The Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA) returns in 2025 with a blaze of new voices, bold forms and deep connections to Country.

Now in its 42nd year, the awards platform showcases the most compelling First Nations art being made across the continent today – from ancient practices to contemporary experimentations.

Presented by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) and Principal Partner Telstra, the 2025 exhibition gathers 71 finalists selected from more than 200 submissions. Works will be on display at MAGNT in Darwin from 21 June 2025 to 26 January 2026, with the awards ceremony taking place on 8 August.

Held on Larrakia Country, the art award is Australia’s longest-running and most prestigious of its kind. Over four decades, Telstra NATSIAA has not only reshaped careers, but it has also helped shift national perspectives on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural expression.

“The Telstra NATSIAA presents 71 exceptional works, selected from over 200 entries, providing a snapshot of the finest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art created in the past year,” MAGNT director Adam Worrall says. “The continued support of Telstra is essential to ensuring these stories are seen, shared and celebrated.”

This year’s entries reflect a powerful cross-section of First Peoples’ experience: continuing traditions, responding to the present and honouring deep ancestral ties. Works span materials and media like bark, paper, paint, 3D forms and multimedia. There are 14 finalists in the Emerging Artist category – proof that the next generation is showing up with courage and command.

The judging panel, comprising Keith Munro, Karen Mills and Kate ten Buuren, selected the finalists with care and reverence for the artists’ generosity.

“We were excited to see artists collaborating, experimenting with new media and technologies, and sharing stories of contemporary life and issues,” the Telstra NATSIAA selection panel said in a statement. “The selected works reflect the diverse practices and experiences of First Peoples today, exemplifying the richness of our stories, technical expertise and innovation in creative practice.”

From Queensland to the Kimberley, the ACT to Arnhem Land, the 2025 finalists speak with clarity and conviction. Among the 71, 38 artists hail from the Northern Territory, underscoring its status as a cultural powerhouse. Notably, there are no finalists from Tasmania this year.

Telstra’s 34-year partnership with MAGNT continues to play a crucial role in elevating these stories to a national audience.

“Telstra NATSIAA is the premier platform in Australia for emerging and established First Nations artists to showcase their culture and creative talents,” Telstra group executive Lyndall Stoyles said. “It is a privilege to celebrate their incredible talent and share their stories across Australia to help more of us appreciate First Nations art.”

Finalists are eligible for a suite of prizes, including the prestigious $100,000 Telstra Art Award, along with six $15,000 category awards recognising mediums like painting, bark, multimedia and 3D works. There’s also the Telstra People’s Choice Award, chosen by public vote during the exhibition via QR code.

For those who can’t attend in person, a virtual gallery will mirror the experience online, offering national and international audiences the chance to explore this year’s show.

From the studio to the bush, the screen to the bark, this year’s Telstra NATSIAA is not just a celebration – it’s a declaration. These artists are shaping the present and imagining the future, grounded in thousands of years of cultural knowledge.

The 2025 Telstra NATSIAA opens to the public on 21 June at MAGNT, Darwin.