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.
Stay Up-to-Date!
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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.
Note: 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.
Art Contests
(In order by deadline)
ARTEFFECT Summer Art Competition (All Countries)
DEADLINE: September 15, 2026
Ages: Grades 9-12
New! Junior Artists Everyday Heroes Art Competition (US Only)
DEADLINE: September 30, 2026
Ages: Grades K-12
George Montgomery/NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest (US Only)
DEADLINE: October 1, 2026
Ages: Grades 1-12
NEW! Constitution Day Poster Contest (All Countries)
DEADLINE: October 2, 2026
Ages: Grades 1 -12
YoungArts National Art Competition (US Only)
DEADLINE: October 6, 2026
Ages: 15-18
Classical Music, Dance, Design, Film, Jazz, Photography, Theater, Visual Arts, Voice, Writing
Save the Frogs Art Contest (All Countries)
DEADLINE: November 1, 2026
Ages: All
New! Ootiboo Summer Craft Competition (All Countries)
DEADLINE: November 30, 2026
Ages: All
Download the flier HERE.
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards (US Only)
DEADLINE: Dates Vary by State, but around December 1
Ages: Grades 7-12
Visualize Heroism Art Contest for Students (All Countries)
DEADLINE: December 1, 2026
Ages: Pre-K through College
*New! Celebrating Art (US Only)
DEADLINE: December 5, 2026
Ages: Grades K-12
New! Electronic Recycling Association 9th Annual Kids Poster Contest (Canada Only)
DEADLINE: December 15, 2026
Ages: Elementary – High School
Art Contests for Kids with Deadlines that Vary
FAI Young Artists Contests (All Countries)
DEADLINE: Deadline Varies by Country. Contact your country representative. You can find the information here.
Ages: 6 – 17
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
Hi my name is Layan and I would love to go to art school I am eleven years old and love drawing anime I entered because I wanted to prove to the world that I am capable of doing anything I will prove that even young artists can be successful
Thank u ☺️
I am 12 and would like to enter a drawing. Is that possible?
Hihi, I am Fifi and I love to draw hands and is there competition doing that?By the way I am 11.
*if you know please reply, thank you*
Am 13 and love drawing anime
Me too
hi my name is ronay and im 13 years old and i want to create a nyph will i be able to do that
Hi Ronay! Did you mean a nymph? You want to draw one?
21TH ANNUAL ART CONTEST (MANGROVE ATR CONTEST )
Hi…Sir I am Sehar Raza from Pakistan….I want to participate in contest…..I
want to draw my favourite celebrity face and body can I draw in this contest as my own creativity…I am only 13….Please tell me the deadline ……
Hi I am adarsh Gaikwad I want to participate in art competition age 13
Hi Sam,
Thank you very much the update of most of the art contest. My son participate many competition after getting information from your page.
I want to apply arts competition for our kids , age 7 years. Kids name Altamash Ahmed , father name , farhan ahmed.
Hello,
My son is only 5 years. He is an artist & got many prizes. He want to attend international competition.