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)
“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
How do I send my Piture because im going to drawing a dragon soon
thank you Natalia
Hi Natalia,
I received your submissions, but you’ve attached the wrong image (it’s an image of the earth’s structure – a school assignment?). I tried to email you but the email wouldn’t go through. Try again? Be sure you click on the correct image.
are these contests actually available until date
Yes, until the deadline that’s listed
What is the theme of the drawing
Which contest do you mean?
I recently heard on BBC Radio 4 about an at competition for children called, what sounded like?, The Borlay? Young Masters Art Competition which had different age group catagagories, but cannot find anything on line!! do you know anything about this? – Thank you.
There’s the Young Masters Art Prize, but it’s only offered every two years. https://www.young-masters.co.uk/
Hi Samantha,
I have a 14yr old daughter who has taught herself to sketch. She wants to start entering contests and try to get her art out there. So we would like to know which ones you would suggest for her to try?
Thank You
Carrie
I list all of the contests I find on the Contests page, so I would start there. I would say to try all of the ones she qualifies for and see how they go. My children entered contests when they were younger (they’re almost all adults now), so I don’t have direct experience with a lot of the contests. All of my kids did enter the State Fish Art Contest, though, and that one was always a lot fun.
Can you do the contest by drawing on a device or does it have to be on paper
You can draw on a device. 🙂
Make sure it’s still a black and white line drawing.
I think you were asking about the Drawing challenge, but if you were asking about another art contest, it probably has to be on paper. You would have to go to the contest page and see what the rules are.
hi i’m a 11 year old in the USA is there any competitions that are solely on nature photography that I can enter?
-Ana
Hi Ana, I’ll check! 🙂
Hi, Samantha. Do I need to go to America to participate in the contest? Or I need to send a photo of my drawing through email?
Which contest do you want to enter?
I am 16 years old and from Bangladesh. You tell me which contests I can enter by not going to USA.
You can enter any of the contests that say “All Countries”.
I’m 10 year old and a I love to draw. So I want to enter to win
I have created a. Art group me and my friends are making to send to hospitals so children can color I think there should be a contest for groups ware we make a group picture and send it to you and then the other groups do to I’m Ellee please think about this
This is a great idea! This will be our next challenge! 🙂
Hi,
International No Limits Art Contest is running until the end of April 2020. For children 3-15 http://Www.nolimitsfoubdation.org/artcontest
It’s on the list! 🙂
thank you