Young Artists and Authors Showcase
The Young Artists and Authors Showcase (YAAS) is an annual art contest that encourages youth worldwide to express the mission of Sister Cities International through original artwork, literature, poetry, photography, and music
Get ready to embark on an artistic journey that envisions a resilient and sustainable urban future!
Submissions are centered around an annual theme and judged based on originality, composition, and theme interpretation.
Selected grand prize winners in each category and age division (art, literature, poetry, photography, and music) win a $1,000 prize, while second place winners receive $500, and third place winners receive $250. After the winners have been announced, their works are displayed on the Sister Cities International website.
Any Sister City program that is a member of Sister Cities international can participate in YAAS. The showcase is a great opportunity to engage local students, English teachers, and art teachers in your Sister City program.
Young Artist and Author Showcase 2026
Students and member cities should fill out the application form on the Sister Cities International website.
Deadline to Apply : APRIL 1, 2026.
YAAS Highights
Sister Cities International is proud to present the 2026 Young Artists and Authors Showcase, inviting youth from around the world to express their creativity through the theme “Voices of Today, Visions of Tomorrow.”
This year’s theme invites young artists and authors to raise their voices during a historic moment as the United States celebrates 250 years since its founding, and Sister Cities International honors 70 years of building global friendships and cultural understanding. It reflects the ongoing journey from the country’s founding ideals toward a more interconnected, peaceful world.
Open to artists, writers, photographers, and musicians aged 12–18, the Showcase provides a unique platform to explore how creativity can unite communities, celebrate shared humanity, and envision a better future. Submissions are accepted across various mediums, including visual art, essays, poetry, photography, and music.
By participating in this inspiring competition, young creators will have the opportunity to share their vision of a world where today’s voices shape tomorrow’s global community. Winning entries will be featured across Sister Cities International’s global network, inspiring people and partnerships around the world.
What is YAAS?
The Young Artists and Authors Showcase (YAAS) is an annual contest that encourages youth worldwide to express the mission of Sister Cities International through original artwork, literature, photography, and music.
We encourage our youth to be creative and examine all aspects of this year’s theme, including but not limited to:
- How have the voices of the past shaped the world we live in today and what new voices must be heard to build a better tomorrow?
- How can young people honor tradition while reimagining what global friendship can look like in the next 250 years?
- What would you say to the youth of the past and what message would you send to those of the future?
- What does your “vision of tomorrow” look like, and how can we start building it today?
- If you could design the future, what values or ideas would guide it?
- How do shared experiences between people from different countries build empathy and respect?