The international award competition is open to young artists aged 4-24. Before starting your submission, please ensure that you have carefully reviewed all the competition rules, submission requirements, and other important details.

The UKYAA Award theme changes every year. Be sure to review the description of the 2026 theme, before starting your piece. Submissions are judged based on how well they address the annual theme. Your submission should respond to the prompt listed in Step 3 below.

Explore the ideas and challenges that matter to you. Draw inspiration from the world around you, your experiences, or your imagination.

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Create an artwork that expresses your perspective on the future. Think about what you want to say and how your visuals communicate that message.

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Your work can highlight issues, imagine possibilities, or offer a new way of seeing the world. Be creative and be bold.

Adding a written reflection is an essential component of the 2026 UKYAA Award as it helps to bring your artwork to life and helps the judges understand your ideas.

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Your reflection should provide insight into your creative process and what you have learned about ocean conservation through your participation in the competition. To guide your writing, consider the following questions:

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• What inspired your artwork?

• How did you approach your creative process?

• What emotions did you experience while creating your piece?

• What message do you hope to convey to viewers through your artwork?

• What have you learned about the ocean and its conservation through your research?

• What community actions will you take beyond individual efforts like recycling to protect the ocean and its environment?

• How does the work of ocean heroes inspire you for the future?

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Reflection Requirements:

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• Length: Minimum of 100 words

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So, don't hesitate to unleash your creativity and knowledge in your reflection, and make a lasting impact with the 2026 UKYAA Award!

To submit your work for the UKYAA Award, kindly click on our submission button and complete your personal details, upload your artwork, write your reflection, and make payment. Please be aware that if you are submitting several works, you must use the same process for each submission. We do not accept submissions via email or postal service. The deadline for submission is 10 July 2026.

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Submission Checklist:

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• Your contact information

• Your submission

• A title for your submission

• Your written reflection

• Contact information for an adult sponsor (required for all participants under 18 years old)

• Parent/guardian consent (required if under 13 years old).