Enter the IFAW 2026 Youth Art Contest by 1 February 2026!

IFAW is excited to announce the 2026 World Wildlife Day (WWD) International Youth Art Contest.

Wild animals and plants are a vital part of the intricate web of life, sustaining ecosystems and natural processes that we depend on to survive and thrive. Through the transformational power of art, contestants will raise awareness for wildlife conservation and share the benefits we receive from wild plants and animals.

This year’s World Wildlife Day is celebrated under the theme of “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods.” Tens of thousands of medicinal and aromatic plants are harvested around the world and are vital to human health and well-being. These critical species are at risk of extinction due to the ongoing impacts of habitat loss, overharvesting, illegal trade, and more—the same faced by threatened and endangered wildlife species in peril as well.  

Plants are critical to the globe’s biodiversity and to healthy habitats for living beings. To pay tribute to the 2026 theme, we encourage artists to include plants in their wildlife entries this year—particularly as many animals use plants for medicinal and aromatic purposes too.  

The International Youth Art contest is held in partnership with the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The contest is open to youth artists aged 4-18 using traditional art mediums (hand drawn using markers, crayons, colored pencils, and/or paint). Please be sure to include plants within the scope of your wildlife art.

All contestants have until 1 February 2026 to submit their work. All entries must be submitted electronically via uploading on IFAW’s website. Finalists and winning entries will be presented at the official World Wildlife Day event on 3 March 2026. 

Enter your artwork here

Submit your film to the Jackson Wild 2026 Film Showcase! 

Each year on March 3, the world comes together to celebrate World Wildlife Day, honoring the incredible diversity of life on Earth and the vital connections between people and nature. In partnership with CITES, the United Nations, UNDP, and IFAW, Jackson Wild joins this global celebration through the World Wildlife Day Film Showcase.

The 2026 theme, “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods,”  highlights the essential role these plants play in global health, traditional knowledge, and sustainable economies.

Jackson Wild is seeking films that explore this theme — from the healing power of nature to the communities protecting these species. Films selected for the World Wildlife Day Film Showcase are available throughout 2026 in free educational screenings. The selection of films will be announced on March 3rd during the virtual World Wildlife Day Celebration.

Learn how to participate here

WWD2026 Social Media Kit - Trello Board coming soon!