2026 IAMA Live Youth Art Contest
Create. Compete. Exhibit Your Art at IAMA.
October 24–25, 2026
International Art Museum of America
San Francisco, California
The International Art Museum of America is pleased to present the second edition of the IAMA Live Youth Art Contest, an in-person competition that invites young artists to create an original artwork inside the museum.
Selected participants will compete alongside other talented young artists, respond to a specially announced theme, and have their completed artwork reviewed by a panel of judges. All artworks created during the competition will then be presented in a public exhibition at IAMA.
APPLY FOR THE LIVE YOUTH ART CONTEST
Applications are completed through the official IAMA International Youth Art Contest website.
An Art Competition Inside the Museum
The IAMA Live Youth Art Contest gives young artists the opportunity to demonstrate their creativity, artistic technique, and interpretation of a theme in a professional museum environment.
Contest Highlights
- Create an original artwork live at IAMA
- Compete within your age group
- Receive a theme on the day of the competition
- Have your work reviewed by a panel of judges
- Participate in a public museum exhibition
- Attend the awards ceremony and exhibition opening
- Receive recognition as a selected participating artist
Saturday, October 24
Live Art Competition
Selected artists will be assigned to one of two competition heats.
During their assigned heat, participants will create an original artwork at the museum within a designated time limit. Tentative themes will be shared approximately one week before the competition, and the final theme will be revealed when participants check in.
Competition heat assignments and arrival instructions will be provided to accepted participants.
Sunday, October 25
Awards Ceremony and Exhibition Opening
The winners and special recognitions will be announced during the awards ceremony on Sunday, October 25.
Awards Ceremony: 11:00 AM
Update to 12:00 PM if that remains the confirmed ceremony time.
The exhibition featuring the artworks created during the live competition will open to the public immediately following the competition weekend.
Public Exhibition
October 25–November 8, 2026
The artworks created during the contest will be displayed at the International Art Museum of America as part of a two-week public exhibition.
This gives participating artists the opportunity to present their work in a professional museum setting and share their creativity with family members, educators, visitors, and the wider community.
Age Groups
Participants will compete in the following age categories:
- Ages 10–12
- Ages 13–15
- Ages 16–18
An applicant’s age group will be determined by their age on the date of the competition.
Application and Selection Process
Participation in the Live Youth Art Contest is subject to an application and artwork-review process.
To apply, students must:
- Complete the online application.
- Upload one original artwork created by the applicant.
- Submit the $10 first-round application and artwork-review fee.
The uploaded artwork is used only to evaluate the applicant’s artistic ability and readiness for the live competition. It does not need to relate to the theme that will be used during the live event.
Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance. Selected artists will receive a separate email containing their acceptance confirmation, assigned competition heat, payment instructions, permitted-material guidelines, and additional event information.
First-Round Application Deadline: October 4, 2026
Update this to September 27, 2026 if that remains the official deadline.
Participation Fee
The total participation fee is $110 per selected artist.
- A $10 application and artwork-review fee is collected when the application is submitted.
- Applicants selected for the live competition will pay the remaining $100 balance after receiving their acceptance email.
Payment of the remaining balance is only required after the applicant has been formally selected and invited to participate.
Art Materials and Competition Guidelines
Participants must create their artwork at the museum within the designated competition time.
IAMA will provide:
- Tables
- Chairs
- Paper
Participants may bring approved dry-media art supplies, including:
- Pencils
- Colored pencils
- Markers
- Crayons
- Similar dry-media materials
Paint, wet media, and materials requiring drying time will not be permitted unless otherwise announced.
Completed artworks will be evaluated based on creativity, technique, interpretation of the theme, and overall presentation.
Detailed guidelines will be sent directly to accepted participants.
Important Dates
Application Deadline
October 4, 2026
Confirm whether this should be September 27.
Acceptance Notifications
By October 13, 2026
Live Art Competition
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Awards Ceremony and Exhibition Opening
Sunday, October 25, 2026
Public Exhibition
October 25–November 8, 2026
Ubicación
International Art Museum of America
1025 Market Street
San Francisco, California 94103