artworks will support the exhibition development project for the re-opening of Rotorua Museum.

The Rotorua Museum Art Awards is brought to you by Rotorua Museum, in association with Friends of Rotorua Museum. This prestigious competition is sponsored by Lockwood Buildings, Watts & Hughes, Coombes Johnston BMW and Rotorua Trust.

For further information please contact Rotorua Museum, phone 07 350 1814 or email [email protected]