The winners of the 2026 Environmental Art & Design Prize have been announced, celebrating compelling and creative responses to some of the most important environmental issues of our time.
Scott Duncan took out the art prize with his work Choice Quality, using an experimental approach to ceramics, reflecting on cycles of consumption, waste and renewal. Nahum McLean, Stefan Lie and Ben Styles won the design category for their work The Motherboard, a surfboard made from biodegradable, locally sourced materials.
Young artists Margot Wrightson and Elsa Gong took out the youth categories.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said with the Environmental Art & Design Prize now in its sixth year, the Prize continues to grow, and submissions continue to challenge and inspire us.
“The Environmental Art & Design Prize continues to highlight the incredible creativity and commitment of artists and designers who are helping us see our environment in new and powerful ways.
“This year’s winners are outstanding examples of how art and design can spark important conversations about sustainability, climate change and our shared responsibility to care for the natural world.
“I congratulate all the winners and finalists, and encourage everyone to visit the exhibition, be inspired by these remarkable works and have their say in the People’s Choice Award,” Mayor Heins said.
The exhibition of the winners’ and finalists’ works opens 7 August at Manly Art Gallery & Museum and Curl Curl Creative Space and closes on 20 September.
The People’s Choice Award invites the public to vote for their favourite entries, with voting open until 16 September and winners announced on 18 September.
View this year’s finalists and explore their works on the Northern Beaches Council website.