Georgia Arbor Day 2026
Student Art Contest Rules
2026 Georgia Arbor Day is Friday, Feb. 20, 2026
Entries Accepted 11/01/25 – 1/31/26
Thank you for participating!
One of our favorite events that celebrates Georgia Arbor Day is our annual Student Art Contest!
Whether you are a student, teacher, parent, or friend – get the word out to young artists across metro Atlanta! The Student Art Contest is a great framework to introduce concepts related to trees, urban ecology, health benefits of nature, plant science, climate patterns, and so much more!
Art categories include several media options to celebrate a range of individual interest, skill, and or capacity. Please review the Student Art Contest rules and guidelines below.
Past year’s Trees Atlanta Georgia Arbor Day Student Art Contest Winners: 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021
Rules and Submission Guidelines
Please review the contest details below. The following information can also be downloaded as a PDFs:
- Promotional Flyer – 2026 Georgia Arbor Day Student Art Contest
- Rules and Submission Guidelines (PDF)
What is it?
- Trees Atlanta’s Georgia Arbor Day Art Contest is a celebration of trees and creativity in which participants submit a work of art in the medium of their choice.
- Only one submission will be accepted per student.
- Submissions must be original and created by the student.
- Qualify under one of our three art categories: visual, writing, and film.
What’s the theme for the Georgia Arbor Day Student Art Contest 2026?
- Artwork should reflect the participant’s interpretation of this year’s theme: Oh, the Places You’ll Grow!
What is the deadline to submit entries?
- We will accept submissions from November 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026. All entries must be received by email or arrive at our office by mail or in person by 1/31/26 by 3:00 PM.
Who can participate?
- Students in all metro Atlanta area schools, including homeschool students, in grades K-12 are invited to participate.
Will there be prizes?
- Yes! First place, second place, and third place winners will be selected by a panel of Trees Atlanta judges for each category below:
- Visual Art Grades K – 2
- Visual Art Grades 3 – 5
- Visual Art Grades 6 – 8
- Visual Art Grades 9 – 12
- Writing Grades K – 12
- Film Grades K – 12
- Student winners will receive a gift card and Scraplanta swag. Teachers and/or adults who submit art on behalf of a 1st place winner will receive a gift card.
- Winners will have their artwork displayed on our website and at Trees Atlanta. Winners will be celebrated at the Georgia Arbor Day Art Contest Gallery Opening on February 14.
How can I see the winning artwork from the Georgia Arbor Day Art Contest?
- The winning artwork will be on display at Trees Atlanta. Community members can come to our Gallery Opening, where we will celebrate the winners.
- If you are unable to attend our Gallery Opening, community members can visit Trees Atlanta when the office is open (Monday – Friday, 9AM-4PM) to see the gallery on their own.
- The winning artwork will also be published on the Trees Atlanta website. A blog post sharing the winning artwork will be published following the Gallery Opening.
- All participants will be notified if their artwork was selected as a winner or not at least 2 weeks after the contest closes. Notifications will be sent to the email address submitted with the artwork.
How do I submit my entry?
- All participants must complete the entry form: Georgia Arbor Day Art Contest Registration Form
- Entries can be submitted digitally, by mail, or dropped off in person.
- All digital files must be named according to the format as shown:
Last name-First initial-grade-SchoolName
Examples: “Doe-Jane-K-PerkersonElem” or “Doe-John-12-SouthAtlantaHS”
What are the regulations on art size and format?
| Category | Visual Art | Writing | Film / Video |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptable Formats | Drawing, painting, photography, mixed media collage, and sequential art (comics).
May be traditional or digital. |
Poetry, narrative writing (story), or informational writing (essay).
May be handwritten or typed. |
Video essay, live action narrative, and animation. |
| Size | May be submitted by email or delivered by mail or in person.
Min size: 8.5” x 11” Accepted file formats: |
May be submitted by email or delivered by mail or in person.
Min word count: 100 Accepted file formats: |
Must be submitted by email or publicly accessible link.
Max runtime: 2 minutes Accepted file formats: |
Georgia celebrates Arbor Day in Feburary while spring is just around the bend. Trees Atlanta celebrates Georgia Arbor Day with a whole week of events, including free tree seedling adoption days, classes at the Kendeda TreesHouse and in Atlanta schools, tree planting projects, and the announcement of the Student Art Contest winners!
Take a look at this year’s Georgia Arbor Day Celebration Week of events at: treesatlanta.org/georgiaarborday
Questions? Email: utt@treesatlanta.org
