HAPPY DEGART 2026
8th International KIDS Art Exhibition and Contest
Open to Children and Young Artists Ages 4–17 Worldwide
HAPPY DEGART 2026 is an international children’s art exhibition and competition hosted by DEGALLERY, located in Bryan, Texas, USA.
The competition gives children and young artists from around the world between the ages of 4 and 17 an opportunity to present their original artwork to an international professional jury and to have their work included in an online exhibition. Selected finalists will also have their original artwork exhibited at DEGALLERY in Texas.
The organizers state that the exhibition receives artwork from all continents and that a professional international artists’ jury selects winners in different age categories. Previous editions have included participants from dozens of countries.
In 2025, participants came from 53 countries, including Turkey, the United States, Germany, Spain, Canada, Japan, Australia, Brazil, India, South Korea and many others.
2026 THEME
MY CULTURE IN COLOR
The theme for the 2026 competition is:
“MY CULTURE IN COLOR”
Children are invited to show what makes their culture special through art.
The organizers specifically mention subjects such as:
- Traditions
- Memories
- Food
- Music
- Clothing
- Cultural symbols
- Family moments
- Cultural experiences
as possible sources of inspiration.
The artwork does not have to use bright or many colors. The official competition page states that participants may use:
- Bright colors
- Soft tones
- Black and white
What matters most is the child’s own story and artistic interpretation.
This gives young artists considerable freedom to interpret the theme from their own cultural background and personal experience.
WHO CAN ENTER?
The competition is international and open to all countries.
Artists must be:
4 through 17 years old
at the time of participation.
There are four age categories:
| Category | Age |
|---|---|
| Category 1 | 4–7 years |
| Category 2 | 8–11 years |
| Category 3 | 12–14 years |
| Category 4 | 15–17 years |
Each age category is evaluated separately.
WHAT ART MEDIA ARE ACCEPTED?
The competition accepts a wide range of traditional art media.
The official rules specifically list:
- Pencil
- Charcoal
- Pastel
- Watercolor
- Oil
- Other media
The official rules state that any medium is accepted.
Important:
Pastel and charcoal artworks must be properly sprayed/fixed to prevent smearing during handling and transportation.
The artwork must also be signed with the student’s original signature.
ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS
The submitted artwork must be:
- The student’s own original work
- Authentic and independently created
- Related to the competition theme
- Signed by the student
The official rules state that copied or traced drawings and paintings will be disqualified.
The competition does not accept artwork copied from:
- Published photographs
- Magazines
- Books
- Illustrations
- Other artworks
The registration form also requires the participant to certify that the work is original and was not copied from a published photograph, magazine, book illustration or another artwork.
HOW MANY ARTWORKS CAN A STUDENT SUBMIT?
Each student may submit:
ONE artwork only
The official rules clearly state that only one entry per student is permitted.
For this reason, students should carefully select the artwork that best represents their interpretation of “MY CULTURE IN COLOR.”
ENTRY FEE
FREE
The official competition page clearly states:
“The application is FREE.”
There is therefore no application fee for submitting an artwork to HAPPY DEGART 2026.
Important shipping note
If a student’s artwork is selected as a Final Winner and is required for the physical exhibition at DEGALLERY, the participant is responsible for the delivery of the original artwork to the gallery.
Therefore:
Application = FREE
Shipping of an accepted original artwork = Participant’s responsibility
IMPORTANT DATES
The main competition page currently states:
Application period
February 1 – September 2, 2026
with the deadline listed as:
September 2, 2026 – midnight PDT
However, the schedule section on the same official page lists online applications as February 20 – September 1, 2026. Because the official page contains this discrepancy, applicants should check the live application form immediately before submitting.
Judging
Judging for the final exhibition selection begins around:
September 10, 2026
Information about the Final Winners is scheduled to be sent between:
September 10–30, 2026.
Shipping of selected artwork
The official schedule gives:
September 30 – October 30, 2026
for shipped artwork to arrive at DEGALLERY.
The rules also state that Final Winners should mail the original artwork to DEGALLERY by October 30, 2026.
WHERE WILL THE PHYSICAL EXHIBITION TAKE PLACE?
Selected original artworks will be exhibited at:
DEGALLERY
930 N. Rosemary Dr
Bryan, TX 77802
USA
The exhibition dates are:
November 17, 2026 – January 25, 2027
Only the artwork of the Final Winners will be displayed physically at DEGALLERY.
ONLINE EXHIBITION
There is also an important benefit for all participants.
According to the official rules:
All HAPPY DEGART 2026 participants will be included in the online exhibition.
The online exhibition is scheduled to begin in November 2026.
This means that even participants who are not selected as Final Winners for the physical exhibition may still have their artwork displayed online to an international audience.
AWARDS
Awards and diplomas are provided in each of the four age categories:
- 🥇 1st Place
- 🥈 2nd Place
- 🥉 3rd Place
- ⭐ Honorable Mention
All participants and winners receive:
- Online Certificate
- Diploma of Award
Best of the Show
A Best of the Show artwork is also selected.
The Best of the Show winner receives:
- Prize
- Diploma
- Rosette
which are sent by mail.
PARTICIPATION DIPLOMA
One of the notable features of HAPPY DEGART is that all participants receive an online diploma.
The organizers explicitly state that online diplomas are provided to:
- Participants
- Winners
- Final Winners
by email.
Therefore, participation is not limited to children who receive an award; every participant can receive official digital recognition.
JUDGING
The competition is judged by a professional international artists’ jury.
The official rules state that contestants are judged based on:
- Original style
- Artistic value
- Authenticity
- Originality of the artwork
The work must therefore demonstrate the child’s own artistic approach rather than simply reproduce an existing image.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are submitted online.
The official application form asks for information including:
Student information
- Student’s first and last name
- Age
- Grade level
School / Art Studio information
- School or art studio name
- Address
- Country
Teacher / Guardian
- Teacher/Guardian email
Parent / Guardian
- Parent/Guardian name
- Parent/Guardian email
- Parent/Guardian address
Artwork
- Artwork title
- Medium used to create the artwork
- Artwork image/file
The application form also asks whether the participant wants the original artwork returned.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
Because the participants are minors, the registration form includes parent/guardian information.
The application requires:
- Parent/Guardian name
- Parent/Guardian email
- Parent/Guardian address
The applicant also confirms that:
- The artwork is original.
- It was not copied.
- The participant understands the delivery/pickup responsibility.
- The organizers and sponsors are not responsible for lost or damaged artwork.
- The competition rules have been read and accepted.
WHAT HAPPENS IF A STUDENT BECOMES A FINAL WINNER?
After the online applications are reviewed, the jury selects the Final Winners whose artwork will be physically exhibited at DEGALLERY.
The Final Winner must then send the original artwork to the gallery.
Shipping address
DEGALLERY
930 N Rosemary Dr
Bryan, TX 77802
USA
The participant is responsible for shipping or hand-delivering the accepted artwork.
RETURN OF THE ORIGINAL ARTWORK
Participants can request the return of their original artwork.
The application form contains an:
“I want my artwork back”
option.
If the artwork is to be returned, the participant must provide a return shipping label through a service such as:
- USPS
- UPS
- DHL
- FedEx
The rules state that the return label can be mailed or emailed to the organizers up until January 25, 2027.
IMPORTANT RULES
❌ Do not submit copied artwork.
Artwork copied from another artist, photograph, book, magazine or illustration is not accepted.
❌ Do not use tracing.
Copied or traced drawings and paintings can be disqualified.
✅ The artwork must be original.
The child must create the artwork themselves.
✅ Sign the artwork.
The official rules require the artwork to carry the student’s original signature.
✅ Interpret the theme.
The work should provide an authentic interpretation of:
MY CULTURE IN COLOR
The interpretation can be colorful, subtle, soft-toned or even black and white. The organizers emphasize that the child’s story is what matters most.
WHY SHOULD YOUNG ARTISTS ENTER?
HAPPY DEGART 2026 offers several advantages:
✔ Open to ages 4–17
✔ International
✔ Open to all countries
✔ FREE application
✔ Painting and drawing accepted
✔ Many traditional media accepted
✔ One artwork per student
✔ Four age categories
✔ International professional jury
✔ Online exhibition
✔ Physical exhibition in Texas for Final Winners
✔ Online diploma for all participants
✔ 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place and Honorable Mention awards
✔ Best of the Show recognition
QUICK INFORMATION
Competition: HAPPY DEGART 2026
Organizer/Host: DEGALLERY / DEGA
Event: 8th International KIDS Art Exhibition and Contest
Theme: MY CULTURE IN COLOR
Age: 4–17
Eligibility: International / All Countries
Application fee: FREE
Application deadline shown on main page: September 2, 2026 – midnight PDT
Artwork limit: 1 artwork per student
Media: Pencil, charcoal, watercolor, oil and other media
Physical exhibition: Bryan, Texas, USA
Exhibition: November 17, 2026 – January 25, 2027
Online exhibition: From November 2026
Awards: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Honorable Mention + Best of the Show
Application: Online
🔗 OFFICIAL WEBSITE AND APPLICATION
IMPORTANT: This announcement is provided for informational purposes. Before submitting an application, parents, guardians, teachers and students should check the official competition website and live application form for the latest deadline, rules, artwork requirements, shipping instructions and exhibition information.
The official page currently contains a discrepancy between the headline application deadline (September 2) and the schedule section (September 1), so the live application form should be checked before submission.
👉 CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL HAPPY DEGART 2026 WEBSITE & APPLICATION
HAPPY DEGART 2026 – Official Website & Application