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.
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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
Honestly, dealing with the disappointment of not winning is tough, but using Upload line art and get a color guide to experiment with new color palettes has helped my kid keep entering.
The Little Artists Summer Challenge 2026, completely free for children to enter. The winning artwork is turned into a professionally embroidered Lucky Threads T‑shirt in the colour and size of their choice, and all entrants receive a digital certificate. It’s a fun, creative summer activity for kids, and we’ve already had lovely engagement from local schools.
Here’s the link with full details: https://luckythreads.co.uk/lucky-threads-little-artists-summer-challenge-2026/
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I am a student and I’m Make mandala artist