The winners of the 2026 World Wildlife Day International Youth Art Contest have been announced, celebrating extraordinary talent and conservation storytelling from young artists across the globe.

This year marks the eighth annual contest hosted by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (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).

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. The winning artworks also underscore the role biodiversity plays in human health and livelihoods.

“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.”

“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.”

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.