Congressional Art Competition

About the Art Competition

Each year House Members may honor one high school student from their districts by selecting a piece of artwork for inclusion in an exhibit at the U.S. Capitol. Millions of visitors to the U.S. Capitol view this exhibit each year.

2026 Congressional Art Competition

We are incredibly excited to work with Congressional Co-Chairs Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK-05) and Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY-25) to host the 2026 Congressional Art Competition! The Congressional Art Competition is an officially sanctioned bipartisan event designed to encourage the artistic talents of high school students nationwide. Sponsored annually by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Congressional Institute, the program offers students the opportunity to have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for approximately 11 months.

With millions of visitors passing through the Capitol each year, the exhibition is among the most viewed student art displays in the country.

Congressional offices that would like to hold Competitions in their Districts may email art@conginst.org for additional information.

Students who would like to enter the Congressional Art Competition should contact the office of their Member of the U.S. House of Representatives for the rules and deadline for their District. Students should enter the Competition held in the Congressional District where they live. If you do not know your Member of Congress or Congressional District, use the Find My Representative tool on the U.S. House of Representatives website.

Additional information about the Congressional Art Competition is below.

2025 Congressional Art Competition Winners Gallery

About the Congressional Art Competition

The Congressional Institute is a longstanding bipartisan initiative that celebrates the artistic talent of high school students from across the United States and connects young creators with their representatives in Congress. The co-chairs for this year’s competition are Congresswoman Stephanie Bice (R-OK-5) and Congressman Joe Morelle (D-NY-25).

Established in 1982, the Congressional Art Competition encourages student creativity while fostering civic engagement. Since 2009, the Congressional Institute has supported the competition by providing guidance and logistical assistance to congressional offices and hosting the annual Winners’ Celebration at the U.S. Capitol.

“For more than four decades, the Congressional Art Competition has created a meaningful connection between young artists and our democratic institutions,” said Derek Harley, President and CEO of the Congressional Institute. “By showcasing student artwork in the U.S. Capitol, this program affirms that creativity, expression, and civic life are deeply intertwined — and that the next generation has a place in shaping our national story as we approach America’s 250th anniversary.”

The competition is supported by members of Congress from both parties and remains one of the most widely viewed student art exhibitions in the country.

“The Congressional Art Competition highlights the extraordinary talent that exists in communities across the nation,” said Rep. Stephanie Bice. “It gives students a unique opportunity to see their work displayed in the People’s House while encouraging them to engage with our democratic process in a personal and lasting way.”

Winning artwork from each participating congressional district will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for nearly a year, viewed by Members of Congress, staff, and visitors from around the world.

“This competition brings members together in a truly bipartisan way to celebrate creativity and student achievement,” said Rep. Joe Morelle. “Seeing these works displayed in the Capitol is a powerful reminder of the imagination, talent, and promise young people bring to our country.”

Each congressional office administers its own district-level competition, selecting one winning piece to be displayed in the Capitol. Details on eligibility, deadlines, and submission requirements are available through individual House offices.

Press

2024 Congressional Art Competition – Winners’ Celebration Slideshow – Morning Program

2024 Congressional Art Competition – Winners’ Celebration Slideshow – Afternoon Program

We were so excited to welcome the first-place winners of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition to the U.S. Capitol in late June. We’re grateful for the 432 congressional offices that participated in the 2024 competition. We continue to be awed by the artistic talents of our nation’s high school students.

The Congressional Institute is proud to sponsor the Congressional Art Competition. The annual competition celebrates the artistic achievements of the nation’s high school students. Each Member of Congress may choose to host the program in their individual districts. Many offices ask a panel of local artists, such as artists-in-residence, art teachers, gallery owners, to act as judges. The winning artwork will hang in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol for one year. The tunnel is the most highly traveled access point between the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Capitol. Every day, Members of Congress, distinguished visitors, and tens of thousands of tourists – from the United States and abroad – walk through the tunnel and admire the artwork.

The competition is now in its 43rd year. Each year, a Republican and Democratic Member of the House are selected to serve as Co-Chairs. The 2024 competition was co-chaired by Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (R-TX-24) and Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV-01). The competition is truly bipartisan, and one of the highlights of the congressional calendar.

At the beginning of the summer, the Office of the Architect of the Capitol begins the process of removing the previous year’s winners and displaying the new pieces to be showcased. That work takes place over the course of about a month. Each picture is carefully hung and labeled with the name of the artist, the title of the work, and the congressional district. The artwork is organized alphabetically by state and then numerically by district. The previous year’s winning pieces are returned to each congressional office, and many choose to continue to display the art in either Washington, DC, or a district office.

The Congressional Institute has sponsored the art competition since 2009. Each congressional office is responsible for getting the winning artwork to Washington, DC, and the Congressional Institute facilitates the process of handing the pieces over to the Architect’s Office for hanging. The Institute also oversees the annual awards ceremony, which features a prominent artist from the district of each congressional co-chair. The winning artist from each district is invited to attend the awards ceremony with one parent or guardian. It is their first opportunity to see their artwork displaying in the Cannon Tunnel.

Congressional Institute President Kelle Strickland said this about the competition:

“For 43 years, the Congressional Art Competition has showcased the country’s best artistic talent. Millions of visitors have enjoyed more than 10,000 winning pieces, by high school artists from all over the country, exhibited in the U.S. Capitol. This bipartisan competition was established in 1982, with the Congressional Institute providing advice and logistical support since 2009. The Congressional Institute is delighted to have Rep. Van Duyne and Rep. Titus as this year’s co-chairs, with special thanks to our partnership with Southwest Airlines, which has generously awarded each finalist with two tickets to travel to D.C. for the awards ceremony celebrated in June. The Congressional Institute joins each Member of Congress who participates in this bipartisan opportunity, in celebrating these high school artists from across the country.”