Rotorua Museum Art Awards
Rotorua Museum Art Awards 2026
Rotorua Museum is happy to announce the return of the Art Awards for 2026 and are calling upon all Bay of Plenty artists to enter.
In association with Friends of Rotorua Museum this prestigious competition is sponsored by Lockwood Buildings, Watts & Hughes, Coombes Johnston BMW and Rotorua Trust.
2026 Award Categories
$15,000 Rotorua Museum Supreme Award
$1,000 Lockwood Youth Award
$1,000 Watts & Hughes Innovation Award
$1,000 Coombes Johnston BMW People’s Choice Award
($500 to the artist and $500 voter draw)
Entry Fees
*Youth Category: (18 years and under on 4 February 2026 receive 1 free entry)
1 work $FOC or 2 works $50
*Friends of Rotorua Museum Members:
1 work $40 or 2 works $70
*Other entrants:
1 work $50 or 2 works $90
Did you know members of Friends of Rotorua Museum receive a discount on entry! Want to become a Friends member – click here
How to Enter
Option 1: Complete our online entry form
Option 2: Download this online entry form
The completed entry form and entry fee must be received by 5pm on Monday 12 January 2026 by post, email or online.
Post: Rotorua Museum Art Awards, Private Bag 3029, Rotorua 3046
Email: Rotoruamuseumfriends@gmail.com
Key Dates
12 January 2026, 5pm: Deadline for entries and artist statements
18 & 19 January 2026: Artwork deliveries in person
19 January 2026: Last day for artwork deliveries by courier
4 February 2026, 5.30pm: Awards ceremony and opening of Finalist Exhibition at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre
4 February – 1 March, 10am – 4pm: Finalist Exhibition open to the public at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre
4 February – 1 March, 10am – 4pm: Salon des Refusés open to the public at the Lockwood Showhome Village
See attached for more Important Dates
Terms & Conditions
Please ensure you carefully read the full requirements around eligibility, artwork size and presentation as set out in the Conditions of Entry.
Artists: Open to artists that live, work or study in Bay of Plenty, or those students who study away from their Bay of Plenty base. Employees of Rotorua Museum, Rotorua Lakes Council and Friends of Rotorua Museum executive committee are not eligible to enter.
Artworks: Open to any craft or medium, excluding digital/moving image. The works must be original works, created in the last 24 months and cannot have been previously exhibited (in gallery or online). The artwork must not be AI generated or have any AI components.
Size: The longest side of wall-based works, including frame, must not exceed 1 metre or 40 inches
3-dimensional/freestanding and installation works must not exceed a maximum of 1 metre width x 1 metre depth x 1.5 metres height. Maximum weights: freestanding works – 25kg, hanging works – 20kg.
Sale: All works must be for sale, and the sale price must include a commission of 30%.
For more information, please contact:
Julie Parsons
027 242 4132
Rotoruamuseumfriends@gmail.com
