Show us how you are reducing waste!

Calling all junior artists! The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Take Care of Texas 2026 Art Contest has officially begun – and new this year, we have expanded the contest to grades K-12!

This year’s contest theme is “Ways to Reduce Waste.” Students are asked to illustrate how they, along with their friends and family, can help reduce our harmful impacts on the environment. The contest is open to public, private, or home-schooled students throughout Texas. Prizes for the winning entries in each category (k-2^nd, 3^rd-5^th, 6^th-8^th, 9^th-10^th, and 11-12^th) include gift cards and scholarships made possible by the contest sponsor, Texas Chemistry Council.

TCEQ staff will narrow down the entries by selecting the finalists for each category. From there, grand prize winners and runners-up will be selected by TCEQ commissioners and executive staff, as well as representatives from the Texas Chemistry Council. Each grand prize winner for grades k-10^th will receive a $250 gift card, and each runner-up will receive a $100 gift card. For grades 11-12, the grand prize winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship and the runner-up will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Artwork must depict positive ways that Texans can reduce waste. Each submission must be on 8.5” x 11” paper and include the phrase “Take Care of Texas” spelled correctly.

All entries must be postmarked by Dec. 18, 2026. Artwork and entry forms can be mailed to the address below:

Take Care of Texas Kids Art Contest, MC 118
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711-3087

For more information and official rules, visit the Take Care of Texas website or send an email to educate@tceq.texas.gov.

Winners will be announced in April 2027 and celebrated online through our website and social media channels. The grand prize winners in each category will be invited to the annual Texas Environmental Excellence Awards banquet in June of 2027.