#ArcFest2026
ArcOpen at Glance
Event: Painting Competition
Categories: 11
Levels: Gamer, Standard, Master
Event Organiser: Richard
Schedule: TBA
Ticket: $50 (4 Entries + 2 Day entry to ArcFest)
Updated: 31/01/2026
ArcOpen is one of Australia’s premier miniature painting competitions.
ArcOpen is ArcFest’s premier miniature painting competition, celebrating creativity, craftsmanship, and the passion of the hobby. Open to painters of all styles and experience levels, ArcOpen invites you to showcase your best work alongside some of the finest miniatures in the community. From bold concepts and technical skill to storytelling and presentation, this is a space to challenge yourself, be inspired by others, and share your love of the hobby. Whether you’re entering your first competition or displaying a personal masterpiece, ArcOpen is about celebrating painting at its very best.
This page is a live Painters Pack and will be updated periodically to maintain accuracy.
ArcOpen Links
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You can explore a wealth of miniature painting guides, tutorials, and inspiration across the hobby, with many of the world’s leading paint ranges offering excellent resources to help refine your craft. Brands like Vallejo, Army Painter, SMS, AK Interactive, and OP Paints all provide extensive colour systems and learning material suited to painters of every style and skill level. In Australia, many of these ranges are readily available through local hobby retailers, including Gap Games (friends of ArcFest), making it easy to get exactly what you need to bring your entries to life.
ArcOpen Rules
This year we are changing things a little to encourage new participants and to really push the skills of previous winners. The categories that you know and love from last year remain but we are introducing new competition tiers for some of them.
To make entering ArcOpen less intimidating we will have two Gamer tier categories; Gamer Single Miniature and Gamer Unit/Squad. These are designed for people taking their first steps into competitive painting, perhaps using the best models from their armies or simply competing for the first time.
The Standard tier categories are for most artists and are similar to previous years. We expect most works will be entered in these categories and they will be awarded using the open format.
For painters who have already been successful in comp painting we are adding four Masters tier categories; Single, Large Figurine, Bust and Multiple (unit, diorama etc). These categories are for artists who have already achieved gold in open competition or want to really push themselves by competing with some of the world’s best painters head-to-head. These won’t be awarded with the open format of all the other categories but in the traditional first, second and third as well as commended. Placing in these categories will be very difficult but will also be an incredible achievement. Truly the best of the best.
Categories
Gamer:
-Single
-Unit/Squad
Standard:
- Single
- Multiple figures (unit, diorama etc)
- Large monster/vehicle
- Large Figurine
- Bust
Master:
- Single
- Large Figurine
- Bust
- Multiple (unit, diorama etc)
What do I get for my ticket?
Your ticket gets you entry to ArcFest for the two days of the event and four entries into any ArcOpen categories. You can use your four entries in any way you would like, be that across four different categories, all in a single one or any combination between. You will also be able to purchase further entries on the day for $5 each.
Note: Tournament ticket holders will be able to purchase entries at $5 each without having to buy a seperate ArcOpen ticket.
How do I enter?
First purchase an ArcOpen ticket. A couple of weeks before the competition our event management system ArcScore will go live and you can then register each of your entries. Preregistering on ArcScore will speed up the process of accepting entries and give you more time to check out the other incredible events at ArcFest, including the traders, tournaments and painting seminars.
Which tier should I enter?
The Gamer tier categories are for people who have been working on models as gaming pieces but want to give competition a go with their best stuff. The models will typically be on their gaming bases and conform to their game’s rules. Non-gaming models are also acceptable. This completion is for first time or less experienced artists and will be awarded using the open format.
The Standard tier categories are for people who have been working on models especially for completion and have perhaps entered completion before but have not achieved gold level yet. The models will typically be on bespoke bases with plinths and do not have to adhere to any game rules except the rule of cool. These categories are for most artists and will be awarded using the open format.
The Master tier categories are for people who have achieved gold in other competitions and/or are looking for the ultimate painting challenge. The models should be on bespoke bases with plinths, do not have to adhere to any game rules except the rule of cool and should emphasise creativity. These categories will be judged with a single gold, silver and bronze winner as well as a small number of commended entries.
Will you be forcing people into particular tiers?
It’s up to individual entrants, but we will say that it’s not nice to punch down in terms of skill. You probably know where you sit. We anticipate that most entrants will enter the Standard comps, with Gamer for new to comp painters and Masters for those that have consistently achieved golds at other events or just want to really push themselves. Rule of thumb with Masters is if you have gotten gold in Single Miniature or Large Figurine or Bust before then it’s for you.
ArcOpen FAQ
What is the open format?
ArcOpen 2026 will continue its inclusive open judging system in Gamer and Standard, where entries are judged independently and can earn Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals based on their quality and achievement. There’s no limit to the number of medals awarded, ensuring that all outstanding work is properly recognised.
Commended Entry awards will also return. These awards celebrate entries that demonstrate exceptional creativity, technique, or originality, even if they don’t reach medal status. We feel it’s important to recognise the incredible diversity of talent within the miniature painting community.
How are the Master categories going to be awarded?
This year we are taking a different track with Masters. Instead of an unlimited number of medalists as in the Open categories we will be awarding a single gold, silver and bronze medal for each category. This is a big change but the intent is to push entrants to bring their very best work and to encourage a fierce competition that showcases truly world-class winners. There will also be Commended Entry awards
Can I post in my entries?
No mail-in entries are allowed or will be accepted. If you would like to participate in the painting competition you must present your own work and pick it up at ArcOpen in order to compete.
What category does my model fall into?
Single: A single model up to 53mm in height. Typically this will be a gaming model. Examples: Forge World Primarchs, Roboute Guilliman, Lion El’Jonson, Aeldari Phoenix Lords, Warbosses, Space Marine Captain, Infinity Joan of Arc, etc.
Unit/Squad: Three or more up to 51mm single models on gaming bases. Examples: Space Marine Tactical squads, Necromunda gangs, Trench Crusade warbands, Legion Imperialis detachments, Warmaster regiments, etc.
Multiple figures (unit, diorama etc): More than one figure of any size. This category covers both dioramas (small and large) and units. Units need not be on gaming bases but those that do will still be accepted. Examples: Space Marine Tactical squads, Necromunda gangs, two models fighting, 10 models fighting each other, two or more models repairing a vehicle, etc.
Large monster/vehicle: Large tabletop gaming models, including tanks, vehicles, monstrous creatures, and mounted figures such as cavalry or riders atop large beasts. Examples: Daemon Primarchs, Dragons, Imperial Scout Troopers on speeder bikes, Imperial Knights, Land Raiders and Speeders, Warhammer giants, ridden dragons, etc.
Large Figurine: Single figures 54mm in height and greater. Examples: BCC Mordred, , Hera Miniatures Sirssa, etc
Bust: A portrait-like sculpture of a character’s head, neck, and a portion of their chest and shoulders, typically supported by a plinth. Examples: Hera Miniatures Sola, BCC Viktor von Krauss, FeR Prospector Janet, etc.
Awards
Gold, Silver & Bronze Medallions for ALL entries that meet the standard in Gamer & Standard categories.
A Single Gold, Silver & Bronze Medallion in the Master categories.
We will also be awarding the following special awards:
ArcMaster: Best in Show
People’s Choice: Awarded through online and QR code voting by the community.
Best Oldhammer
Best LotR
Best 40k
Best AoS
Best TOW
Best Trench Crusade
Best Infinity
Best Mordheim
Best Silver Bayonet