ShowOff! Competition and Exhibition
Come on, be a ShowOff!
Grade 10, 11 and 12 students from across Canada are invited to showcase their art and design work in the 2026 Show Off! Art Competition and Exhibition at AUArts. There are over $11,000 dollars in prizes to be won including one Grade 12 student grand prize, "Best in Show" — an AUArts scholarship worth $2,500. Bonus: Each award winners' high school will receive money to buy art supplies!
How to enter: Simple. Submit up to three images of your original artwork, together with a description of what each piece means to you and a brief letter of recommendation from your favourite teacher to SlideRoom before January 31, 2026. If chosen as a finalist, your artwork will be included in the virtual ShowOff! exhibition hosted on our website. The jury will then award prizes to the top finalist.
What to submit: We encourage you to submit artwork that is unique and showcases your interests. The jury deciding what will be in the final exhibition favours original, unique, artwork demonstrating strong technical skills with relevant and impactful concepts. Reference should be generated by the artist as much as possible.
What NOT to submit: Fan art or reproductions of existing artwork including artwork that is heavily referencing Anime or Manga. References (celebrities, other artists’ work) found on social media (Pinterest/ Instagram) as the primary subject matter for your.
Eligibility: Participants must be currently attending a recognized high school located in Canada and are in grade 10, 11 or 12.
Prizes: There are four prize categories with multiple awards given out in most categories. There are iPads, Macbooks and Art packs up for grabs! The single grand prize, "Best in Show", is awarded to a Grade 12 student as a tuition credit.
Bonus: If you win, your school wins too. Each award winners' high school will receive a bursary to buy art supplies!
Exhibition & Awards Show: The ShowOff! Virtual Exhibition opening and Awards Show will be held in March. Exhibiting artists will be contacted with more information.
Cost to participate: Free
Submissions open: December 1, 2025
Submissions close: January 31, 2026
View the award recipients of the 2025 ShowOff! Competition and Exhibition
Best in Show Akuol Makuei “Interwoven Links” Bishop McNally High School, AB
Award of Distinction Ray Aguayo Diaz “Fox and Cat (Companionship Beyond Words)” Bishop O’Byrne High School, AB
Award of Distinction Keni Liang “ARTificial Intelligence” Meadowridge School, BC
Lodgepole Center Award Tyanna Keewatin “Former Chief Irvin Bull” Strathcona High School, AB
Lodgepole Center Award Avril Ge “Friends on a bus” John G. Diefenbaker High School, AB
Award of Excellence Mackenzie Birkett “Mummer” North Trail High School, AB
Award of Excellence Pin-Chen Lai “Bridge” Fraser Heights Secondary School, BC
Award of Merit Yiling Xu “New Year family gathering” Strathmore High School, AB
Award of Merit Angie Zhang “Self-Portrait” William Aberhart High School,AB
Award of Merit Ella Henriques “Devolving” Coast Mountain Academy, BC