Call for Nominations: City of Hamilton 2026 Arts Awards

2024 Creator Arts Award Recipient Alex Jacobs-Blum

50 Years of Hamilton Arts Awards: Your chance to recognize artistic legacy and vision in Hamilton – nominate today!

Admire someone for their artistic excellence or community leadership in the arts? Now is your chance to nominate artists, arts educators, managers, and volunteers for a City of Hamilton Arts Award.

As a citizen-led process, representation of all of Hamilton’s communities depends on individuals and organizations nominating.

Why nominate?

• If selected through a peer adjudication process, Lifetime Achievement and Creator Awards nominees receive a $2,500 cash award, bronze medallion and civic recognition.
• Arts Champion Award recipients will receive an artist-designed award and civic recognition for their voluntary contributions to the arts community (this is a non-monetary award).
• All shortlisted nominees will be promoted via social and traditional media and honoured at a public event during Hamilton Arts Week in July 2026.

To access and submit the online nomination form, learn about eligibility criteria, submission requirements and how nominations are scored, please visit: www.hamilton.ca/artsawards

Submission deadline for all categories:
Friday, January 16, 2026 at 11:59pm (online) or 4:00pm (hard copy)

2025 Creator Arts Award Recipient Luckystickz

About the Arts Awards
Founded in 1976, the City of Hamilton Arts Awards is one of the oldest municipal-led arts awards programs in Canada. We are proud to be marking the 50th anniversary of the City of Hamilton Arts Awards in 2026! Recognizing the vital contribution that artists make to Hamilton, the Arts Awards provide an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of individual artists, educators, arts managers and volunteers who engage and participate in the arts.

Questions? Contact:
Jen Anisef, Project Manager
Tourism and Culture Division, City of Hamilton
905-546-2424 x7612 | artsawards@hamilton.ca