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.

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Art Contests 

(In order by deadline)

 

 

 

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

DEADLINE: January 30, 2026

Ages: 5 – 12

 

 

 

 

DEADLINE: March 15, 2025

Ages: Grades 1-12