It's time to Create, Snap and Upload as RTÉ This Is Art! 2026 is officially open for entries. The theme this year is - 'This Is Us!'
RTÉ This Is Art! supported by Creative Ireland in partnership with the Government's Shared Island Initiative is calling on children and young people under 18 from all across the island of Ireland to take part in this year's competition - there is a €10,000 prize fund!
There are five categories: Age 7 and under, Age 8 to 11, Age 12 to 15, Age 16 to 18 and the Group Category.
Prizes
A prize fund of €10,000 will provide awards and bursaries for winners across the five categories. Young creators are free to express themselves through whatever medium of art they prefer, from drawing to painting, sculpture to fashion, and even photography.
How to enter:
- Entry is free and further information on how to enter is available on here.
- This all-island competition is open to entries from young people aged 0-18 and accepts submissions in all forms, from paintings, drawings and sculptures to photography, digital art or even creating something using found or upcycled materials.
- Teachers can work with their class to enter as a Group or individuals - Teacher's Guide.
- Create, Snap and Upload to enter at rte.ie/thisisart
The Theme
Entrants are asked to find inspiration through the 2026 theme 'This is Us!' The theme offers a broad canvas for budding creatives and young artists of all abilities to create whatever they can imagine. Inviting entrants to explore what people, relationships and belonging mean to us, celebrating the people we love, the places we belong and the moments we share.
The Judges
Four champions of youth creativity from all across the island of Ireland and beyond have come together to form the 2026 judging panel, bringing perspectives from art, illustration, television, education and museums.
Cork-born comic book artist and TV presenter Will Sliney, Singaporean-Irish, Dublin-based illustrator and muralist Holly Pereira, Australian-born, Dublin-based artist and educator Barbara Knežević, and Charlotte McReynolds, Curator at the Ulster Museum in Belfast, will draw on their diverse creative backgrounds to discover, celebrate and reward this year’s talented young entrants.
and RTÉ's Suzanne Kelly (5th from right) launch the competition at IMMA in Dublin,
alongside their Head of Research & Learning Sheena Barrett (Back left) Photo: Andres Poveda
Speaking at the launch, Tania Banotti, Director of Creative Ireland, said: "This is Art! is a fantastic online art competition, and online gallery with a permanently viewable public archive of all past entries, that promotes artistic practice among young people and encourages and supports creativity, originality and self-expression.
"In partnership with the Shared Island Initiative and RTÉ, this competition is open to all to share their perspectives and see their creativity celebrated on an all-island stage. We’re incredibly excited to see what this year’s young artists create in response to ‘This Is Us!’."
RTÉ’s Suzanne Kelly, Head of Children's and Young People's Content, said: "We can’t believe it’s the sixth year of RTÉ This is Art! already. Every year, we’re blown away by the creativity of young people across the island, and it’s a real privilege to give them a platform to share their art, ideas and perspective with us.
"This year’s theme, This Is Us!, is all about celebrating what makes each of us unique, and we can’t wait to see how young artists interpret it. Submissions are officially open on rte.ie/thisisart. Let the creative juices flow!"
