Let Your Imagination Take Flight!
NDOT's Aeronautics Division is inviting young artists to take their creativity to new heights through the 2026 International Aviation Art Contest. Entries are due by Jan. 16, 2026.
Nebraska winners in three age categories — Junior (6–9), Intermediate (10–13), and Senior (14–17) — will earn cash prizes sponsored by the Nebraska Aviation Council and advance to the national competition in Washington D.C. At the national level, the top three entries in each age category are selected to represent the U.S. in the international round and receive cash prizes sponsored by the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) and the National Aeronautic Association (NAA). Those winners then move on to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) international competition, which typically includes 20–40 participating countries. NDOT has sponsored the U.S. contest since it began in 1986.
2026 THEME: FLY TO SAVE LIVES
Planes, helicopters, drones, and even hot-air balloons can do amazing things. They deliver food and medicine, help in emergencies, fight wildfires, rescue people in need, and even transport blood and medical supplies to save lives. Flight connects people, brings communities together, and sparks new ideas.
Grab your crayons, markers, or paintbrushes and bring your vision to life! Show us how flight can make the world safer and better. Enter your artwork in the ‘Fly to Save Lives’ 2026 challenge today — because the sky is not the limit, it’s where hope begins!
Art educators: Feel free to promote the event using our downloadable brochures and posters.
Download brochure Download poster
CONTEST RULES
The U.S. contest is part of an international program run by the FAI. All contest rules (with the exception of the U.S. contest deadline dates) are set by FAI. Find all rules and guidelines on the FAI website.
FORMAT & REPRESENTATION - 11 x 17 inches (Ledger/Tabloid)
Artwork must NOT be framed or outlined with borders Artwork should clearly represent the theme of the contest
MEDIUM
Permitted: acrylic, oil paint, watercolor, indelible marker pens, felt-tip pens, soft ball-point pens, indelible ink, Crayola or any similar indelible medium. NOT permitted: non-permanent mediums such as pencil or charcoal; computer-generated artwork; collage work involving the use of photocopies.
MARKINGS
Certificate of authenticity (see brochure) must be attached to the back of the artwork. The following information must be included on the back of the art:
- Artist’s first name
- Artist’s birth year
- Parent or teacher’s contact information
TITLE
There is no need for a title on the poster and entrants can decide for themselves whether or not to include one; however, there should be a clearly recognizable link to the theme of the contest.
REPRODUCTION RIGHTS
Once received, entries become (and remain) the property of the State Sponsors and the National Association of State Aviation Officials and may be used for a variety of purposes. States may request art be returned to them by providing a return mail slip and packaging along with the artwork being submitted to NASAO. Those forwarded for international judging become the property of the FAI, however, FAI will try to return the original artwork.
MAIL ARTWORK TO:
NDOT Division of Aeronautics
Mark Langrud, Educational Outreach Coordinator
1600 Nebraska Parkway
Lincoln, NE 68502
Questions? Contact mark.langrud@nebraska.gov
Previous Nebraska Winners
Nebraska is proud to have had two national winners and one international winner.
Aeronautics in the Classroom
This isn’t just an art contest — teachers can use it in lessons on science, engineering, math, problem-solving, and art, or explore careers in aviation and aerospace.
Aerodynamics & Flight (STEM): Explore how air moves around wings to create lift. Students can show airflow, lift, or propulsion in their drawings to make their aircraft realistic.
Engineering & Problem-Solving (STEM): Have students design an aircraft, drone, or balloon that could deliver medicine, blood, or emergency supplies — then illustrate their ideas.
Math & Measurement (STEM): Students can calculate distances, delivery times, or cargo capacity and include those numbers in their artwork or diagrams.
Art, Creativity & Storytelling: Encourage students to tell a story through their art — for example, a life-saving mission from takeoff to delivery — combining imagination with STEM concepts, or to depict dramatic rescues, imaginative aircraft, or futuristic flying machines.
Technology & Innovation: Introduce real-life aviation tools like drones, helicopters, or air ambulances to spark ideas for futuristic, life-saving inventions.
Careers in Aviation & Aerospace: Discuss careers such as pilots, engineers, air ambulance staff, and drone operators to connect the contest to real-world opportunities.
Resources to explore aviation and flight: