Time is running out for artists worldwide to enter one of Australia's most respected portrait competitions: The Percivals.
Entries for The Percivals 2026 will close in just under two weeks, and organisers are urging artists of all ages and experience levels to submit their works now for the chance to share in $53,000 worth of prize money.
Presented by Townsville City Council, The Percivals is North Queensland's own biennial portrait competition, attracting nationally and internationally renowned artists alongside emerging talent from the region and beyond.
Winners selected across the three categories – Portrait Painting ($40,000 prize money), Photographic Portrait ($10,000) and Animal Portrait ($1,000) – will be announced on the opening day of The Percivals exhibition, which will be on show from May 23 to August 30 at the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery.
Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto said there were less than two weeks left for artists to enter and be part of an event that has been celebrating portraiture since 2007.
Councillor Dametto said interest in this year's competition had been strong, with more than 1,000 downloads of the competition's terms and conditions across all categories.
"The Percivals is a homegrown artistic contest of international calibre, and one of which the people of Townsville should be very proud," Cr Dametto said.
"Each year the competition provides a platform for Townsville artists to be exhibited alongside the world's best, all vying for a share in a significant amount of prize money.
"Winning artworks across the painting and photographic categories are acquired into the City of Townsville Art Collection, meaning they remain the property of the people of Townsville to showcase and enjoy for years to come.
"Personally, I am looking forward to visiting this year's exhibition and seeing the quality of entries received from local, national and international artists."
In 2024, winners included Seabastion Toast for How the Light Gets In, Danish Quapoor for screening test, and Eliza Dedini for Doug.
