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)
“My Country, My Story” Art and Writing Contest (US Only)
DEADLINE: August 8, 2026
Ages: Grades K- College
*New! Celebrating Art (US Only)
DEADLINE: August 20, 2026
Ages: Grades K-12
Children’s Mangrove Art Contest 2026 (All Countries)
DEADLINE: August 31, 2026
Ages: 7-16
*New! The Little Artists Summer Challenge 2026 (UK Only)
DEADLINE: August 31, 2026
Ages: 3-12
World Animal Day Mug Competition (All Countries)
DEADLINE: August 31, 2026
Ages: All
Peace Pals International 28th Annual Art & Exhibition Awards (All Countries)
DEADLINE: August 31, 2026
Ages: 5-16
New! Ootiboo Summer Craft Competition (All Countries)
DEADLINE: August 31, 2026
Ages: All
Download the flier HERE.
Happy DEGART Contest (All Countries)
DEADLINE: September 2, 2026
Ages: 4-17
*New! ARTEFFECT Summer Art Competition (All Countries)
DEADLINE: September 15, 2026
Ages: Grades 9-12
George Montgomery/NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest (US Only)
DEADLINE: October 1, 2026
Ages: Grades 1-12
*New! 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
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards (US Only)
DEADLINE: Dates Vary by State, but around December 1
Ages: Grades 7-12
*New! Visualize Heroism Art Contest for Students (All Countries)
DEADLINE: December 1, 2026
Ages: Pre-K through College
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
International No Limits Art Contest is open for children age 3-15.
http://www.nolimitsfoundation.org/artcontest
Thanks! I’ll get it posted!
Hi Samantha! My name is Byanca I’m 13 years old I love to draw and paint different things. I was wanting to see if my drawings were good enough to enter in a contest so I was wondering if you could give us an email so I could send you some of my paintings and drawing? Thank you I appreciate your time.
Sure! Send them to sam at samanthabellbooks.com
Where is this competition
Which competition do you mean?
This is a year round contest with no deadline. Winners will be announced when new drawings show on our winner’s page.
All contestants will be judged on their original style and artistic value. There is no theme to the drawing contest. Draw or paint what you feel represents your original style and artistic value. Remember that once the drawing are submitted they will not be returned and will be the property of WorldWide Drawings Kids LLC. Drawings must be original and authentic. In your email explain to us in a few words what your drawing represents. Don’t forget to include your name, age, and title of the drawing. Please also make sure you sign the drawing with your original signature. All drawings without a signature, title (name of drawing), and age will be automatically disqualified!! So it’s extremely important you don’t forget to sign your drawing and add the necessary requirements!
Also any copied or traced drawing, paintings, etc. will be disqualified. We also do not accept computerized drawings. Original hand drawings and paintings only. The contest is year round so please enter anytime you wish
how to submit? and where to submit
Which contest do you mean?
your blog is very beautiful.i like this very much.Please inform once you start posting for 2020
Back to posting! 🙂
Thank you for upload art compitition …I got lot of information from your web page….thanks again.
You’re welcome! I’m finally getting back to posting!
Upcoming school students competitions are kindly send my email id. My school students are participate willing to like in this contests.
Sorry for such a late reply! The easiest way to stay up-to-date on the contests is to subscribe to the free e-newsletter. Here’s the link: https://www.samanthasbell.com/free-newsletter/
Any updated children’s art contests happening country wide?
Just posted some new ones!
For kids competition is a fun activity through which they can hone their skills which they are going to use throughout their lives. By taking part in competition kids learn the meaning of hard work. Competition also teaches children new things like general knowledge and other subjects which improves their learning ability.
We are hosting a competition for kids where they can participate and have fun and can win 500$ prize. In order to participate please check this page https://www.kidteck.com/c-st/
Do you have any coloring contests? I’m not that good at art but I still try in challenges but I love to color with colored pencils. Any chance that there could be a contest or challenge on this website of coloring?
When I find them, I post them here too! I’ll keep looking!