The prestigious award, which champions visual arts in Canada, is one of the richest arts prizes in the country.
More than half a dozen Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU) alumni and faculty members are among the artists long-listed for the 2026 Sobey Art Award.
Alums Aileen Bahmanipour (BFA 2017), Chun Hua Catherine Dong (BFA 2011), Chris Donovan (BFA 2018), Jude Griebel (BFA 2003) and former student Manuel Axel Strain have been named to the long list, as have faculty members Kelly Lycan and Emily Hermant.
“Exemplifying a wide array materials and perspectives, the works of this year’s long-listed artists assert a compelling engagement with the present,” says Jonathan Shaughnessy, director of Curatorial Initiatives at the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) and chair of the 2026 Sobey Award Jury.
Founded in 2002, the prestigious Sobey Art Award is funded by the Sobey Art Foundation and organized and presented by the NGC. The award propels the careers of artists through financial support and recognition in Canada and beyond.
This year, a total of $465,000 in prize money will be awarded: $100,000 to the overall winner, $25,000 to each of six shortlisted artists, and $10,000 to the remaining long-listed artists. The six shortlisted artists will also be featured in an exhibition at the NGC in fall 2026.
The Sobey Art Award shortlist will be announced later in 2026, with the final winner announced on Nov. 14 during a gala event at the NGC.
Read more about this year’s nominees via arts and culture publication Stir.
More About Visual Arts at ECU
For independent and fiercely creative students, ECU’s Visual Arts program offers exceptional freedom and choice. As you build your creative skills, you’ll develop a deep understanding of how various art forms and histories connect, intersect and inform today’s practices.
Your faculty members, practicing artists who define the Canadian creative landscape, will guide you as you refine your techniques and follow your curiosity. After graduating, you’ll have a mature and exceptional body of work to launch your career.
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More About the Master of Fine Arts program at ECU
Enhance your artistic practice and critical inquiry with our two-year Master of Fine Arts programs, featuring innovative and flexible pathways. Immerse yourself in contemporary art production through an interdisciplinary curriculum that bridges methods and ideas in a supportive and challenging environment. Choose between a full-residency option for year-round, on-campus engagement or our two low-residency programs combining online learning with on-campus intensives.
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