photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The Kansas Statehouse in Topeka is pictured on Dec. 20, 2023.

The Kansas Arts Commission is accepting nominations for the 2026 Kansas Governor’s Arts Awards through the end of October.

The state-wide awards recognize individuals, organizations and communities for their outstanding contributions and leadership in advancing the arts in Kansas.

After a 14-year pause, the awards returned in 2025. The most prestigious of them, the Governor’s Award, went to Kansas native and acclaimed musician Melissa Etheridge.

An awards ceremony will be held in Topeka next spring to recognize art excellence in areas such as advocacy, arts education, community engagement and artistic achievement. For more information or to submit a nomination, go online to the website for the Kansas secretary of commerce.