Portrait Artist of the Year renewed for season 3 on ABC, calling all artists to apply

Easels at the ready - Portrait Artist of the Year has been commissioned for a third season, and ABC and Endemol Shine Australia are inviting artists from across the country to pick up a brush and apply.

Following two successful seasons celebrating artistic talent from every corner of the country, the series will once again offer amateur and professional artists the opportunity to showcase their skills, capture the likeness of well-known Australians, and compete for a career-defining prize.

Winner of the 2025 AACTA Award for Best Entertainment Program, Portrait Artist of the Year has become an audience favourite, averaging over a million viewers per episode across both seasons to date, with launch audiences of over 1.4 million for both series one and two*.

Kath Earle, ABC Head of Arts, Music and Events, said, “Each season, Portrait Artist of the Year puts 54 talented Australian artists in the spotlight, bringing the arts straight into loungerooms across the country. And honestly, watching a portrait come together in four hours never loses its magic. Season three will give more brilliant artists the opportunity to shine on ABC TV & ABC iview in 2027.

David McDonald, Director of Comedy, Endemol Shine Australia, said, “Warm, surprisingly insightful and emotional, Portrait Artist of the Year is a show that has revealed some of Australia’s finest artists, and it’s fantastic that we will once again see this same celebration of raw talent on our screens in 2027, alongside our wonderful judges and hosts.”

Hosts Miranda Tapsell and Luke McGregor return for another season of creativity, camaraderie and competition. Joining them once again are Director of the National Portrait Gallery, Bree Pickering; award-winning multidisciplinary artist Abdul Abdullah; and Associate Professor of Art History at the Australian National University, Robert Wellington, who will lend their expertise as artists take on the challenge of painting a series of high-profile sitters.

Season three will feature a fresh line-up of celebrity subjects and remarkable artistic talent, with artists competing for the opportunity to win a prestigious commission for the National Portrait Gallery's collection.

Whether you're a practicing professional, an emerging artist, or simply passionate about portraiture, now is your chance to share your work with a national audience.

Artists from all backgrounds and experience levels are encouraged to apply for the opportunity to paint some of Australia's most recognisable faces, receive invaluable feedback from leading figures in the art world, and compete for a career-changing commission for the National Portrait Gallery.

Applications are now open. To apply, click HERE.

Stream Portrait Artist of the Year S1 & S2 on ABC iview.

Production credits:

Portrait Artist of the Year is produced by Endemol Shine Australia (ESA) part of media and entertainment group, Banijay Entertainment, for ABC. Executive Producer: David McDonald. ABC Head of Arts, Music and Events: Kath Earle. ABC Commissioning Editor: Rachel Robinson.

*Source: OzTAM VOZ, National Total TV, When Watched, Average Audience