Young Artist Award 2026

• To facilitate adjudication, all art entries are grouped by category and participant grade (as in the preceding year).
• Considering the fact that all entries that are submitted for adjudication already received a diploma level ranking during the preceding eisteddfod, a different system of evaluating the art is used. During the first round the panel is required adjudicate all art pieces on scale of 1 to 4 where 1 is the highest mark.
• By consensus, all artworks with an average mark of “1” are nominated for the semi-final round.
• All participants receive feedback and a certificate confirming their participation in this competition.
• The quarter finals take on a similar format, however for adjudication purposes the art works are now grouped according to the learners’ grades.
• For the purpose of the adjudication, the same 1 – 4 scale is used to determine the winner in each grade, where it is also possible to have a tie in the ranking of the top achievers.
• Finally, the art pieces of the various grade winners are displayed at the Alice Art Gallery, where the Panel of Adjudicators, headed by Alice Pretorious, selects the best artwork in each of the following categories.
  • Entry Level (Gr. 0 – 3)
  • Junior (Gr. 4 – 7)
  • Senior (Grade 8 – Open Section)

Participants in the National Eisteddfod of SA

• All participants in the National Eisteddfod of South Africa who received Diploma Awards for Visual Arts may enter this competition.
• Participants are required to submit the same artwork that received a diploma award last year for this next-level competition. (A new artwork is not required for this competition!)
• Eligible participants in the National Eisteddfod of South Africa 2025 may also submit additional artwork under the following conditions:
  • The additional artwork must belong to the same category as the qualifying artwork from 2025.
  • Additional entries cannot be submitted online, but only on the hardcopy entry form designed for this purpose.
  • Participants must obtain permission from their art teacher to ensure the additional artwork meets the required standard.
  • The rationale for this approach is that achievement at the diploma level for art confirms that the participant has acquired the higher skill level required for a diploma. This now provides an opportunity to present additional items created since entering the eisteddfodthe previous year.
  • The hardcopy entry fee applies to additional entries
• Participants in the National Eisteddfod of South Africa 2025 may submit their entries ONLINE.
• Participants may request a personalized “hard copy” of the entry form to submit their entries in a hard copy format (a higher entry fee is charged for hard copy entries)
• Lower entry fee applies for all participants in the National Eisteddfod of South Africa 2025, including an “Early Bird entry fee” for entries submitted ONLINE on or before 6 February 2026.
  
  

Participants in other visual arts festivals or events

• Young artists who received a Diploma or similar award in other Visual & Creative Arts competitions, festivals, or eisteddfods during 2025 may enter.
• Organizers of other eisteddfods and festivals may also enter their top achievers under their organization’s name.
• Parents of participants in other competitions are also welcome to enter on their own.
• Institutions, studios, and schools that conduct internal visual arts competitions are invited to enter their top achievers.
• A copy of the diploma, certificate, or official report received in 2025 must be attached to the entry.
• Entries may only be submitted in hardcopy format on the required entry form.
• For the entry form for participants in other festivals, refer to the“Where do I make an entry for the Young Artist Awards Competition?” section below.
  

Last year’s recipients of Diploma Awards for Art in the National Eisteddfod of South Africa

• Submission of entries on the ONLINE entry platform.  (A discounted entry fee applies to online entries.)
• Submission of entries on the pre-printed hard copy form. ast This form is annually emailed to all qualifying participants in the National Eisteddfod of South Africa during the previous year. (Please note: a higher entry fee applies.)
• The entry fees / proof of payment are required BEFORE the closing date for entries.
• The actual artwork should be delivered/couriered to the NEA Office no later than 16:00 on 17 April 2026.

Participants in other festivals/events during 2025:

• Participants from other eisteddfods can only submit entries by completing the required ENTRY FORM (“hard copy format”).
• The proof of payment of the applicable fee should be submitted with the entry.
• A copy of the certificate/document confirming the achievement in another festival should be included with the entry.
• The actual artwork should be delivered/couriered to the NEA Office no later than 16:00 on 17 April 2026.

Entry Fees and Closing date for entries

Important: Entry fees should be submitted with the ONLINE or HARD COPY entry according to the cut-off date for the particular entry as indicated above. For example, an “Early Bird” entry must be paid no later than 06 February 2026; otherwise, the higher “Normal Entries” fees will apply.

Banking details:

National Eisteddfod Academy NPC
ABSA Current Account
Account No.: 404 747 8448
Branch Code: 632 005
Quote PAYREF and name of participant as reference

All artwork need to be submitted to the NEA office by 17 April 2026.

For any questions or clarity, please contact the NEA office on Tel: 011- 886 6005 or E-mail: admin@eisteddfod.co.za

ONLINE entries

Only participants in the National Eisteddfod of South Africa in the previous year have the option to submit their entries online at a lower fee. They only need their individual participant numbers to log in. They also have the option to make their entries in hard copy at a higher cost.

 Only available to participants in the National Eisteddfod of South Africa 2025:

(A dropdown box has been provided on the online entry page where users can search for their unique participant numbers.)

Entry form for additional Entries MS Word

Entry form for additional Entries Pdf

Participants who received a diploma or similar award at other festivals or eisteddfods can only make an entry by submitting a hard-copy entry form.

A copy of this entry form can be downloaded below in either MsWord or Pdf format:

CLICK any of the 2 buttons to download a copy of the entry form for  Participants in Other Festivals.

Other festivals entry form – MsWord      Other festivals entry form – Pdf-file