THEME – “FLY to Save Lives”

International Aviation Art Contest - National Association of State Aviation Officials 

 Contest organizers write that:

For over a hundred years, people have dreamed of flying in the sky. What once seemed like magic is now a part of our everyday lives. Planes and helicopters help us travel far and fast, bringing people together from all over the world. They also help during emergencies, like delivering food, medicine, fighting wildfires and finding people who need help.

Flying isn’t just about helping others—it can also help you. When people do air sports like paragliding, ballooning, or flying drones, it helps them feel happy, confident, and strong. Being up in the sky makes people feel free, it helps them connect to nature, and exercises complete focus on one single task, all of which are great for their wellbeing. This year’s FAI Young Artists Contest theme is ‘Fly to Save Lives’. We want you to imagine how aviation and air sports can help save lives.

With your crayons, paint, or pencils, show us your ideas. How can flight make the world a safer and better place? The sky is not the limit—it’s where hope begins!

DEADLINE

All entries need to be received by Friday, January 16, 2026.

ELIGIBILITY

Youths between the ages of 6 and 17 may participate. Entries will be judged in three classes according to age and their creative use of the theme in relation to the aviation world. Each FAI member sponsors the contest in their country and submits national winners to the International Jury each year.

Group I Junior Category:

Date of birth between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2019

Group II Category Intermediate:
Date of birth between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2015

Group III Senior Category:
Date of birth between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2011

 

CONTEST RULES

The U.S. contest is part of an international program run by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). All contest rules (with the exception of the U.S. contest deadline dates) are set by FAI.

FORMAT & REPRESENTATION - 11 3/4 x 16 1/2 inches

• 11 3/4 X 16 ½ inches or, if this is unobtainable, the nearest possible equivalent.
• Artwork must NOT be framed or outlined with borders
• Artwork should clearly represent the theme of the contest

 MEDIUM

Permitted: acrylic, oil paint, watercolor, indelible marker pens, felt-tip pens, soft ball-point pens, indelible ink, Crayola or any similar indelible medium. 

NOT Permitted: non-permanent mediums such as pencil or charcoal; computer-generated artwork; collage work involving the use of photocopies.

MARKINGS

Certificate of authenticity (see brochure) must be attached to the back of the artwork.

The following information must be included on the back of the art:

• Artist’s first name
• Artist’s birth year
• Parent or teacher’s contact information

TITLE

There is no need for a title on the poster and entrants can decide for themselves whether or not to include one; however, there should be a clearly recognizable link to the theme of the contest.

REPRODUCTION RIGHTS

Once received, entries become (and remain) the property of the State Sponsors and NASAO, and may be used for a variety of purposes. States may request art be returned to them by providing a return mail slip and packaging along with the artwork being submitted to NASAO.

Those forwarded for international judging become the property of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), however, FAI will try to return the original artwork.

AWARDS - STATE AWARDS

Entries in each age group are judged and state winners and runners-up are selected. Winners receive recognition from their state. The top three entries in each age group are forwarded to Washington D.C. to be judged in the national competition.

NATIONAL AWARDS

1st, 2nd and 3rd place national winners from each age group are selected from the state submissions. All national winning artwork is forwarded to FAI for the international competition.

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

Winners of the international competition receive certificates and gold, silver, or bronze medals.

WHERE TO SUBMIT (For NEVADA Contestants): 

Natasha Ashby
State Aviation Manager
Nevada Department of Transportation
1263 S. Stewart Street, Room 319
Carson City, NV 89712

nashby@dot.nv.gov
Phone (775) 888-7932