Best Creative Competitions for Students in Ireland

Updated on 22 May 2026: Some 2026 creative competition deadlines have already passed, while others are still open or useful for planning the next cycle.

Creative competitions can be a wonderful first step for students who do not see themselves as "maths competition" or "science olympiad" students.

For students in Ireland, there are good opportunities across visual art, poetry, photography, sustainable fashion, design and creative communication. Some are Ireland-based. Others are international or UK & Ireland competitions that Irish students can consider.

This guide helps parents choose the right creative competition based on age, interest, difficulty and portfolio value.

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Key takeaways

• Creative competitions are not just "nice extras"; they can show originality, voice, discipline and portfolio development.
• The best first options for many Irish students are Texaco Children's Art, RTÉ This is Art!, Poetry Ireland competitions, and Junk Kouture.
• Students interested in photography can look at Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year or, for older students, Commonwealth Youth Photography Competition.
• Writing-focused students may benefit from Foyle Young Poets or Poetry Ireland pathways.
• Parents should choose based on the student's medium: drawing, painting, poetry, photography, fashion, sustainability or performance.

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Quick comparison

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1. Texaco Children's Art Competition

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Best for: students who enjoy drawing, painting or visual art and want a clear, accessible national competition.

Texaco Children's Art Competition is one of the most recognisable creative competitions for young people on the island of Ireland. It is easy for families to understand: students submit original artwork, with age categories and a long-standing competition structure.

Why it is a strong first choice:

• open to a wide age range
• individual entry
• clear creative task
• suitable for portfolio building
• accessible for students who already draw or paint at home

Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate. Many students can enter, but standing out requires originality and technical care.

Portfolio value: Good for students interested in art, design, illustration, architecture or creative media.

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2. RTÉ This is Art! Competition

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Best for: young artists who enjoy responding to a theme.

RTÉ This is Art! is another friendly creative competition for young people on the island of Ireland. It can suit students who are still exploring their style because the theme gives them a starting point without forcing a narrow technique.

Why parents may like it:

• accessible format
• national visibility
• good for younger students
• encourages personal interpretation
• less intimidating than highly technical art competitions

Difficulty: Beginner-friendly, with room for stronger students to produce thoughtful work.

Portfolio value: Good early evidence of creative voice and willingness to respond to a brief.

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3. Poetry Ireland Education Competitions

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Best for: post-primary students interested in poetry, spoken language and literary performance.

Poetry Ireland's education competitions hub is a useful place for families to watch because opportunities can vary by cycle. It includes Poetry Aloud and related poetry education activities.

This is a good fit for students who:

• enjoy writing poems
• like performing or reciting poetry
• are interested in English, drama or literature
• want a creative competition with a language focus
• may be building a writing portfolio

Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate, depending on the specific competition.

Portfolio value: Good for English, creative writing, drama, humanities and communication profiles.

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4. Junk Kouture Dublin Competition

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Best for: creative students interested in fashion, sustainability, design and performance.

Junk Kouture is one of the most distinctive creative competitions for Irish post-primary students. Students create fashion from recycled or repurposed materials, often combining design, sustainability, teamwork and stage presentation.

It is especially good for students who:

• like making things
• are interested in fashion or costume
• care about sustainability
• enjoy teamwork
• are comfortable with presentation or performance

Difficulty: Medium. The concept is accessible, but a strong entry takes time, planning, making and presentation.

Portfolio value: Strong for fashion, design, sustainability, creative direction, art, textiles and performance.

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5. Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award

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Best for: students aged 11-17 who are serious about poetry.

Foyle Young Poets is not Ireland-specific, but it is a major youth poetry competition open to young writers and relevant for Irish students who want a more recognised poetry challenge.

It is a good step up from local or school writing competitions.

Difficulty: Medium-high. The competition is accessible to enter but competitive at the top level.

Portfolio value: Strong for creative writing, literature, English, journalism and humanities profiles, especially if shortlisted or awarded.

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6. Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year

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Best for: students aged 17 and under who are interested in wildlife, nature, photography or environmental storytelling.

Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year is a high-profile international youth photography competition. It is not an Ireland-based competition, but Irish students can consider it if they are serious about nature photography.

It suits students who:

• spend time outdoors
• enjoy wildlife or landscape photography
• care about conservation
• want a more specialised creative challenge
• are building a photography portfolio

Difficulty: High compared with beginner photography competitions. It is field-specific and competitive.

Portfolio value: Strong for photography, visual storytelling, media, conservation communication and environmental interests.

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7. Commonwealth Youth Photography Competition

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Best for: older students and young adults interested in photography, environment and global storytelling.

This competition is for young people aged 18 and over, so it is not suitable for younger secondary students. But it can be relevant for older students, gap-year students or early university applicants with a strong photography or environmental communication interest.

Difficulty: Medium. It is accessible to enter, but stronger entries need both a good image and a clear message.

Portfolio value: Good for photography, journalism, media, geography, environmental studies and international relations profiles.

Related guide: Commonwealth Youth Photography Competition 2026: Now Open for Entries

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8. Rotary Young Artist

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Best for: students who want a community-supported art competition route.

Rotary Young Artist is part of the wider Rotary GB&I youth competition structure. Participation often depends on local Rotary club routes and annual themes, so families should check local availability.

Difficulty: Medium. It can be beginner-friendly if a local route is available, but the entry process is less direct than purely online competitions.

Portfolio value: Good for students who want a structured art challenge and local recognition.

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9. Spirited Arts Competition

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Best for: students who enjoy art linked to values, beliefs, philosophy, religion or big questions.

Spirited Arts is not Ireland-specific, but it is accessible for school pupils and can suit students who like reflective, theme-based art rather than purely technical drawing.

It may be a good fit for students interested in:

• art
• religion and worldviews
• philosophy
• ethics
• personal reflection
• visual storytelling

Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate.

Portfolio value: Good for students who want to show thoughtful visual interpretation, especially in humanities or arts contexts.

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10. Peterhouse JCR Arts Competition

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Best for: older students in eligible UK and Ireland state schools with an interest in arts and humanities.

This is a more niche opportunity, and eligibility details can be cycle-specific. It is not as broad as Texaco or RTÉ This is Art!, but it may be useful for students who are building a humanities or arts profile.

Difficulty: Medium. The competition is more selective by eligibility and theme.

Portfolio value: Good if the student is applying for arts, humanities or related university subjects and can connect the work to wider reading or creative thinking.

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Which creative competition should your child choose?

For most students, one or two creative competitions per year is enough. The goal is not to enter everything. The goal is to build a small body of work that shows voice, discipline and growth.

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How creative competitions help university portfolios

Creative competitions can support a university portfolio when they show:

• original thinking
• technical development
• response to a theme or brief
• sustained work over time
• reflection and revision
• public recognition or shortlist status
• connection to a likely subject direction

Students should save:

• final artwork or writing
• sketches and drafts
• photos of process
• artist statements
• feedback
• shortlist or award evidence
• reflection notes

For broader planning, see How to Build a Competition Portfolio for University.

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Final advice

The best creative competition is the one that helps the student make something they are proud of.

Some students will thrive with a national art submission. Others will prefer poetry, photography, sustainable fashion, or a reflective art brief. Parents should look for the format that gives the student energy rather than simply choosing the competition with the biggest name.

For younger students, start with accessible competitions such as Texaco, RTÉ This is Art! or Poetry Ireland activities. For more committed students, move towards Foyle, Junk Kouture, Young Wildlife Photographer or other specialised routes.

Creative work becomes stronger when students have time to revise. Give them that time.

Related reading:

• Top Competitions in Ireland for Beginners (2026)
• Writing Competitions Open Now: UK, Ireland & International Opportunities for Students
• What Makes a Competition "Prestigious"?
• How Many Competitions Should a Student Enter Each Year?

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Sources checked

• Texaco Children's Art Competition
• RTÉ This is Art! / Arts in Education listing
• Poetry Ireland Education Competitions
• Junk Kouture Dublin
• Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award
• Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year
• Commonwealth Youth Photography Competition
• Rotary GB&I Youth Competitions
• Spirited Arts Competition
• Peterhouse JCR Arts Competition