ABC and Endemol Shine Australia have announced the commission of a third season of the hit show Portrait Artist of the Year, with applications now open for artists wishing to take part in the new season. The premiere is scheduled for 2027, with the show set to air on ABC TV and streaming platform ABC iview.
The renewal comes as a natural next step. In 2025, the show took home an AACTA award in the category of Best Entertainment Program, cementing its reputation as one of the most compelling projects on Australian television. The award made a compelling case for the format to continue and attract new audiences.
The show’s success reflects a broader trend in the rise of popular formats
When Portrait Artist of the Year first appeared on screens, many sceptics doubted that a show about painting could hold a mainstream audience. Yet with each season, the critics have grown fewer. The world of TV game shows is experiencing a genuine renaissance, with the range of topics becoming remarkably diverse. Today, viewer interest extends well beyond classic quiz formats to include creative competitions, cooking contests, and science challenges. Interactive game shows have even made their way into the online space, where Live Game Shows draw a multi-million audience from around the world. The popularity of such formats confirms a simple truth: people enjoy watching a process where the outcome is unpredictable and participants must perform under pressure. That very principle lies at the heart of Portrait Artist of the Year’s success.
Familiar faces at the microphone and at the judges’ table
Miranda Tapsell and Luke McGregor will return as hosts for the third season, having already become an integral part of the show.
The judging panel has also been assembled with expert depth in mind. The panel includes:
- Bree Pickering, Director of the National Portrait Gallery
- Abdul Abdullah, multidisciplinary artist
- Robert Wellington, Associate Professor of Art History at the Australian National University (ANU)
This lineup brings together museum practice, lived artistic experience and academic perspective, allowing participants’ works to be assessed from multiple angles.
Four hours, a canvas and a famous subject
The show’s format remains the same and loses none of its spectacle. Both amateurs and professionals are invited to take part. In each episode, artists are tasked with painting a portrait of a well-known Australian, with a strict four-hour time limit for the entire work. This tight timeframe turns every episode into a creative marathon, where skill meets the ability to perform under the pressure of the clock. Participants compete for a prize that could prove to be a career-defining moment.
What the show’s creators have to say
Kath Earle, Head of Arts, Music and Events at ABC, highlighted the scale and unique atmosphere of the show:
“Each season of Portrait Artist of the Year puts 54 talented Australian artists in the spotlight, bringing art directly into living rooms across the country. And honestly, watching a portrait come to life in four hours never stops feeling like magic. The third season will give even more brilliant artists the chance to shine on ABC TV and ABC iview in 2027.”
David McDonald, Director of Comedy at Endemol Shine Australia, spoke to the emotional dimension of the format:
“Warm, unexpectedly insightful and emotional, Portrait Artist of the Year is a show that has already uncovered some of Australia’s finest artists. It’s wonderful that in 2027 we’ll once again see this same celebration of pure talent on screen, alongside our wonderful judges and hosts.”
New subjects and a commission for the national collection
The third season promises a refreshed lineup of celebrities who will sit for the contestants. The key prize for participants remains the same and loses none of its lustre: the winner will receive a prestigious commission to create a portrait for the National Portrait Gallery’s museum collection. For any artist, such an outcome represents not merely a prize, but a place in one of the country’s most significant museum collections.
A casting call open to all skill levels
Artists of any background and level of experience are welcome to apply for the third season. The organisers emphasise that the show is open to emerging artists and seasoned professionals alike.