The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in partnership with Wildlife Forever, has announced the opening of the 2025-26 Florida Fish Art Contest.
The annual program invites students in grades kindergarten through 12 to connect with nature and learn about Florida’s native fish and aquatic habitats while exploring creative art and writing. Florida is among several participating states in the national Fish Art Contest, which has inspired more than 85,000 students worldwide to become the next generation of outdoor stewards.
A first-place winner and runner-up will be selected in each grade bracket — kindergarten through third grade, fourth through sixth grade, seventh through ninth grade, and 10th through 12th grade. Each bracket will have two categories: best illustration of a freshwater fish species and best illustration of a saltwater fish species.
How to Participate:
- Select a Florida native fish species from the official list and research its habitat, behavior and conservation needs.
- Create an original, handmade artwork of the chosen fish using any physical medium. Digital artwork is not allowed.
- Write a one-page creative essay reflecting what you learned about your chosen species (required for fourth grade and above).
- Submit entries online through the Fish Art Contest entry form page.
First-place winners and runners-up will receive prizes and recognition from the commission. Details about prizes are available on the website.The contest is open for submissions until February 28, 2026. More information, including educational resources and submission guidelines, is available at MyFWC.com/FishArt
