Art Contests For Kids - Art Starts - Samantha Bell

The Benefits of Entering a Free Art Contest

Free art contests for kids offer children some great life lessons:

• Establishes a goal: Every contest has guidelines and a deadline, which gives a child a specific goal to work toward.
• Builds confidence: The process of creating the artwork itself builds self-confidence, as the child goes from an “I can’t draw” mindset to one of “I can enter this contest — and I might win!”
• Encourages strong effort: The art children enter should be their best work, teaching them that no matter what they do, they should do it well.
• Promotes cultural and social awareness: Many art contests focus on themes related to cultural diversity or social and environmental issues. Participating in these contests can help children develop a deeper understanding of these topics, as well as use art as a medium for change.
• Provides recognition: If they win, their artwork may be showcased in exhibitions, publications, or online. There’s also the fun of a prize and learning to be a gracious winner.
• Teaches how to persevere: If they don’t win, there’s the practice of dealing with disappointment and trying again.
• Teaches the importance of effort: Win or lose, when your child creates a piece of art and enters it in a contest, they have tried, which is the first step to success in any endeavor. Just the act of creating art and putting it out into the world is an accomplishment.

Enter Now!

Ready to enter? Keep scrolling for a list of current online art contests for kids and teens (listed in order of deadline). Almost all of them are free to enter.  Once in a while, there will be a contest or two that have just a small fee.

To find out more about a certain contest, click on the name below. If you have a contest you’d like for me to list, please contact me.

Stay Up-to-Date! 

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Art Contests 

(In order by deadline)

Sony World Photography Awards Youth Competition (All Countries) 

DEADLINE: January 6, 2026

Ages: 19 and under

2026 FAI International Aviation Art Contest (US Part/National Contest)

DEADLINE for US Residents: January 16, 2026

Ages: 5-17

California Coastal Art & Poetry Contest (California Only) 

DEADLINE: January 29, 2026

Ages: Grades K-12

FIFA World Cup 26 Kid’s Drawing Contest (All Countries) 

DEADLINE: January 30, 2026

Ages: 5 – 12

Global Student Art Competition (All Countries) 

DEADLINE: January 31, 2026

Ages: Primary and Secondary Grades (Grades K-12 in the US)

NOTE: Entries must be mailed to Greece, so be sure to mail them in time.

U.S. Kids Magazine Cover Contest (US Only)

DEADLINE: February 1, 2026

Ages: 2-12

Engineer Girl – The Art of Engineering Contest (All Countries)

DEADLINE: February 1, 2026

Ages: Grades 3 – 12

Global Canvas Children’s Art Competition (All Countries)

DEADLINE: February 19, 2026

Ages: 4-16

State Fish Art Contest (All Countries)

DEADLINE: February 28, 2026

Ages: K-12

Science Without Borders Challenge (All Countries)

DEADLINE: March 2, 2026

Ages: 11-19

National Wind Energy Art Challenge (US Only)

DEADLINE: March 2, 2026

Ages: Grades K-8

Young Masters Art Awards (US Only)

DEADLINE: March 15, 2025

Ages: Grades 1-12

VFW Auxiliary’s Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest (US Only)

DEADLINE: March 31, 2026

Ages: Grades 9-12

ArtEffect Contest (All Countries)

DEADLINE: April 21, 2026

Ages: Middle School and High School

Robert Shetterly Portrait Contest (All Countries)

DEADLINE: May 1, 2026

Ages: Grades K-12

2026 International Poster Competition (All Countries) 

DEADLINE: June 1, 2026

Ages: All

£20 per poster entry Fee

Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest (All Countries)

DEADLINE: June 9, 2026

Ages: 11-18

Creative Writing, Poetry, Art, Film, Speech, Dance, Multimedia

Art Contests for Kids with Deadlines that Vary

If you do not live in the country indicated, you can enter any that say “All Countries”. Contests marked “All Countries” are for young artists living anywhere in the world. 

FAI Young Artists Contests (All Countries)

DEADLINE: Deadline Varies by Country. Contact your country representative. You can find the information here.

Ages: 6 – 17

NASA Space Place Art Challenge (All Countries)

DEADLINE: End of each month

Ages: Not Mentioned

Sultan of Arts (All Countries)

DEADLINE: Varies

Ages: 24 and Under

Art, Music, Pantomime, Ballet

Congressional Art Competition (US Only)

Deadline: Varies. Contact your representative. 

Ages: High School

World Photograph Organisation Monthly Youth Contest (All Countries) 

DEADLINE: End of Each Month

Ages: 12-19