Celebrating 25 Years of Creativity: Meet the 2026 K12 National Art Competition Winners

More than 3,000 young artists from across the country shared their creativity, imagination, and artistic talent in the 2026 K12 National Art Competition — and we’re excited to announce this year’s winners.

As K12 celebrates the 25th anniversary of this beloved competition, we're honoring students whose artwork captured judges' attention and inspired voters. From colorful paintings and detailed drawings to imaginative digital creations, this year's submissions reflected the unique perspectives and artistic voices of students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

One of the things that makes the K12 National Art Competition so special is that it’s open to all U.S. K–12 students, whether they attend a K12-powered school, brick-and-mortar public school, private school, charter school, homeschool program, or another educational setting.

Explore This Year’s Winning Artwork

The 2026 winners represent every grade level - from emerging artists in kindergarten to accomplished high school students preparing for their next chapter. Their artwork demonstrates creativity, technical skill, originality, and the confidence to share unique ideas with others.

View the 2026 K12 National Art Competition Winners Gallery to explore all the winning pieces, discover the stories behind the artwork, and celebrate the accomplishments of these student artists from across the country.

Awards and Prizes

Students competed for Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice awards in both Physical Artwork and Digital Artwork categories at each grade level.

Judges’ Choice Awards

• 1st Place: $250 Cash Prize or Tango e-Gift Card
• 2nd Place: $100 Cash Prize or Tango e-Gift Card

People’s Choice Award

• Winner: $50 Cash Prize or Tango e-Gift Card

Now, let’s meet the students whose artwork earned top honors in the 2026 K12 National Art Competition.

Kindergarten Winners

Physical Art

• 1st Place: Josiah, Kindergarten, Arizona Virtual Academy, Cotton Candy Dreams-Work
• 2nd Place: Seth, Kindergarten, Valley Park Elementary, Toucans in the Rainforest
• People’s Choice: Mateo, Kindergarten, Water Spring Elementary, The Titanic

Arte digital

• People’s Choice: Reign, Kindergarten, Louisiana Virtual Charter Academy, Happy Earth Friends
• No 1st or 2nd Place Digital winners

1st Grade Winners

Physical Art

• 1st Place: Mengxin Mia, 1st Grade, Camino Grove Elementary School, A Journey Into the Fairy World
• 2nd Place: Stella, 1st Grade, Buttonball Lane School, Spectacular Playground
• People’s Choice: Olivia, 1st Grade, Elizabeth Shelton School, My School Playground

Arte digital

• People’s Choice: Addalyn, 1st Grade, Indiana Gateway Digital Academy, Home
• No 1st or 2nd Place Digital winners

2nd Grade Winners

Physical Art

• 1st Place: Kailin, 2nd Grade, Knoll School, Cat
• 2nd Place: Devarshi, 2nd Grade, Canyon Ranch Elementary School
• Floating Dreams
• People’s Choice: Hansh, 2nd Grade, Sandia Vista Elementary, Colorful Spring Meadow

Arte digital

• People’s Choice: Sophia, 2nd Grade, Hampstead Elementary School, When I Wake Up
• No 1st or 2nd Place Digital winners

3rd Grade Winners

Physical Art

• 1st Place: Diana, 3rd Grade, Rosa Parks Elementary School, Peace and Love
• 2nd Place: Selena, 3rd Grade, Ericson Elementary School, Delicious Donuts
• People’s Choice: Ziad, 3rd Grade, Virginia Virtual Academy, The Lion

Arte digital

• 1st Place: Hongshi, 3rd Grade, Sunita Williams Elementary School, Lightning Plane
• 2nd Place: Lucy, 3rd Grade, Memorial Elementary School, My Cat Ginger
• People’s Choice: Paisley, 3rd Grade, California Virtual Academies, Freya

4th Grade Winners

Physical Art

• 1st Place: Chloe, 4th Grade, Del Mar Pines School, Dream House Beneath the Wings
• 2nd Place: Agastya, 4th Grade, Eutopia Homeschool, Gazing at the Beauty of the Universe
• People’s Choice: Elena, 4th Grade, Insight of Washington, Orange Cat Mask

Arte digital

• 1st Place: Natalia, 4th Grade, California Virtual Academies, Piano Tiles
• No 2nd Place Digital winner
• People’s Choice: Sara, 4th Grade, Arizona Virtual Academy, Girl Looking At Mountain

5th Grade Winners

Physical Art

• 1st Place: Klara, 5th Grade, Renaissance Arts Academy, Star Girl
• 2nd Place: Toby, 5th Grade, Rabbit Hole Club, Music and Moonlight
• People’s Choice: Aryanna, 5th Grade, West Virginia Virtual Academy, Take Me to the Mountains West Virginia

Arte digital

• 1st Place: Mingrui (Olivia), 5th Grade, Nelson S. Dilworth Elementary School, Autumn’s Embrace
• 2nd Place: Emma, 5th Grade, Needham ACE Studio, The Snaily Ride
• People’s Choice: Ruana, 5th Grade, Murdock Portal, Alternate realities

6th Grade Winners

Physical Art

• 1st Place: Haripriya, 6th Grade, Tennessee Virtual Academy, A Love Painted in Twilight
• No 2nd Place Physical winner
• People’s Choice: Di, 6th Grade, CalColor Academy, Daylight Scholar, Midnight Mage

Arte digital

• 1st Place: Audrey, 6th Grade, Stonegate Elementary, Guardian of Nature
• 2nd Place: Viola, 6th Grade, Oak Valley Middle School, Forwards Still
• People’s Choice: Emmalyn, 6th Grade, Texas Virtual Academy at Hallsville, Angel

7th Grade Winners

Physical Art

• 1st Place: Collin, 7th Grade, Garland McMeans Junior High School, Comic Relief
• 2nd Place: Abigail, 7th Grade, St. John Paul II Catholic School, Held by Stars
• People’s Choice: Chloe, 7th Grade, Lamar Middle School, The Instrument of Myself

Arte digital

• 1st Place: Isabella, 7th Grade, Washington Virtual Academies, Finding Grace
• 2nd Place: Eva, 7th Grade, Homeschool, LOVE
• People’s Choice: Leila, 7th Grade, Digital Academy of Texas, Face of Reptiles

8th Grade Winners

Physical Art

• 1st Place: Chantal, 8th Grade, CalColor Academy, Pulled in Every Direction
• 2nd Place: Iris, 8th Grade, Garland McMeans Junior High, The Paperback
• People’s Choice: Tanvi, 8th Grade, Windermere Ranch Middle School, Religion in Abstract

Arte digital

• 1st Place: River, 8th Grade, Texas Virtual Academy at Hallsville, Lamb Chops
• 2nd Place: Chloe, 8th Grade, Wisconsin Virtual Academy, Going Fishing
• People’s Choice: Katelynn, 8th Grade, Ohio Virtual Academy, Nesa

9th Grade Winners

Physical Art

• 1st Place: Anna, 9th Grade, California Virtual Academies, Cat in a Match
• 2nd Place: ChanHyeon, 9th Grade, Memorial High School, Future
• People’s Choice: Vaishnvai, 9th Grade, Santa Clara High School, Piano Practice

Arte digital

• 1st Place: Zaniha, 9th Grade, Idaho Virtual Academy, The Creation of Wheatly
• 2nd Place: Hayoon, 9th Grade, McIntosh High School, Undertow
• People’s Choice: Sahej, 9th Grade, Issaquah High School, Memories Lost in a Dream

10th Grade Winners

Physical Art

• 1st Place: Tim, 10th Grade, Sunny Fine Art School, Echoes of Legacy
• 2nd Place: Isabella, 10th Grade, ICON Art Academy, Cornered
• People’s Choice: Tanisha, 10th Grade, Nashua High School South, Invisible Chains

Arte digital

• 1st Place: Rebekah, 10th Grade, Idaho Virtual Academy, Stepping into Reality
• 2nd Place: Joslyn, 10th Grade, California Virtual Academies, I’m slowly forgetting your face
• People’s Choice: Jaiden, 10th Grade, Texas Connections Academy at Houston, Clay Man

11th Grade Winners

Physical Art

• 1st Place: Mia, 11th Grade, ICON Art Academy, Threads
• 2nd Place: Sierra, 11th Grade, Wisconsin Virtual Academy, The sol within her
• People’s Choice: Jerry, 11th Grade, South Forsyth High School, Reflections at Dusk

Arte digital

• 1st Place: Emi, 11th Grade, Prospect High School, Staying Afloat
• 2nd Place: Elena, 11th Grade, Deerfield High School, Modern Atropos
• People’s Choice: Annelise, 11th Grade, Richard Montgomery High School, Pipa Player

12th Grade Winners

Physical Art

• 1st Place: Elizabeth, 12th Grade, Clements High School, Childhood Games
• 2nd Place: Julianne, 12th Grade, Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan, Human Be-Ing
• People’s Choice: Kaylie, 12th Grade, Insight School of Kansas, The Evolution of Time & Music

Arte digital

• 1st Place: Victor, 12th Grade, Mission Vista High School, PROTOTYPE V.18
• 2nd Place and People’s Choice: Phan Bao Han, 12th Grade, George Ranch High School, Memory

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and participants — and thank you for helping make the 25th year of the K12 National Art Competition a celebration of creativity, imagination, and student achievement.

Keep Creating, Competing, and Exploring

The K12 National Art Competition is just one of many opportunities available to help students showcase their talents, build confidence, and connect with a nationwide community of young creators. Throughout the year, students can participate in competitions focused on art, photography, writing, STEM, esports, and more.

Visit the K12 Enrichment site to discover upcoming competitions, virtual experiences, challenges, and other opportunities designed to inspire learning and creativity year-round.