reEarth International Art Prize 2026

The reEarth International Art Prize 2026 is an international art competition for young artists aged 4 to 25, organized by reEarth Studio. The third edition invites entries in painting and drawing, photography, digital art and illustration, and AI generative art, responding to four themes about the natural world and our place in it.

Winning and selected works receive cash prizes and certificates, and are shown in exhibitions in Sharjah, Auckland and Venice as well as in an online exhibition.

The competition is open to young artists aged 4 to 25 on November 1, 2026, living anywhere in the world. Artists can enter individually, or schools and institutions can submit work as a group. Older artworks are accepted, although new work is encouraged.

The prize was launched in 2024 by The Little Art, a non-profit arts education organisation in New Zealand, together with FANN Media Discovery Platform in Sharjah, UAE. Its first two editions drew 1,341 artists from 35 countries and 2,416 artists from 36 countries. The 2026 prize is its third edition.

Who Can Enter the reEarth International Art Prize 2026?

The prize is open to young artists from anywhere in the world, grouped into four age categories: 4–7, 8–12, 13–17 and 18–25.

It is particularly relevant to:

• Young painters and illustrators
• Young photographers
• Art and design students
• Schools and art teachers
• Youth groups and art clubs
• Young digital artists, including those working with AI tools

Teachers can help students understand the themes and photograph or scan their work, and schools can collect entries and submit them together as a group.

What Can You Enter?

Each entry responds to one of four themes and is submitted in one of four art forms.

Themes

Our Amazing World
The beauty and variety of life on Earth: animals and plants, landscapes, cities, the seasons and the places that matter to you, real or imagined.

The World Below the Water
Oceans, rivers, lakes and wetlands, the creatures that live in them, and why clean water matters to all of us.

Through Nature’s Eyes
The world seen from the point of view of another living being, such as a bird, a tree, a bee or a whale, and the ecosystems they depend on.

Together for Tomorrow
How people and nature can thrive together: caring for wildlife, community action, sustainable living and your vision for a better future.

Art Forms

Painting & Drawing
Any 2D work on any surface and at any size, from pencil and watercolour to collage. Work is submitted as a photograph; 3D objects are not accepted.

Photography
Photographs taken with any camera, from smartphones to film cameras. Film photographs are submitted as scans.

Digital Art & Illustration
Digital painting, vector illustration, digital collage, animation and digital mixed media. AI tools are not allowed in this category.

AI Generative Art
Work created with AI tools, shaped by the artist’s own prompts, choices and editing.

Entry Fees

The entry fee is charged per artwork, regardless of the category.

Per Artwork

Individual artists: $30
Schools submitting 15 or more artworks: $20

Fees are paid online by card during submission. Schools get the reduced rate with a discount code listed on the prize website.

The website lists fees and prizes in dollars without naming the currency. The organisers are based in New Zealand, so check the currency at checkout.

According to the organisers, the fees fund the prizes, certificates and exhibitions of the non-profit project.

What Do Selected Entrants Receive?

The organisers value the prizes, cash and in-kind, at $50,000 in total. Awards are given across the four art forms.

Selected artists can receive:

• 1st Prize: $1,000 cash prize
• 2nd Prize: $750 cash prize
• 3rd Prize: $500 cash prize
• Jury’s Choice Award (30 awards)
• Honourable Mention (150 finalists)
• Spotlight Selection (500 awards)

Cash prize winners and Jury’s Choice artists can have their work printed, framed and shown in group exhibitions in Sharjah, Auckland or Venice. Winners and selected artists are also featured in an online exhibition on the reEarth website and Google Arts, and promoted on the prize’s website and social media.

Every participant receives a personalised e-certificate.

Submission Requirements

Entries are submitted online.

To enter, participants must:

• Create an account on the reEarth Studio website
• Verify their email address
• Log in and choose the individual or school/group submission form
• Upload the artwork and pay the entry fee

Each artist can submit up to three artworks per art form, twelve in total. Files must be JPEG, PNG, GIF or PDF, up to 5 MB each, and named FirstName_LastName_Category_Number (for example Alex_John_Painting_1.jpg).

Finalists and winners may be asked for higher-resolution files later for printing.

Important Rules

Age: Entrants must be between 4 and 25 years old on November 1, 2026.

Use of AI: AI-made work is only accepted in the AI Generative Art category.

Painting & Drawing: Only 2D work is accepted; objects attached to the surface are not allowed.

Photography: Keep the unedited original file or film negative, as it may be needed to confirm authenticity.

File types: Software files such as .AI, .PSD or .CDR are not accepted.

Copyright: Artists keep the copyright, but allow the organisers to display, reproduce and use the work to promote the prize.

Late entries: Entries submitted after the deadline are disqualified.

When Will Entrants Be Notified?

Winners will be announced in December 2026 on the reEarth website and social media, and all participants will be informed by email.

Participants who are not selected are notified by email, but the jury does not give individual feedback.

Things to Consider

Best for: Young artists aged 4 to 25, art students, schools and art teachers looking for an international platform for young people’s work about nature and the environment.

The prize is one of the few international competitions made specifically for children and young people, with separate age groups so that young children are not judged against university students. The four art forms, including a dedicated AI category, give entrants a lot of freedom in how they respond to the themes.

One important consideration is the fee structure. At $30 per artwork, costs add up quickly for artists entering several works, although schools submitting 15 or more pieces pay a reduced rate.

Some details on the website are unclear. The currency of fees and prizes is not stated, and the number of cash prizes differs between pages: the overview lists three of each prize, while the prize page lists four, one for each art form.

Before entering, check the age cut-off date, choose the theme and art form that suit your work, and make sure your files meet the format and naming requirements.

Enter the Competition

Interested in submitting your work?

Enter the reEarth International Art Prize 2026

For the complete rules, themes, prizes and submission forms, visit the official reEarth Art Prize page.

Looking for more open calls? Browse all competitions and opportunities on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: September 27, 2026