The collection display includes a wide selection of portraits that tell extraordinary stories of encounter, exploration, independence, individuality and achievement in Australia.

The Darling Portrait Prize is a biennial national prize for Australian portrait painting honouring the legacy of Mr L Gordon Darling AC CMG (1921-2015). The winner receives a cash prize of $75,000.

The exhibition is selected from a national field of entries, reflecting the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.

Little Darlings is for primary and secondary students, with four separate categories across Kindergarten to Year 12. Responding to the theme ‘identity’, students painted, drew, photographed, printed or combined all of these to make their portrait.

Join us in the Gallery as we share the stories behind the photographs and paintings in the National Photographic Portrait Prize, Darling Portrait Prize and Little Darlings.

Our popular art cart is back for the school holidays! This is where you can get all creative during your visit if the mood takes you, responding to our latest exhibition the National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Featuring 130 works across painting, film, photography, screen printing, sculpture, and then some – it explores our inner worlds, outer selves, intimacy, isolation, celebrity and more.

Join us in the Gallery for this free 30-minute tour exploring the exciting new exhibition WHO ARE YOU: Australian Portraiture.

Explore portraits through drawing and creative activity in the galleries.

Join us online to explore togetherness, connection, and intimacy in some of our favourite group portraits.

Big Fella Rain is a celebration of the transition from dry season to wet season in a country that is like no other place in the world.

Big Fella Rain is a celebration of the transition from dry season to wet season in a country that is like no other place in the world.

Join Darling Portrait Prize 2022 finalist Caroline Zilinsky in a deep dive into drawing, focussing on the importance of line in creating a portrait.

Join Darling Portrait Prize 2022 finalist Caroline Zilinsky in a deep dive into drawing, focussing on the importance of line in creating a portrait.

Explore the main collection before our usual opening hours. We welcome anyone of any age who would benefit from a more relaxed gallery experience. We’ll have low sensory spaces, quiet areas and a creative activity for families to enjoy together.

Take a 30 minute tour of the Portrait Gallery exploring the collection and the building.

Take a journey with us as we uncover princesses, mermaids, and magicians of the movie screen in the enchanted forests of the gallery collection.

Join us online or onsite for an intriguing insight into the WHO ARE YOU: Australian portraiture themes with the curators.

Join us in the Gallery as we explore the collection with our tour for visitors who are blind or have low vision. Sighted companions and guide dogs are more than welcome.

What stands out as a childhood memory for you? What advice would you give your younger self knowing what you know now?

Canberra Dance Theatre’s dancers respond to our latest exhibition with a series of dances including Contemporary, Ballet, Hilal and K-Pop.

Does an artwork need to have a face in it to be considered a portrait? Spoiler alert, no! Join us as we unpack what really is – or isn’t - important for a portrait, featuring works from WHO ARE YOU: Australian Portraiture.

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Young people explore the stories in our cultural institutions as part of the COME ALIVE Festival of Museum Theatre.

Travel via lake cruise on the stunning Lake Burley Griffin to Canberra's premiere cultural destinations: The National Portrait Gallery and The National Museum of Australia.

Join us in the Gallery and draw while listening to Mr Tim journey around the world through rock music!