Deadline: February 1, 2026
Applications are open for the IFAW World Wildlife Day International Youth Art Contest 2026. Wild animals and plants are a vital part of the intricate web of life, sustaining ecosystems and natural processes that we depend on to survive and thrive. Through the transformational power of art, contestants will raise awareness for wildlife conservation and share the benefits we receive from wild plants and animals.
This year’s World Wildlife Day is celebrated under the theme of “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods.” Tens of thousands of medicinal and aromatic plants are harvested around the world and are vital to human health and well-being. These critical species are at risk of extinction due to the ongoing impacts of habitat loss, overharvesting, illegal trade, and more—the same faced by threatened and endangered wildlife species in peril as well.
Plants are critical to the globe’s biodiversity and to healthy habitats for living beings. To pay tribute to the 2026 theme, they encourage artists to include plants in their wildlife entries this year—particularly as many animals use plants for medicinal and aromatic purposes too.
The International Youth Art contest is held in partnership with the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Eligibility
- Open to youth artists using traditional art mediums (hand drawn using markers, crayons, colored pencils, and/or paint). Be sure to include plants within the scope of your wildlife art.
- Applicants should be aged 4-18.
Application
All contestants have until 1 February 2026 to submit their work. All entries must be submitted electronically via uploading on IFAW’s website. Finalists and winning entries will be presented at the official World Wildlife Day event on 3 March 2026.
For more information, visit IFAW World Wildlife Day International Youth Art Contest.
