The 2026 Ocean Awareness Contest, themed “Your Story, Our Ocean,” invites young people to explore the many ways the ocean sustains, protects, and inspires life on Earth. Organized by Bow Seat, this international program encourages students to reflect on their personal relationship with the ocean, whether they live near the coast or far inland, and to express that connection through creative work grounded in environmental awareness.

Participants can submit entries across a wide range of creative disciplines, including visual art, creative writing, film, music, dance, poetry, and multimedia. The contest emphasizes both artistic expression and research, requiring students to engage with ocean-related topics such as climate regulation, biodiversity, and human impact. Each submission must include a written reflection, reinforcing the educational dimension of the competition and its mission to foster informed environmental storytelling.

Now in its 15th year, the Ocean Awareness Contest has become a leading global platform for youth voices in environmental advocacy through the arts. By combining creativity with critical thinking, the program supports the development of young artists and changemakers while building a worldwide community committed to ocean conservation and sustainability.

Entry fee: Free entry

Eligibility

Open to students worldwide aged 11–18 who are enrolled in middle school or high school (or homeschool equivalent), with submissions created between September 2025 and June 2026 and no AI-generated content permitted.

Prize

Winners are selected across age divisions and categories, with awards including cash prizes (with top awards reaching up to $1,000), as well as recognition through the contest’s global platform; additional honors and special awards may be presented, though the full current-year prize structure details are not fully specified in accessible official sources.