2026 ASTROFEST ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION
Celebrating five years of outstanding Western Australian astrophotography
The Astrofest Astrophotography Exhibition showcases and celebrates the remarkable talent, creativity and dedication of Western Australia’s astrophotographers.
For Astrofest 2026, the exhibition will take a different form. Rather than inviting and judging a new collection of entries this year, we are presenting a specially curated Best of Astrofest exhibition, bringing together an outstanding selection of photographs from the five Astrofest Astrophotography Exhibitions held between 2020 and 2024.
Over these five exhibitions, Western Australian photographers have shared an extraordinary range of perspectives on the sky above us. Their images have taken us from familiar landscapes beneath the Milky Way to the Moon, planets and Sun, and far beyond our Solar System to distant stars, nebulae and galaxies. They have documented significant astronomical events, revealed the beauty of Western Australia’s dark skies and demonstrated the many different creative and technical approaches that make astrophotography such a diverse field.
The 2026 exhibition will provide an opportunity to revisit some of the memorable photographs from these years and to recognise the photographers whose work has made the exhibitions possible. It will celebrate established astrophotographers alongside emerging and developing photographers, reflecting the depth of talent found throughout metropolitan and regional Western Australia.
A pause in new entries for 2026
Due to changes in the management and delivery of Astrofest, new entries will not be accepted for the 2026 exhibition. There will therefore be no judging, competition awards or prizes presented this year.
This is a pause rather than the conclusion of the annual competition.
In future years, the Astrofest Astrophotography Competition and Exhibition is expected to once again invite entries from Western Australian photographers, convening a judging panel, presenting awards and prizes, and creating a new exhibition for display at Astrofest.
Photographers are encouraged to continue creating and preparing their work. Whether you are an experienced astrophotographer, someone exploring a new form of astronomical imaging or a beginner taking your first photograph of the night sky, we look forward to seeing the images you may share with us when entries reopen.
The Astrofest Astrophotography Exhibition showcases and celebrates the remarkable talent, creativity and dedication of Western Australia’s astrophotographers.
For Astrofest 2026, the exhibition will take a different form. Rather than inviting and judging a new collection of entries this year, we are presenting a specially curated Best of Astrofest exhibition, bringing together an outstanding selection of photographs from the five Astrofest Astrophotography Exhibitions held between 2020 and 2024.
Over these five exhibitions, Western Australian photographers have shared an extraordinary range of perspectives on the sky above us. Their images have taken us from familiar landscapes beneath the Milky Way to the Moon, planets and Sun, and far beyond our Solar System to distant stars, nebulae and galaxies. They have documented significant astronomical events, revealed the beauty of Western Australia’s dark skies and demonstrated the many different creative and technical approaches that make astrophotography such a diverse field.
The 2026 exhibition will provide an opportunity to revisit some of the memorable photographs from these years and to recognise the photographers whose work has made the exhibitions possible. It will celebrate established astrophotographers alongside emerging and developing photographers, reflecting the depth of talent found throughout metropolitan and regional Western Australia.
A pause in new entries for 2026
Due to changes in the management and delivery of Astrofest, new entries will not be accepted for the 2026 exhibition. There will therefore be no judging, competition awards or prizes presented this year.
This is a pause rather than the conclusion of the annual competition.
In future years, the Astrofest Astrophotography Competition and Exhibition is expected to once again invite entries from Western Australian photographers, convening a judging panel, presenting awards and prizes, and creating a new exhibition for display at Astrofest.
Photographers are encouraged to continue creating and preparing their work. Whether you are an experienced astrophotographer, someone exploring a new form of astronomical imaging or a beginner taking your first photograph of the night sky, we look forward to seeing the images you may share with us when entries reopen.