Every person needs a place where they feel safe.
A place where they are welcomed.
A place they can call home.
In 2026, ADRA Europe invites children, teenagers, and young adults across Europe and the Globe again to explore this universal human need through creativity. The ADRA Europe Art Contest 2026 is now open, inspired by this year’s theme “Home / Shelter– A Place to Belong.”
This year’s contest offers a space for reflection, imagination, and artistic expression — open to all, without pressure to share personal stories.
Why “Home / Shelter”?
When we hear the word home, many of us think of a building. But home can be much more than that.
Home or shelter can be:
- a place where we feel safe
- people who welcome us
- a moment of peace
- a shared meal or a kind word
- a tree that feels protective
- a community that cares
This year’s theme invites participants to explore what home or shelter means to them — whether real, imagined, symbolic, or abstract. Through colours, shapes, ideas, and stories, young artists are encouraged to reflect on safety, welcome, dignity, and belonging.
There is no single right answer.
A Theme Chosen with Care
The theme Home / Shelter – A Place to Belong is deeply connected to ADRA’s values of compassion, justice, and love (and thus: hospitality).
Around the world, many people — including refugees and families who have had to rebuild their lives — know how precious shelter and a sense of home can be. This art contest is about shared humanity.
The focus is on:
- belonging and welcome
- care and kindness
- community and dignity
- hope and new beginnings
Who Can Take Part?
The ADRA Europe Art Contest 2026 is open to four age groups:
- 5–9 years
- 10–14 years
- 15–18 years
- 19–25 years
Each age group is encouraged to interpret the theme in ways that feel natural to their creativity and stage of life. Simple drawings, symbolic illustrations, abstract designs, and thoughtful visual reflections are all welcome.
A Safe and Supportive Creative Space
Creating a safe environment for children and young people is essential to this contest.
To ensure wellbeing and comfort:
- Participants do not need to draw their actual home
- Participants do not need to share personal stories
- Shelters can be real, imagined, or symbolic
Optional age-appropriate reflection and teaching resources are available for parents, teachers, and educators here. These materials help introduce the theme thoughtfully, focusing on creativity, values, and imagination rather than personal biography.
What We Hope to See
We look forward to 2-dimensional artworks that explore:
- what helps people feel safe
- how we welcome one another
- the beauty of shared spaces
- home in nature
- cultural symbols of belonging
- peaceful colours and shapes
- hope and new beginnings
Every expression is welcome. Artworks need to align with to the topic of this year’s art contest. We accept two-dimensional artworks like painting, drawing, collage (mixed material like cut-outs, photos, drawing, painting combined).
We do not accept artworks created by Artificial Intelligence.
How to submit: Please take a good-quality photo of your work and submit it through our webpage link on https://artcontest.adra.eu/.
Key Dates
- Contest opens: 1 February 2026
- Submission deadline: 31 March 2026.
- Public voting: 6–30 April 2026
- Award Ceremony: 20 June 2026 (World Refugee Day)
The award ceremony will celebrate selected artworks but also honour every young person who chose to reflect on care, welcome, and belonging through creativity.
How This Connects to ADRA’s Work
ADRA works alongside communities around the world to support people affected by poverty, displacement, and crisis — always with dignity, respect, and care.
The Art Contest reflects these same values. It offers a hopeful space to think about how we create shelter for one another — not only with buildings, but with attitudes, actions, and compassion.
About the organizers
The Art Contest It is organized in cooperation with the Inter-European and Trans-European Divisions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and culminates in an award ceremony on World Refugee Sabbath.
Join the Art Contest
Whether you are a young artist, a parent, a teacher, or a supporter, we invite you to be part of this creative journey.
Through art, we can pause, reflect, and imagine a world where more people feel safe, welcomed, and at home.
Find full contest details and participation guidelines on the contest page https://artcontest.adra.eu/