Young artists honoured in global contest celebrating World Wildlife Day 2026

(Washington, D.C. – 3 March 2026) — The winners of the 2026 World Wildlife Day International Youth Art Contest have been announced, recognising extraordinary talent and conservation storytelling from young artists across the globe. The work of South Korean artist Jia Yoo, age 15, was chosen from more than 4,200 entries covering 117 countries and sovereign areas.

This year marks the eighth annual contest hosted by the IFAW in partnership with the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“Every time a young person embraces art as a medium to speak for wildlife, they elevate their voice in one of the most important conversations of our time,” said Azzedine Downes, President and CEO of IFAW. “As the world confronts urgent priorities—from ocean protection to conserving biodiversity—I am deeply encouraged to see young people leading with a message of hope. We would do well to listen to that message, embrace their vision, and match it with bold, meaningful action.”

This year’s entries reflect the United Nations World Wildlife Day theme for 2026: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods. Through paintings, drawings, and mixed-media works, young artists explored the vital connections between biodiversity, cultural traditions, and community well-being.

“These remarkable works of art show how deeply young people care about conservation. They also reveal how creativity can unite people across cultures and generations in the shared responsibility of conserving our natural heritage and the many benefits that wildlife provides to ecosystems and human health," said Ivonne Higuero, Secretary-General of CITES. "With wild plants— including many medicinal and aromatic plants—making up the majority of species whose trade is regulated by CITES, their presence in this year’s theme is a vivid reminder of the importance of sustainable use and the need to conserve these essential yet lesser recognized species of our natural world.”

The winning artworks also underscore the role biodiversity plays in human health and livelihoods—an emphasis echoed by the United Nations Development Programme.

“Biodiversity is the foundation of resilient ecosystems,” said Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support. “Their conservation is grounded in the custodianship of indigenous peoples and local communities, nature-positive policies, and equitable benefit-sharing from their use across global industries. This year’s theme challenges us to see the often-overlooked power of plants in supporting health, livelihoods, and ecosystems—something these young artists have captured beautifully.”

Grand prize winner: Jia Yoo, age 15, South Korea, for her painting depicting an Asian elephant set alongside turmeric, a medicinal and aromatic plant long valued for its cultural and healing significance.

Best in age group winners:

• Ages 4–6: Mantra Shreedi, Germany
• Ages 7–10: Sophie Ee, Singapore
• Ages 11–14: Sesali Kariyawasam, Sri Lanka

This year’s finalists represent China, Germany, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Their artworks celebrate a diverse array of animal and plant species, including birds, bugs, big cats, berries, and more.

Artworks from 12 semi-finalists were selected by a panel which included representatives from IFAW, CITES, UNDP, the Jackson Wild creative forum, TRAFFIC, and renowned film production company, Paramount Pictures. Guest judges included celebrated syndicated cartoonist Jim Toomey, and last year’s art contest winner, Kiera Cheng from the United States.

Finalists’ artwork will be featured on wildlifeday.org and showcased during the official World Wildlife Day celebration in Geneva. Winning pieces will also appear across international communications highlighting the links between biodiversity, cultural heritage, and community health.

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Visual editors can download and share finalist artwork at https://spaces.hightail.com/space/Mny5pKBYBi

About the contest

Now in its eighth year, the World Wildlife Day International Youth Art Contest is a collaborative effort led by IFAW, the CITES Secretariat, and UNDP. Designed to amplify youth voices in conservation, the contest invites children and teens worldwide to use art as a platform for awareness and advocacy. Submissions are judged on artistic skill, originality, and connection to the annual theme.

Media contacts:
IFAW: Stacey Hedman, shedman@ifaw.org
CITES: CITES Secretariat Media Team, cites-media@un.org
UNDP: Sangita Khadka, sangita.khadka@undp.org