Unleash Your Creativity: Join Aralia’s Visual Art Competition Prep Classes
International Visual Art Competitions
Doodle for Google invites students from K-3 to grade 12 to create a Google Doodle based on what inner strength means to them. Submissions will be grouped into five age groups and evaluated based on artistic skill, creativity, and theme communication. The winner will have their Doodle featured on Google.com for one day, along with a $45,000 college scholarship, and a $50,000 tech package for their school/non-profit organization! National Finalists receive a $10,000 college scholarship. All winners and finalists will receive Google hardware and swag.
Medium: Students can choose materials they want to work with, from crayons to clay to found objects.
Judging Criteria: The submission will be judged by 5 grade groups: Grade K-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, and 10-12.
- Artistic merit: Based on artistic skill
- Creativity: Representation of the contest theme, use of the letters in the Google logo, and the unique approach to the Doodle
- Theme communication: How well the contest theme is expressed in both the artwork and the written statement
Deadline: December 17, 2026, 11:59 p.m. PST (based on last year’s deadline)
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Never Such Innocent is an international art, poetry, speech, and song competition for young students aged 9-18. The competition invites young people worldwide to share their unique perspectives on war and conflict through poetry, art, and short films. Participants are encouraged to explore how their experiences, identity, heritage, and surroundings shape their understanding of conflict.
Categories: Poetry, Art, and Short Films. Participants can submit one piece in each category.
Competition Timeline: February 26, 2027
Winners Announced: May 5, 2027.
Science without Borders Challenge invites students from 11-19 years old to create art to encouraging creativity and awareness of ocean conservation.
Medium: Acceptable media includes paint, pencil, marker, crayon, ink, felt, and oil pastel. Digitally created artwork, including photographs, is not accepted. The artwork must be 2D, such as a painting or drawing.
Awards:
- 1st Place: $500 scholarship
- 2nd Place: $350 scholarship
- 3rd Place: $200 scholarship
- People’s Choice: $50 scholarship for winners in each age group
Deadline: March 1, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
The K12 National Art Competition celebrates student creativity through original physical and digital artwork. Students can submit traditional or digital art, with winners selected through judges’ evaluations and public voting.
Medium: Physical Art (2D or 3D) and Digital Art.
Eligibility: Competition is open to legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia. Contestants must be enrolled in grades K-12 at the time of entry and must reside in the U.S. at the time of their entry to be eligible for the competition.
Awards:
- Judges’ Choice: 1st Place: $250; 2nd Place: $100 per grade and category.
- People’s Choice: $50 per grade and category, selected through public voting.
Deadline: February 25–June 1, 2026.
DSWF Global Canvas Competition is an international wildlife art competition organized by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation for children and young people ages 4–16.
Eligibility: Ages 4–16, with age categories 4–7, 8–11, and 12–16.
Medium: Any medium, including painting, sculpture, collage, and textiles. Recycled and found materials are encouraged.
Prizes & Recognition: Winners receive art supply vouchers and certificates. Finalists’ artwork will be featured online, and winners will be announced at an awards ceremony.
Deadline: October 6, 2026–February 16, 2027.
The International Environmental Children’s Drawing Contest is sponsored by The Japan Quality Assurance Organization International Certification Organization Network, and UNICEF Tokyo. The competition invites children aged 7-15 worldwide to draw the kind of natural environment they would like to live in. 48 winners will receive special memorabilia. All entrants will receive a participation prize.
Medium: Drawings with any type of paint, pastel, etc.
Deadline: May 31, 2026
The United Nations invites ordinary citizens to participate in different competitions throughout the year, from photography, artworks, cartoons to video competitions. Each competition hopes to raise awareness about a particular topic about the world and its surrounding issues.
Medium: Varies, check each competition for allowed media
Sony World Photography Awards Youth Competition is a free international photography contest for photographers aged 19 and under. Participants can submit up to three individual images based on the competition theme.
Eligibility: Photographers aged 19 or under.
Entry Limit: Up to 3 images per participant.
Medium: Photographs, submitted as digital files
Deadline: June 1, 2026–January 5, 2027.
The annual Blue Planet Awareness Contest provides a platform for young people to understand environmental issues through artistic creation and creative thoughts, explore their relationship with the changing world, and become advocates of positive change.
Students are invited to create Visual Art (any medium), Creative Writing, Film, Interactive & Multimedia, Performing Arts: Music & Dance, and Poetry & Spoken Word.
Deadline: June 7, 2027
85% of Aralia students win prizes visual arts competitions
American Visual Art Competitions
YoungArts Competition is a part of the YoungArts National Arts Competition, where artists across 10 disciplines come together and earn a chance to win cash awards, receive mentorships from accomplished artists, receive lifetime professional support, and achieve national recognition. Artists ages 15–18, or grades 10–12, are encouraged to apply in the discipline of their choice: Classical Music, Dance, Design Arts, Film, Jazz, Photography, Theater, Visual Arts, Voice, and Writing. Finalists of the competitions are invited to National YoungArts Week, an intensive, week-long, all-expense-paid program in Miami. Finalists are eligible for financial awards of up to $10,000, as well as for nomination as U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts.
There are different requirements for each area: Design Arts, Film, Photography, and Visual Arts.
Medium: Varies depending on the discipline you choose
Deadline: July – October 2027
Celebrating Art is a student art contest for anyone in grades K-12. The best entries are invited to be published in the Celebrating Art book.
Eligibility: Open to K–12 students in public schools, private schools, homeschools, and art studios.
Medium: any medium that can have a still digital image (painting, sculpture, drawing, collage, etc.)
Deadline:
- Fall – December 3
- Spring – April 8
- Summer – August 5
3. Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards
Arts & Writing Awards is the longest-running, oldest, and most prestigious literary and art competition in the United States, aiming to find creative works and original technical skills by students in grades 7-12 in the United States and Canada. Within the Art area, there are 17 categories students can participate in: Architecture & Industrial Design, Ceramics & Glass, Comic Art, Conceptual, Installation & Participatory Art, Digital Painting, Drawing & Collage, Drawing, Editorial Cartoon, Experimental Photography, Fashion, Film & Animation, Graphic Design, Illustration, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Art Portfolio (graduating seniors only).
Medium: Varies
Deadline: Between December 2026 and January 2027
The Congressional Art Competition is sponsored by The Congressional Institute. The competition invites high school students to create 2-D artwork. Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and the winners are recognized in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Their works will also be displayed for one year at the U.S Capitol.
Mediums:
- Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
- Drawings: colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal (It is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed.)
- Collages: must be two dimensional
- Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints
- Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
- Computer-generated art
- Photographs
Deadline: Varies depending on the district
FAA High School Competition is sponsored by the College of Fine and Applied Arts in Illinois. The competition invites students to showcase creative talents, challenge yourself, and explore majors and classes within the University of Illinois College of Fine and Applied Arts.
Eligibility: Open to students currently in grades 9–11, including homeschool students. Must be U.S. residents or residing in the United States.
Medium: Not limited to visual arts, such as: Architecture, Art and Design, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning
Award: Winners can receive a scholarship to a 2027 FAA summer program.
Deadline: February 1, 2027
Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition celebrates artists around the U.S. The competition has a student division, for students aged 16 and above. Students can enter as often as they prefer, under five categories: Animal/Wildlife, Abstract/Experimental, Landscape, Portrait/Figure, and Still Life/Interior. Winning students will receive a free one-year subscription to Artists Network TV and be featured in a post on Artists Network’s Instagram/website.
Deadline:
- Super Early Bird Deadline – February 14, 2026 (Artists Network Members: $15, Non-Members: $25)
- Early Bird Deadline – April 16, 2026 (Artists Network Members: $25, Non-Members: $35)
- Final Deadline – June 11, 2026 (Artists Network Members: $30, Non-Members: $40)
The NSHSS Visual Arts Scholarship recognizes talented student artists in photography and visual arts. Students submit an original artwork along with academic and application materials for a chance to receive a $2,000 scholarship.
Medium: Awards will be presented to the top finalists in the two categories: Photography/Digital Photography AND Painting/Drawing/Mixed Media/Digital Art (Examples of artwork for this category include painting, drawing, ceramics, glass, sculpture, mixed media, printmaking, and weaving.)
Deadline: October 27, 2026, by 11:59 PM EST
Cooper Hewitt invites high school students in grades 9 through 12, or who are homeschooled students working toward a high school degree anywhere in the United States, to use design and data to support their community.
Selection Criteria:
- Innovation: How creative and original is the design?
- Impact: Large or small, what is the impact of the design?
- Relevance: How does the design use data to support a community?
- Communication: How clear is the design idea from the sketch and question responses?
Deadline: February 2, 2026
All American High School Film Festival (AAHSFF) Invitational is an on-site filmmaking competition where high school student teams collaborate to create a short film in 10 weeks, culminating in a three-day production experience in New York City.
Medium: Film with various genres
Competition Date:
- Registration deadline: September 25, 2026
- Competition: October 14–16, 2026
- Film submission deadline: October 16, 2026 at 4:00 PM EST
- Awards announced: October 18, 2026
This program offers students an opportunity to showcase their artistic talents and gain recognition while also providing access to the arts, which can boost their confidence and success both in the arts and in life. Students participate in the appropriate division for their grade level, which includes Primary (Pre-K – Grade 2), Intermediate (Grades 3-5), Middle School (Grades 6-8), High School (Grades 9-12), and Special Artist (open to all grades). They can submit their completed works of art in any of the available arts categories, including Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts.
Deadline: Varies based on regions
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These are the top 22 visual arts competitions for high school students, covering drawing, painting, photography, filmmaking, and more. If you find a competition that matches your interests, consider challenging yourself and submitting your work.
If you’re unsure how to prepare your work for a competition or want expert guidance before submitting, Aralia’s Competition Preparation classes can help. Our instructors provide personalized guidance on developing your concept, refining your technique, and preparing a strong submission aligned with the competition’s requirements.
