As the Archibald Prize 2026 exhibition enters its final two weeks, ANZ is celebrating another successful year as presenting partner of Australia's leading portrait prize, recognising the artists, stories and communities brought together through this year's exhibition.
A highlight of the exhibition is the ANZ People's Choice award, which gives visitors the opportunity to have their say by voting for their favourite portrait. Chosen entirely by the public, the award highlights the artworks that resonate most strongly with audiences and reflects the important role visitors play in shaping the exhibition experience.
This year, visitors selected Michael Zavros for his portrait, Alex with his tefillin in the sea, as the recipient of the 2026 ANZ People's Choice award.
The ANZ People's Choice award reflects the strong connection between audiences and the Archibald Prize, highlighting the works that resonate most deeply with the public and encouraging conversations about identity, culture and contemporary Australian life. This year, 45,769 people voted in the ANZ People's Choice competition, which is the highest number of votes ever received in the award's history.
ANZ Managing Director, Transaction Banking, Institutional, Lisa Vasic, said:
"The ANZ People's Choice award is a unique part of the Archibald Prize exhibition because it puts visitors at the centre of the experience, giving them the opportunity to recognise the artwork that has connected with them most strongly.
"For 17 years, ANZ has proudly partnered with the Archibald Prize and the Art Gallery of New South Wales to support one of Australia's most significant cultural events.
"We congratulate Michael Zavros on being selected by the public as this year's ANZ People's Choice award recipient, and we're delighted to see so many people engaging with this year's exhibition and contributing their votes."
This year marks 17 years of partnership between ANZ and the Archibald Prize, and 10 years as naming-rights partner of the ANZ People's Choice award, reflecting ANZ's long-standing commitment to supporting Australian arts and culture.
