2026 Awards | Shortlist Announced
AMaGA Victoria and PGAV are pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2026 Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards, recognising the outstanding organisations and collaborators whose work is shaping Victoria's cultural landscape.
As a celebrated annual tradition, the Awards highlight the creativity, dedication, and excellence that define the state's museums and galleries sector. Drawn from an impressive 74 nominations, this year's shortlist reflects the remarkable breadth and quality of work being undertaken across Victoria, from major institutions to community-led initiatives.
Congratulations to all shortlisted organisations and collaborators. Their achievements represent the very best of what Victoria's museums and galleries have to offer.
Volunteer-run Project of the Year
Birchip Museum | The Year of 1969 and Birchip Connections
Castlemaine Art Museum | Framed
Museum of Future Water / Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre | The Museum of Future Water
Sephardi Association of VIC Inc | Sephardi Heritage Museum of Australia
Wonthaggi and District Historical Society | 15 Minutes of History
Small Project of the Year (Museum)
Melbourne Holocaust Museum | Zachor: Ask a Survivor
National Trust of Australia (Victoria) / Heritage Victoria | Traces of Girlhood
Portland Maritime Museum (Glenelg Shire Council) | Nyamat Mirring Gallery
State Library Victoria | Mouthful of Dust
Yarra Ranges Regional Museum | Badass Women of the Yarra Ranges: She Shapes History x Yarra Ranges Regional Museum
Small Project of the Year (Gallery)
Counihan Gallery (Merri-bek City Council) | Marvellous Mythical Mates: A Menagerie of Dream Pets
Kingston Arts (City of Kingston) | Generations: connections to Country
Public Record Office Victoria / Victorian Archives Centre | Rewind Forward Exhibition
State Library Victoria | Searching for Sanctuary: A journey of survival by Barat Ali Batoor
The Torch | Future Dreaming
Wangaratta Art Gallery | Overland Matthew Harris
Medium Project of the Year (Museum)
City of Greater Dandenong | HOME25
Hellenic Museum | Rituals: Gifts for the Gods
National Communication Museum | FRIEND - Holy objects, intimate machines and artificial companions
Shrine of Remembrance | Taste of Combat: The Evolution of Military Food
Medium Project of the Year (Gallery)
Art Gallery of Ballarat | Medieval to Metal: The Art and Evolution of the Guitar
Heide Museum of Modern Art | Molto Bello: Icons of Modern Italian Design
Museum of Australian Photography | The basement: photography from Prahran College (1968-81)
State Library Victoria | Melbourne Out Loud - Life through the Lens of Rennie Ellis
Large Project of the Year
ACMI | Game Worlds
Art Gallery of Swan Hill | Redevelopment of Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery
Bendigo Art Gallery | Frida Kahlo: In her own image
Islamic Museum of Australia | Faith Gallery
State Library Victoria | Make Believe: Encounters with Misinformation
The University of Melbourne | 65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art
First Nations Project of the Year
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art | Tennant Creek Brio: Juparnta Ngattu Minjinypa Iconocrisis
Berninneit | Yawa (Long Journey)
Blak Dot Gallery | EXCHANGE
Cardinia Shire Council / Marra Marra Gallery | Marra Marra: Our Countries Song
Koorie Heritage Trust | Connie Hart: One Stitch at a Time
Monash University Museum of Art | Awakening Histories
Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery | Unfolding: First Nations Works on Paper
The Torch / Heide Museum of Modern Art | Blak In-Justice: Incarceration and Resilience
Victorian Indigenous Research Centre, State Library Victoria | Treaty
Warrnambool Art Gallery | Kait James: Red Flags
