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Art & Drawing Competitions for Kids in India

Art and drawing competitions give children a stage for their creativity: painting, sketching, digital art and photography contests, from school level to international. WiWit lists 381 verified art & drawing competitions in India from 221 organizations. They include options spanning Grade 1 to 12, 151 available online, 150 free to enter. Last reviewed September 2026.

Creative competitions matter as much as academic ones: they build confidence, observation and self-expression, and they give artistic children the recognition that classroom subjects rarely offer. The listings here gather drawing and painting competitions, sketching and doodling contests, digital-art challenges and photography competitions, for children across all grades, many open to the youngest students. Some are theme-based one-off contests; others run in multiple rounds up to national or international finals. Because creative competitions vary in theme, medium and submission format, WiWit verifies each listing and shows what is required up front, so you can find the right art competition for your child's age and interest without wading through unverified contest sites.

Last reviewed:

Art & Drawing Competitions for Kids in India at a glance

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Compare art & drawing competitions on WiWit
OpportunityOrganizerEligibilityModeFee
Kala Utsav - National Instrumental Music CompetitionNational Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)Grade 9 to 12In-PersonFree
Kala Utsav - National Theatre CompetitionNational Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)Grade 9 to 12In-PersonFree
Kala Utsav - National Visual Arts CompetitionNational Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)Grade 9 to 12In-PersonFree
Kala Utsav - National Vocal Music CompetitionNational Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)Grade 9 to 12In-PersonFree
Kala Utsav - National Traditional Storytelling CompetitionNational Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)Grade 9 to 12In-PersonFree
CGIHM Kids Cooking ClassesCulinary Guru Institute of Hotel Management (CGIHM)Ages 6 to 16In-PersonPaid
The Times NIE AI Summer CampThe Times NIE (Times of India)Grade 5 to 12OnlinePaid
Kala Bharathi Diploma Course in Visual ArtsBharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore (Kala Bharathi)Not listedIn-Person₹1,000
BSIP Museum of PalaeosciencesBirbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP)Ages 0 to 100In-PersonFree
Bookosmia Get PublishedBookosmiaAges 5 to 18OnlineFree
IRIS National Fair - STEM Research & Innovation CompetitionEXSTEMPLAR Education Linkers FoundationGrade 5 to 12HybridFree
TBI Young Journalists ProgramThe Better IndiaAges 15 to 21OnlineFree
Z Fellows Entrepreneurial ProgramZenie FoundationAges 15 to 18OnlineFree
One-Year Drawing and Painting Diploma for KidsKalabhumiAges 4 to 16In-PersonPaid
Hobby and Certificate Course in Fine Arts – Oil Painting (Offline)KalabhumiAges 5 to 17In-PersonPaid
Competition

Kala Utsav - National Instrumental Music Competition

by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)

Kala Utsav is NCERT's national instrumental music competition for students in Classes 9-12 across melodic solo, percussion solo and orchestra ensemble streams, recognised by the Ministry of Education.

For children ages 13 to 18
In-person event
Free to participate

What your child could gain:

Solo instrumental performancePercussion techniqueEnsemble coordination
See details and dates
Competition

Kala Utsav - National Theatre Competition

by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)

Kala Utsav is NCERT's national competition for secondary students (Classes 9-12) to showcase traditional and contemporary theatre arts, recognized by the Ministry of Education.

For children ages 13 to 18
In-person event
Free to participate

What your child could gain:

Classical dance performanceVocal musicInstrumental music
See details and dates
Competition

Kala Utsav - National Visual Arts Competition

by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)

Kala Utsav is NCERT's national visual arts competition for students in Classes 9-12 across 2D, 3D and indigenous craft streams, recognised by the Ministry of Education.

For children ages 13 to 18
In-person event
Free to participate

What your child could gain:

Drawing and paintingSculpture and 3D formIndigenous craft techniques
See details and dates
Competition

Kala Utsav - National Vocal Music Competition

by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)

Kala Utsav is NCERT's national vocal music competition for secondary students in Classes 9-12, covering classical and folk traditions, recognised by the Ministry of Education.

For children ages 13 to 18
In-person event
Free to participate

What your child could gain:

Classical vocal musicFolk vocal musicDevotional music
See details and dates
Competition

Kala Utsav - National Traditional Storytelling Competition

by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)

Kala Utsav is NCERT's national traditional storytelling competition for secondary students (Classes 9-12), recognised by the Ministry of Education.

For children ages 13 to 18
In-person event
Free to participate

What your child could gain:

Oral narrationVoice modulationCharacter portrayal
See details and dates
Course

CGIHM Kids Cooking Classes

by Culinary Guru Institute of Hotel Management (CGIHM)

Hands-on cooking and baking course for children aged 6 to 16, covering knife skills, baking, and hygiene practices, with a certificate from CGIHM on completion.

For children ages 6 to 16
In-person event
Registration fee applies

What your child could gain:

Knife skillsBaking techniquesFood hygiene and sanitation
See details and dates
Camp

The Times NIE AI Summer Camp

by The Times NIE (Times of India)

Live online AI bootcamp by Times NIE and The Cutting Edge School for students in Classes 5-12, covering prompt engineering, AI content creation, and a national capstone project.

For children ages 10 to 17
Join from home
Registration fee applies

What your child could gain:

Prompt engineeringAI tool literacyNo-code app and website building
See details and dates
Course

Kala Bharathi Diploma Course in Visual Arts

by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore (Kala Bharathi)

A drawing and painting diploma at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Kala Bharathi, Bengaluru, spanning traditional Indian art forms and contemporary techniques.

In-person event
₹1,000 registration

What your child could gain:

Drawing and sketchingWatercolour, acrylic and oil paintingTraditional Mysore and Tanjore painting
See details and dates
Program

BSIP Museum of Palaeosciences

by Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP)

Guided fossil museum and research laboratory visits at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow.

For children ages 0 to 100
In-person event
Free to participate

What your child could gain:

Reading geological timeRecognising plant and tree fossilsUnderstanding how palaeoscience research is done
See details and dates
Program

Bookosmia Get Published

by Bookosmia

Children up to 18 submit stories, poems, essays, reviews, and artwork to Bookosmia for free online publication.

For children ages 5 to 18
Join from home
Free to participate

What your child could gain:

Creative writingSelf-expressionStory structuring
See details and dates
Competition

IRIS National Fair - STEM Research & Innovation Competition

by EXSTEMPLAR Education Linkers Foundation

The IRIS National Fair is India's leading research-based STEM competition for students in Grades 5-12, offering a platform to showcase innovative projects and represent India at ISEF.

For children ages 10 to 18
Online or in-person
Free to participate

What your child could gain:

Scientific Inquiry and Research MethodologyExperimental Design and ExecutionData Collection, Analysis, and Interpretation
See details and dates
Program

TBI Young Journalists Program

by The Better India

A free, rolling journalism programme where students aged 15 to 21 report stories of changemakers for publication on The Better India, earning a TBI Certificate after five published articles.

For children ages 15 to 21
Join from home
Free to participate

What your child could gain:

JournalismInvestigative reportingWriting
See details and dates
Program

Z Fellows Entrepreneurial Program

by Zenie Foundation

Z Fellows is a one-week intensive program for technical founders, offering $10,000 in early funding, mentorship from industry leaders, and access to a global network to accelerate entrepreneurial projects.

For children ages 15 to 18
Join from home
Free to participate

What your child could gain:

Problem-solvingCritical thinkingProject management
See details and dates
Course

One-Year Drawing and Painting Diploma for Kids

by Kalabhumi

A one-year fine arts diploma for children covering drawing and painting across multiple mediums, structured in two progressive levels.

For children ages 4 to 16
In-person event
Registration fee applies

What your child could gain:

Pencil and free-hand drawingWatercolour paintingAcrylic painting
See details and dates
Course

Hobby and Certificate Course in Fine Arts – Oil Painting (Offline)

by Kalabhumi

Kalabhumi offers hobby and certificate courses in fine arts, including oil painting, sketching, and calligraphy, available in offline mode.

For children ages 5 to 17
In-person event
Registration fee applies

What your child could gain:

DrawingPaintingSketching
See details and dates
Course

60-Day Advanced Kalari Techniques Training

by Kadathanadan Kalari Sangam

A 60-day residential Kalaripayattu mastery programme at Kadathanadan Kalari Sangam in Wayanad, progressing from advanced body forms through wooden and metal weapon techniques under Gurukkal guidance.

In-person event
Registration fee applies

What your child could gain:

Advanced Meythari body formsKolthari wooden weapon techniquesAnkathari metal weapon introduction
See details and dates
Course

30-Day Advanced Kalaripayattu Techniques Training

by Kadathanadan Kalari Sangam

A 30-day residential advanced Kalaripayattu course at Kadathanadan Kalari Sangam in Wayanad, covering advanced body forms, stick routines and weapon techniques under experienced Gurukkals.

In-person event
Registration fee applies

What your child could gain:

Advanced Meythari body conditioningMuchan (short stick) techniquesKettukari (long stick) techniques
See details and dates
Course

Kalaripayattu Online Classes By Kalari Kendram Delhi

by Kalari Kendram, Delhi

Learn Kalaripayattu, an ancient Indian martial art, through live online classes by Kalari Kendram Delhi. Develop strength, flexibility, and self-defense skills from experienced instructors, accessible globally.

For children ages 6 to 0
Join from home
Registration fee applies

What your child could gain:

Physical strengthFlexibilityStamina
See details and dates
Camp

Kalaripayattu Residential Program by Kalari Kendram

by Kalari Kendram, Delhi

This residential program by Kalari Kendram offers immersive Kalaripayattu training in Kerala, focusing on physical conditioning, self-defense, and traditional Shastra studies for children and youth.

For children ages 6 to 18
In-person event
₹23,500 registration

What your child could gain:

Physical conditioningSelf-defense techniquesWeapon handling (Cheruvadi, Sword)
See details and dates
Course

Avishkaar Robotics Microdegree

by Avishkaar

The Avishkaar Robotics Microdegree is an online program for children aged 8 and above, covering electronics, mechanics, and coding. Students design and build robots through interactive, project-based learning, earning STEM.org accredited certificates.

For children ages 8 to 18
Join from home
Registration fee applies

What your child could gain:

RoboticsCodingElectronics
See details and dates
Program

SOAR – Skilling for AI Readiness

by Ministry of Skills Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Govt of India

SOAR is a national program by the Ministry of Skill Development for students of Classes 6–12, designed to build AI literacy and future-ready skills through interactive modules and practical applications.

For children ages 11 to 18
Join from home
Free to participate

What your child could gain:

Artificial IntelligenceMachine LearningProblem-solving
See details and dates
Competition

MAHE National Monsoon Photography Contest

by Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE)

MAHE’s National Monsoon Photography Contest, titled MeghMalhar, is an annual open-entry event. It invites Indian citizens of all ages to capture the rain's cultural and natural beauty for a ₹60,000 prize pool

For children ages 6 to 25
Join from home
Free to participate

What your child could gain:

PhotographyCreativityVisual Storytelling
See details and dates
Program

Sense Kaleidoscopes Foundation Art Programme

by Sense Kaleidoscopes (Ayathi Trust)

A full-time, studio-based art foundation programme for neurodivergent learners aged 11+ at Sense Kaleidoscopes, Bengaluru, across five core artistic disciplines with a neuro-affirmative approach.

For children ages 11 to 100
In-person event
Registration fee applies

What your child could gain:

Visual art techniquesSculpture and printmaking practiceTheatre and performance
See details and dates
Program

Snehadhara Sangam Inclusive Arts Programme

by Snehadhara Foundation

Sangam is Snehadhara Foundation's inclusive arts programme at its Nelamangala campus near Bengaluru, open to learners aged 5 and above, using dance, drama, music, and visual arts.

In-person event
₹2,200 registration

What your child could gain:

Self-expression through artsCollaboration and group workSensory and emotional regulation
See details and dates

Browse all 381 art & drawing competitions

Competitions (274)
Scholarships (6)
Programs (46)
Courses (24)
Workshops (10)
Camps (19)
Exams (1)
Events (1)

Every art & drawing competition listing on WiWit is checked against the organizer's official source before it is published. See how WiWit verifies listings.

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This list is everything WiWit has checked. The free app narrows it to what your child is eligible for, and reminds you before the deadline of every opportunity you save.

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Frequently asked questions

How many art & drawing competitions are listed on WiWit?

WiWit currently lists 381 verified art & drawing competitions in India from 221 organizations. Each one is checked against the organizer's official source before it appears, and the list is kept up to date.

Which grades can take part in art & drawing competitions?

The art & drawing competitions listed here span students from Grade 1 to Grade 12. The comparison table shows the eligible grades for each listing, so you can scan for your child's grade.

Can my child take part in art & drawing competitions online?

Art & drawing competitions are available in multiple modes: 151 run online, 147 are in person, 83 offer both. The mode is shown on every listing, so children anywhere in India can find suitable options.

Are there free art & drawing competitions?

Yes, 150 of the 381 art & drawing competitions listed are free to enter. The fee for every listing is shown on its card, so you can compare cost at a glance.

Are there drawing competitions for very young children?

Yes. Many art and drawing competitions welcome the youngest grades, often with separate age categories so children are judged against their peers. The eligibility for each contest is shown in the comparison table.

Can my child enter art competitions online?

Many art, drawing and photography contests accept digital submissions, so children can take part from anywhere in India. The mode (online, in person or hybrid) is shown on every listing.

See what fits your child

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