This is a list of finalists for the 2010 Archibald Prize for portraiture (listed is Artist – Title).

• Giles Alexander – The alternative ambassadors (Professors Ross Garnaut & Martin Green)
• Martin Ball – Jacqueline Fahey
• Kate Beynon – Self portrait with guardian spirits
• Shane Bowden and Dean Reilly – I wake up with Today!
• Adam Chang – Two eyes – closing to open (Simeon Kronenberg)
• Kordelya Chi – Mr Walker
• Kevin Connor – Self portrait
• Adam Cullen – Gareth at the country fair
• Marc de Jong – Janice Petersen
• McLean Edwards – Tim Storrier
• Carla Fletcher – C. W. Stoneking
• Robert Hannaford – Malcolm Fraser
• Cherry Hood – Michael Zavros
• Peter Clifton Kendall – Underdog
• Jasper Knight – Bill Wright AM
• Sam Leach – Tim Minchin (Winner of the Archibald Prize)
• Robert Malherbe – The squire – portrait of Luke Sciberras
• Alexander McKenzie – Andrew Upton
• Nigel Milsom – Adam Cullen (bird as prophet)
• James Money – The Lord Mayor of Melbourne
• Nafisa – Glenn in black & white (Winner of the Packing Room Prize)
• Paul Newton – Self portrait #2 – dark night of the soul
• Khue Nguyen – Unleashed
• Christine O’Hagan – Kate Ceberano
• Rodney Pople – Stelarc triptych
• Victor Rubin – John Olsen – A diptych – part I seated: part II in his bath
• Craig Ruddy – The prince of darkness – Warwick Thornton (Winner of the People's Choice Award)
• Paul Ryan – Danie Mellor, true blue country
• Peter Smeeth – Peter FitzSimons, author
• Ian Smith – Keith Looby alfresco
• Greg Somers – Self portrait with the picture of dory in grey
• Nick Stathopoulos – The bequest
• Yi Wang – Bishop Elliott and Lady Jacqueline
• Apple Yin – The previous life