Six artists from across Canada have been shortlisted for the 2026 Sobey Art Award, the nation's top contemporary art prize. The finalists are Melaw Nakehk'o (Circumpolar), Samuel Roy-Bois (Pacific), Audie Murray (Prairies), Lotus L. Kang (Ontario), Caroline Monnet (Québec), and Shane Perley-Dutcher (Atlantic). Each finalist receives C$25,000 ($18,000), with a grand prize of C$100,000 ($72,000) to be announced at a ceremony in Ottawa on 14 November. An exhibition of their works will be held at the National Gallery of Canada later this year, and the 24 longlisted artists not among the finalists will each receive C$10,000 ($7,200).
The shortlist highlights Canada's cultural and aesthetic diversity, with four of the six finalists of First Nations ancestry and others of Asian and African backgrounds. The prize, now in its 23rd year, is a major platform for contemporary visual practice in Canada, showcasing artists who transform materials and traditions across textile art, film-making, and sculpture. The Sobey Art Award is significant for elevating Canadian artists nationally and internationally, with past winners and finalists often gaining broader recognition in the global art world.