Record 45,769 votes give Archibald People's Choice to portrait of Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin

Queensland artist Michael Zavros won the 2026 Archibald Prize People's Choice award for "Alex with his tefillin in the sea," a portrait of Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. The 45,769 votes cast set a record for the 105-year-old prize. The work was painted weeks after the Bondi terror attack. The award carries a $5,000 prize.