13/10/26

The 2026 Ruby Awards finalists recognise the artists, creatives, organisations and projects making an impact across South Australia.

A judging panel of artists and members of the creative sector had the difficult task of shortlisting more than 100 nominees received across 12 categories.

The finalists reflect the diversity and breadth of South Australia’s creative landscape, from First Nations artists and regional communities to emerging creatives, established organisations and new work.

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.

Winners will be announced at the 2026 Ruby Awards annual awards evening on Friday 13 November.

2026 Ruby Awards finalists

A Place to Create Award – Celebrating South Australian Stories

  • Kumarangk Exhibition, Country Arts SA
  • Nexus Arts Interplay Program: Cultivating and Sharing South Australian Stories, Nexus Arts
  • Oh Brother: A Graphic Memoir, Georgina Chadderton

Outstanding Achievement – Children and Young People

  • A Concise Compendium of Wonder, Slingsby
  • Crescendo Youth Music Festival, The Adelaide Youth Orchestras
  • Oh Brother: A Graphic Memoir, Georgina Chadderton

Outstanding Achievement – Regional

  • FRiNGELAND @ Fringe Mount Gambier, Fringe Berrin Incorporated
  • Our Place Our Future, Southern Eyre Arts
  • Where We Meet: Chamber Music in Port Augusta, Chamber Music Adelaide and Port Augusta Performing Arts
  • Woven within Stars, Country Arts SA

Outstanding Achievement – Community

  • Loud and Proud, Tutti Arts Incorporated
  • Mama Does Derby, Windmill Production Company
  • TOXIC SURF – A community-led movement of ocean lovers coming together to shine a light on the stories, science and initiatives behind the Harmful Algal Bloom, TOXIC SURF

Outstanding Achievement – Access and Inclusion

  • Access2Arts – the driving force behind disability access and inclusion in the arts, Access2Arts
  • Loud and Proud, Tutti Arts Incorporated
  • Restless Dance Theatre – Public Programs, Restless Dance Theatre

Outstanding Achievement – New Work (Individual or Group)

  • I’m The Most Racist Person I Know, Producer Suriyna Sivashanker, Writer / Director Leela Varghese
  • Iron Winter, Ben Golotta – Repeater Productions
  • Stories in Song: Nathan May in Collaboration with Chamber Music Adelaide and Nexus Arts

Outstanding Achievement – New Work (Organisation)

  • A Concise Compendium of Wonder, Slingsby
  • Adelaide Design Week 2025, Adelaide Design Week
  • Dangerously Modern: Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890-1940, Art Gallery of South Australia
  • KURDINTHI: National First Nations Weaving Gathering 2025, JamFactory and Ku Arts

Outstanding Achievement – Sustainability

  • Slingsby’s Environmental Action, Slingsby
  • TOXIC SURF – A community-led movement of ocean lovers coming together to shine a light on the stories, science and initiatives behind the Harmful Algal Bloom, TOXIC SURF
  • WOMADelaide, WOMADelaide Foundation

Young Achiever – Frank Ford Memorial Award

  • Charlee Watt
  • Connor Reidy
  • Olivia De Zilva

Award categories announced at the event

  • Premier’s Award for Lifetime Achievement
  • Community Impact – Geoff Crowhurst Memorial Award
  • Stevie Gadlabarti Goldsmith Memorial Award

Learn more about the Ruby Awards categories and past events.