Florida students from kindergarten through 12th grade now have a chance to turn their love of the state's waters into award-winning art. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), partnering with Wildlife Forever, has officially opened the 2026–2027 Florida Fish Art Contest, an annual program designed to blend creativity with conservation education.
To enter, young artists first choose a Florida native freshwater or saltwater fish species to research — learning about its habitat, behavior, and conservation needs — then create an original, handmade two-dimensional artwork inspired by that fish. Digital artwork is not accepted; all physical 2D mediums are welcome. Students in 4th grade and above must also submit a one-page creative writing piece reflecting what they discovered about their chosen species.
The contest is divided into five grade-level divisions: kindergarten, 1st–3rd grade, 4th–6th grade, 7th–9th grade, and 10th–12th grade. Within each division, awards go to first-place winners and runners-up in both the freshwater and saltwater categories. All recognized students receive prizes and official recognition from the FWC.
Contest partners include the Guy Harvey Foundation, GoOutdoorsFlorida, The Florida Nomad, and Tsunami Fishing. Entries are submitted online through the FWC's dedicated contest form, and the submission window stays open until February 28, 2027.
Full guidelines, educational resources, and the entry form are available at MyFWC.com/FishArt, as reported by the Boca Raton Tribune.
