The 2026 Fish Art Contest, a free and engaging program designed to inspire youth in kindergarten through 12th grade, is officially open for submissions. Announced by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division, the contest encourages young artists to explore the wonders of aquatic life through their creativity, with a final deadline of February 28, 2026.

“While we ultimately hope all kids get the chance to get outside and actually go fishing, we also think it is a great education opportunity to use art and writing to inspire children’s imagination to discover more about fish and fishing,” said Chrystal Sherwood, Educator at Georgia DNR’s Go Fish Education Center. “Please be sure to review all the different entry categories and submission details to ensure your student’s creative art pieces get the best chance to be part of the contest, and best of luck!”

Students interested in participating can find comprehensive information and entry forms at FishArt.org. For Georgia students, there are two distinct entry avenues:

Go Fish Georgia Award: Students must use the Go Fish Education Center – Georgia Fish Art Award entry form. Submissions for this category should focus on a native state fish species, or one introduced to the state, commonly sought by anglers.

International Fish Art Contest: Students can feature any wild fish in its natural habitat.

New Opportunities for 2026:

This year’s contest introduces exciting new dimensions for participants:

Dual Submissions: Students can now submit both one 2D entry and one 3D entry, expanding creative possibilities.
Separate 3D Judging: 3D artwork will have its own dedicated entry form and judging process.
Form Finder Tool: A new online Form Finder tool is available to help students and educators easily locate the correct entry form and understand their state’s specific contest rules.

Artwork and Writing Requirements:

Participants are required to create original, hand-done illustrations; digital and AI-generated entries will not be accepted. Students in 4th grade and above must also submit a brief piece of creative writing that showcases what they have learned about their chosen fish or habitat. To ensure fairness and promote original thought, plagiarism rules have been clarified this year, with best practices shared to prevent copying. Entries found to be plagiarized may be disqualified, as Wildlife Forever and contest partners plan increased scrutiny before winners are announced.

Specialty Awards:

Beyond state-level recognition, students may also qualify for a range of specialty awards depending on eligibility, including:

Invader Crusader Award: Featuring a native and invasive species from the student’s local area.
Great Lakes Fish Award: Highlighting a Great Lakes species.
Guy Harvey Shark Award: Dedicated to shark species.
Fish Habitat Writing Award: For creative writing about protecting aquatic ecosystems.
Mighty Minnow Award: Celebrating kindergarten participants.
IGFA Debris Division Award (3D Only): For 3D artwork created from plastic waste or found objects collected during habitat cleanups to form a game fish.

Recognition and Submission:

Top Georgia entries will earn a place of honor, being displayed at the Go Fish Education Center in Perry, Ga. (GoFishEducationCenter.com).

All entries for the 2026 contest are due by February 28, 2026. While digital submissions are encouraged, physical artwork can also be mailed to: Chrystal Sherwood / Go Fish Education Center 1255 Perry Parkway Perry, GA 31069

The Fish Art Contest is proudly supported by Bass Pro Shops, the USDA Forest Service, the International Game Fish Association, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Guy Harvey Foundation, Yamaha, and Rapala.

For comprehensive details on award categories, entry forms, FAQs, and requirements, interested participants and educators are encouraged to visit FishArt.org.

About Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division: The Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division is charged with conserving, enhancing, and promoting Georgia’s fish and wildlife resources and their habitats, and providing opportunities for sport and recreation.

About the Fish Art Contest: The Fish Art Contest is an international program of Wildlife Forever that connects children to the outdoors and inspires the next generation of conservation stewards.

Contact: [Insert Georgia DNR Media Contact Information Here, if available, or a general media contact for the contest]