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
hi Ms.Samantha,
Easterseals 2020 Seal Art Contest : the date in the entry form says: entries should be received no later than 05July 2019. Is this a mistake? Can you please confirm.
You are right! I’ll check on that! Thank you!
Hi..
My Daughter is 4y.. from srilanka.pl want to know about contest which we can enter
Any that include her age and say “all countries”. So right now, that would be:
https://www.samanthasbell.com/colour-story-international-artistic-contest-all-countries/
https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/juniors/drawing-competition/announcement/
https://www.degallery.us/art-contest/
https://www.embracingourdifferences.org/submit-art/#/
Advena World organizes the International Children’s Art Competition to provide exposure to talented kids and amazing young artists. We invite children of age 15 and under from all over the world to submit their drawings, paintings, photos, and other original artworks filled with ideas that describe their understanding of the world, what they adore, their dreams, their environments, family and friends, and important event.
Thanks, Eric. I haven’t posted Advena’s competition because the entry fee is over $10. I try to just post free and inexpensive contests.
I am 16 years old. And I want to participate in color story,Berlin Marathon 15th Art Competition,Happy Degart Art Competition,FAI Young Artists Contest,UK Thalassaemia Art Contest,Bow Seat Ocean Awareness,Easter Seals 2020 seal Art Contest etc art competitions. Which contest I Have not to go to America?
You can enter any of the ones that say “All Countries.” You do not have to be in America to enter them. Just click on the links for each one to find out how to enter.
Advena World International Children’s Art Competition
https://advenaworld.com/kids-1
Thank you very much, Eric. I’d like my grand daughter Violetta to participate in any Art Competition. She is 4 and adores painting. She already has a nice collection of amazing pictures. I hope Violetta is talented enough to take part in the International Children’s Art Competion and who knows maybe she will be able to get any prize and her artworks will be exposed in gallaries.
Hello i am 12 years old can i enter the consent what is the prize? and when will announce the winners. how do i sign up?
What contest do you want to enter?
My 6 year old son loves to draw in has many pictures he has already draw
Hi sir …I am leaving in India ..my daughter have done so many beautiful painting s in this lockdown…she is 7 year old can she participated in any competition
She can participate in any of the contests that say “All Countries” 🙂
hello and thank you for submitting these but could you please submit more? please and thank you 🙂
my twin daughters, Alicia, and Hayden, loved these art contests thanks for sharing this website.
sincerely,
Mansia
I’ll put them on here as soon as I hear about them! 🙂
I’m still new so it is hard to know what to do thanks:)
Hi Samantha
My 9 yr old daughter would love to enter a drawing competition . We live in South Africa,and are at home in a lockdown state of emergency due to the Coronavirus . Can you please let me know about any she can enter?
Thank you,Angie Mui
Hi Angie,
I just added a lot of contests today! 🙂 She can enter any that include her age and say “All Countries”. The ones with deadlines coming soon include: JQA International Environmental Children’s Drawing Contest, UK Thalassaemia Society Art Contest. Also, if you sign up for the free newsletter, I’ll announce contests there, too. 🙂
that is okay I’m still new around things thanks 🙂