Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival 2026
ENTRIES NOW CLOSED
The Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival offers an immersive experience where the valley itself becomes the gallery. Held every two years, the festival transforms historic Wollombi Village and beautiful surrounds into a dynamic showcase for contemporary sculpture, inviting visitors to explore scenic vineyards, curated indoor exhibitions, and a vibrant calendar of events.
We invite sculptors to submit sculptures for selection in the 2026 Festival. Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival is the oldest and one of the largest sculpture exhibitions in rural NSW.
Held over 16 days, from Saturday 12 September to Sunday 27 September 2026, this not-for-profit outdoor and indoor exhibition gives local, regional, interstate and international sculptors an opportunity to exhibit their works in the beautiful rural surroundings of the historic Wollombi Valley.
KEY DATES FOR ARTISTS
30th March – Artist applications open
3rd May – Artist applications close
31st May – Finalists notified
12th September – Opening Night & Prizes
PRIZES IN 2026
The 2026 Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival is even bigger than in previous years with exciting new prizes.
Open Prize – $35,000 Sponsored by the Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival
Highly Commended Prize – $10,000
Small Sculpture Prize – $5,000 Sponsored by Wollombi General Store
Youth Prize – $500 (for materials) Donated by the Winten Family
NEW PRIZES FOR 2026
Emerging Artist Prize – $5,000 Donated by The Parsons Family in Memory of Harry Parsons
Excellence in Mixed Media – $5,000
Excellence in Metal – $5,000 Supported by Sheena Duncan & Raymer Jones
Excellence in Stone – $5,000 Donated by Jumjum Enterprises Pty Limited
Excellence in Timber – $5,000 Donated by Sandy McIntyre and Ian Kerr
Peoples’ Choice Prize – $1,000 Donated by The Wollombi Valley Chamber of Commerce & The Wollombi Valley Community Association
Local Sculptor Prize – $1,000 Donated by the Wollombi Valley Arts Council
EXPOSURE PRIZES
Governor’s Prize: Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC is our distinguished Patron. Outdoor works are eligible and include a year-long exhibition at Government House.
London Sculpture Prize, Australia: Opportunity for a solo exhibition at the Hampstead School of Art, UK plus a $5,000 travel allowance.
Sculpture in the Valley Prize: A reciprocal prize with the Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival that includes automatic acceptance plus a $1,000 transportation allowance.
(All Prizes Non-Acquisitive)
OUR JUDGES IN 2026
Isabel Langtry – Principal, Hampstead School of Art
John McDonald – Art Critic
Jane Watters – Director, S.H. Ervin Gallery, National Trust of Australia
FOLLOW US ON:
For information regarding the above, contact:
curator@sculptureinthevineyards.com.au
Sculptor displayed above: Amanda Lockton. Photo courtesy of Nick Glover.