ARTnews names nominees for third annual 2026 Awards

ARTnews has announced the nominees for the 2026 ARTnews Awards.

The list was published on 29 September 2026, according to ARTnews. This is the third annual edition of the awards. The announcement carries the bylines of writers Maximilíano Durón and Alex Greenberger.

Nominees, in plain terms, means the final contenders. These are the artists and institutions still in the running before any winners are chosen. Readers do not need prior knowledge to use the list. Start there.

The awards honour excellence in art achievements at arts institutions in the United States. That is the stated brief for the programme, as described by ARTnews. The focus is on museums and other public-facing venues. It is not about auction results or private sales. It is about work that is organised, shown and supported for the public.

The history is still short. The 2025 ARTnews Awards were the second edition. In that year, Jack Whitten was named Historical Artist of the Year, as reported by ARTnews. Ralph Lemon received the Lifetime Achievement honour in the same year, as reported by ARTnews. One category looks back at an artist whose career has closed. The other recognises sustained work over many years.

For fans, this means a simple way in. You can treat a nominees list as a viewing guide. Look up the names. Check what shows are still open near you. Share the ones you like.

What makes this stand out is continuity. A first year tests an idea. A second year repeats it. A third year settles into a rhythm, with past winners to compare against new contenders. The full 2026 nominees list sits with ARTnews for readers who want to explore it name by name.