2026 International Youth Art Contest
The International Youth Art Contest is a global competition and exhibition organized by the International Art Museum of America in San Francisco. It provides young artists with the opportunity to have their work reviewed by a professional jury and showcased in a museum setting. Featuring the Zynga Digital Art Award 2026 and an exclusive Zynga-led masterclass on game design and creative careers.
Open to participants from around the world, the contest celebrates creativity, technical skill, and artistic voice across a wide range of artistic media, including painting, drawing, and digital art (including eligibility for the Zynga Digital Art Award 2026).
Open to youth artists worldwide
Multiple age groups and artistic categories
Professional jury review process
Selected works exhibited at IAMA
Public awards ceremony with recognition and prizes
The Award Ceremony will be presented by Mr. Guy Djoken, Executive Director of the UNESCO Center for Peace in Washington, D.C., with professional insights and remarks delivered by Prof. Adam Caldwell—Chair of the Jury Committee and faculty member at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco.
Featured Sponsor: Zynga
This year, the contest is proudly supported by Zynga, a global game developer known for creating interactive experiences enjoyed by millions of players worldwide.
As part of this partnership, Zynga will present the Zynga Digital Art Award 2026, recognizing outstanding achievement in digital art.
In addition, Zynga will host an exclusive masterclass on game design and creative career pathways, offering participants insight into how artwork evolves from concept and storytelling into fully developed games.
A dedicated Zynga exhibition will also showcase the creative process behind game development, from early storyboards to final in-game visuals.
🎮 Zynga Digital Art Award 2026
🎓 Exclusive Zynga-led masterclass
🖼️ Behind-the-scenes game art exhibition
Exhibition
July 18– August 2, 2026
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Awards Ceremony
July 19, 2026
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
International Art Museum of America (IAMA)
1025 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
United States
First Round: Online Submission
Submit digital images of artwork for professional jury review.
Second Round: Exhibition at IAMA
Selected works are invited to be exhibited in person in San Francisco.
Awards and Recognition
Select finalists receive certificates, awards, Blick gift cards and prizes. Including special sponsored award such as the Zynga Digital Art Award 2026.
A Global Youth Art Platform
Over the past years, the International Youth Art Contest has welcomed thousands of submissions from young artists from around the world, representing dozens of countries and regions. The contest provides selected participants the opportunity to exhibit their work in a professional museum setting at the International Art Museum of America.
Through public exhibitions and an in-person awards ceremony, the contest supports young artists in building their portfolios, gaining recognition, and sharing their work with an international audience.
2026 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH ART CONTEST JURY PANEL
First Round registration and submission are hosted on our application platform and will open in a new page.