The Kingston Prize is pleased to announce the 30 finalists for the 2026 national portrait competition.
We congratulate each of the finalists and extend our sincere thanks to the many exceptional artists from across Canada who submitted their work this year. With close to 400 entries, the 2026 competition once again demonstrates the remarkable depth and diversity of portrait painting in Canada—and the Kingston Prize’s place as a truly national competition.
We warmly invite you to come and experience these remarkable portraits in person. The 2026 Kingston Prize exhibition will be held October 30–November 8 at Arta Gallery in Toronto’s historic Distillery District. Admission is free, and we invite everyone to come and see the work in person.
The jury will announce the 2026 Kingston Prize winner and two Honourable Mentions on November 6.
The Board of the Kingston Prize would also like to thank our distinguished 2026 jury for the time, expertise and thoughtful consideration they have brought to this year’s competition:
Lauchlan Reid, Faculty, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
Mireille Eagan, Curator, The Rooms, St John’s, NL
Kanika Anand, Curator, Contemporary Calgary, Calgary, AB
Mark your calendar, bring a friend, and join us at Arta Gallery this fall. We look forward to welcoming you.
Congratulations to all 30 finalists!
2026 Finalists
Gracien Amisi, Ottawa, ON
Kulwant Singh Bhullar, Brampton, ON
Charles Bierk, Toronto, ON
Anindita Chakraborty, Montréal, QC
Charles Choi, Whitby, ON
Lauren Crazybull, Vancouver, BC
Claire Drummond, Elgin, QC
Carlos Fentanes, Uxbridge, ON
Tiff Frost, Montréal, QC
Roselina Hung, Vancouver, BC
Miles Ingrassia, Toronto, ON
Todd Lachance, Calgary, AB
Haejung Lee, Toronto, ON
James Lee Chiahan, Montréal, QC
Tong Luo, Levittown, NY
John McDonald, Petty Harbour, NL
Rebekah Miller, Dawson City, YK
Anoosh Mubashar, Whitby, ON
Opeyemi Olukotun, Brandon, MB
Sherry Park, Brampton, ON
Tristram Pinney, Toronto, ON
Emma Rach-Syslak, Calgary, AB
Ginok Song, Petty Harbour, NL
Pierre St-Jacques, Toronto, ON
Matthew Tarini, Hamilton,ON
k. Trembler, Albanel, QC
Pamela Vickerson, Calgary, AB
Georgia Wang, Toronto, ON
Nelson White, St. John’s, NL
Shye Zhang, Scarborough, ON
