The Ruby Awards honour the people, projects and organisations at the heart of South Australia’s creative landscape.
Nominations for the 2026 Ruby Awards are now open.
Nominations close at 5pm Wednesday 12 August.
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About the Ruby Awards
Named in honour of late arts patron Dame Ruby Litchfield, the Ruby Awards are the only government-led annual awards for the creative sector in Australia, celebrating creative excellence, innovation, collaboration, leadership and community impact across South Australia.
Whether you are an artist, creative practitioner, organisation, community group or supporter of the sector, the Rubys are an opportunity to recognise work making a meaningful contribution to our state's creative future.
The awards are open to nominees living, working or operating in South Australia or those who have lived here during a period of major professional achievement or development.
Award categories
Nominations are open across 12 categories and can be submitted by individuals, organisations or community members. You can nominate yourself or nominate someone else.
This year's award categories reflect contemporary creative practice and the priorities of A Place to Create.
What is it for?
This award recognises a work by South Australian artists, groups or organisations, which explores, interprets or shares South Australian stories, heritage or lived experience.
Who is eligible?
Open to:
- arts, cultural and creative industries
- community organisations
- individual artists or groups
- local and state government
- not-for-profit sector
- private enterprise.
What is it for?
This award recognises an extraordinary South Australian who, over a sustained period of 25 years or more, has made an outstanding contribution to the arts, cultural or creative industries.
Who is eligible?
Open to:
- arts, cultural and creative industries workers
- community workers
- individual artists or creatives
- local and state government workers
- not-for-profit sector workers
- private enterprise workers
- volunteers.
If a nominee has already won this award, they cannot be nominated for it again.
What is it for?
This award is named in honour of Narungga and Kaurna man Stevie Gadlabarti Goldsmith, a prominent South Australian Aboriginal community leader and cultural educator. This award recognises artistic, cultural or creative achievement or contribution by a South Australian Aboriginal individual, group or organisation.
Who is eligible?
South Australian Aboriginal:
- individuals or groups working or volunteering in the arts, cultural and creative industries
- owned or led organisations or businesses
- individual artists or creatives
- community groups and associations, including Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
If a nominee has already won this award, they cannot be nominated for it again.
What is it for?
This award is named in honour of South Australian theatre director Geoff Crowhurst, a prominent contributor to professional community theatre. This award recognises the contribution of an individual or organisation to community arts, cultural or creative development through which stronger and more cohesive communities are created.
Who is eligible?
Open to:
- arts, cultural and creative industries
- community workers or organisations
- individual artists and groups
- local and state government
- not-for-profit sector
- private enterprise
- volunteers.
If a nominee has already won this award, they cannot be nominated for it again.
What is it for?
This award is named in honour of Frank Ford AM, founder of the Adelaide Fringe Festival and Adelaide Cabaret Festival, and recognises outstanding artistic, cultural or creative achievement or contribution by an individual aged 30 years or younger.
Who is eligible?
South Australian based individuals aged 30 years or younger who are:
- arts, cultural and creative industries workers
- community workers
- individual artists or creatives
- local and state government workers
- not-for-profit sector workers
- private enterprise workers
- volunteers.
If a nominee has already won this award, they cannot be nominated for it again.
What is it for?
This award is for an outstanding arts, cultural or creative work that has had a significant positive impact for children and young people aged 30 years and under in South Australia, created for or presented to this age group.
Who is eligible?
Open to:
- arts, cultural and creative industries
- community organisations
- individual artists or groups
- local and state government
- not-for-profit sector
- private enterprise.
What is it for?
This award is for an outstanding arts, cultural or creative work that has made a significant positive impact on a regional or remote community in South Australia, which was created for or presented in regional or remote areas of the state.
Who is eligible?
Open to:
- arts, cultural and creative industries
- community organisations
- individual artists and groups
- local and state government
- not-for-profit sector
- private enterprise.
What is it for?
This award is for an outstanding arts, cultural or creative work that has had significant positive outcomes for a community in South Australia.
Who is eligible?
Open to:
- arts, cultural and creative industries
- community organisations
- individual artists and groups
- local and state government
- not-for-profit sector
- private enterprise.
What is it for?
This award is for an outstanding artist, group or organisation whose work champions and encourages access, diversity and/or inclusion.
Who is eligible?
Open to:
- arts, cultural and creative industries
- community organisations
- individual artists and groups
- local and state government
- not-for-profit sector
- private enterprise.
What is it for?
This award is for an outstanding new arts, cultural or creative work by an individual or group, presented for the first time in South Australia between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.
Who is eligible?
Open to:
- individual artists and groups.
What is it for?
This award is for an outstanding new arts, cultural or creative work by an organisation, presented for the first time in South Australia between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.
Who is eligible?
Open to:
- arts, cultural and creative industries
- community organisations
- local and state government
- not-for-profit sector
- private enterprise.
What is it for?
This award is for an arts, cultural or creative work or organisation that champions climate action, adopts environmentally sustainable practices, or advances understanding of climate change.
Who is eligible?
Open to:
- arts, cultural and creative industries
- community organisations
- individual artists and groups
- local and state government
- not-for-profit sector
- private enterprise.
Submit a nomination
You don't need to be an expert to submit a nomination. If you can explain why a person, project or organisation stands out, you can nominate.
Where to start
- read the full eligibility requirements in the nomination guidelines (PDF, 594.5 KB)
- consider the category that best aligns with the nominee's achievements
- gather supporting evidence, including images, links and testimonials where relevant
- allow time to complete your application – you can save your progress and return later.
Download our checklist (PDF, 249.8 KB) to help you prepare.
Get help to make a nomination
If you have any questions about submitting a nomination, email us at RubyAwards@sa.gov.au. We will respond within three business days.
Judging panel expressions of interest
Members of the Ruby Awards judging panel have considerable experience in the arts, culture, and creative industries across South Australia.
Expressions of interest remain open for future judging panels.
Past Ruby Awards
Previous award recipients
Ruby Awards 2024 (PDF, 102.5 KB)
Ruby Awards 2023 (PDF, 253.0 KB)
Ruby Awards 2022 (PDF, 134.4 KB)
Ruby Awards 2021 (PDF, 127.2 KB)
Ruby Awards 2020 (PDF, 168.2 KB)
Ruby Awards 2019 (PDF, 180.5 KB)
Event photo galleries
2025 Ruby Awards at Adelaide Convention Centre
2024 Ruby Awards at Adelaide Botanic Gardens
2023 Ruby Awards at Adelaide Festival Centre
2022 Ruby Awards at The Queens Theatre, Adelaide
