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!
You can stay up-to-date on current contests through my free newsletter. Subscribe here!
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)
JQA International Environmental Children’s Drawing Contest (All Countries)
DEADLINE: May 31, 2026
Ages: 7 – 15
K-12 Art Competition (US Only)
DEADLINE: June 1, 2026
Ages: Grades K-12
2026 International Poster Competition (All Countries)
DEADLINE: June 1, 2026
Ages: All
£20 per poster entry fee
Insect Collective International Exhibition (All Countries)
DEADLINE: June 26, 2026
Ages: All
Free for ages 18 and under; Over 18, £5 per artwork for up to 3 pieces
Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest (All Countries)
DEADLINE: June 9, 2026
Ages: 11-18
Creative Writing, Poetry, Art, Film, Speech, Dance, Multimedia
“My Country, My Story” Art and Writing Contest (US Only)
DEADLINE: August 8, 2026
Ages: Grades K- College
Children’s Mangrove Art Contest 2026 (All Countries)
DEADLINE: August 31, 2026
Ages: 7-16
World Animal Day Mug Competition (All Countries)
DEADLINE: August 31, 2026
Ages: All
Happy DEGART Contest (All Countries)
DEADLINE: September 2, 2026
Ages: 4-17
George Montgomery/NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest (US Only)
DEADLINE: October 1, 2026
Ages: Grades 1-12
Save the Frogs Art Contest (All Countries)
DEADLINE: November 1, 2026
Ages: All
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
Please email me all about child art contests
You can sign up for my free newsletter! I sent out contest information there: https://www.samanthasbell.com/free-newsletter/
Drawing runs in my blood and I don’t know how to use it publicly and I hope this site will help me
There is a small book about art that you might really like. It’s called Show Your Work by Austin Kleon. It’s a very helpful book about getting your artwork out there.
Just make yourself a social media account
would like to get an update on art contests for kids
I’m very good at art
My daughter loves painting very much. I am thrilled to find this website. It collects a lot of information about painting competitions, helping me understand each painting competition’s detailed information at a glance. Excellent website!
my daughter love drawing too much , I need help to apply show talents
I love drawing too much more than every activities
hi my name is lauretta i love drawing but never thought it was good enough so i want to try out this contest to know weather am who people thinks i am
Are there any art contests on this website that let me do digital art and draw on my iPad? I want one like that that gives me a fun prompt!
I LOVE TO DRAW BRO
AND IM NOT THAT BAD.