National Competition Winners
Winners are chosen for their caliber of artistic achievement by esteemed discipline-specific panels of artists through an adjudication process that includes multiple rounds of review.
All YoungArts award winners receive cash prizes, a lifetime of creative and professional support and access to YoungArts Post—a private, online portal for YoungArts artists to connect, share their work and discover new opportunities.
YoungArts award winners with distinction are invited to participate in National YoungArts Week.
The 2026 YoungArts application opens in July 2025. Learn more.
Recognition Levels
YoungArts Award: The YoungArts Award recognizes work that demonstrates exceptional technique; a strong sense of artistry; and a depth of thinking/performance that exceeds the level of peers at this career stage.
YoungArts Award With Distinction: The YoungArts Award With Distinction recognizes work that demonstrates exceptional technique; a strong, sophisticated, nuanced, and clear artistic point of view; and a depth of thinking/performance that far exceeds the level of peers at this career stage. Winners at this level are invited to participate in National YoungArts Week. Award winners with distinction who attend National YoungArts Week and meet the eligibility requirements are also considered for nomination to the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.