The International Aviation Art Contest, also known as the FAI Young Artists Contest, invites original aviation and air-sports artwork through national selection. NASAO and the National Aeronautic Association organize the US route, where state judging precedes national selection. Elsewhere, entrants use the FAI member organization in their country of residence. National winners advance to the international jury.
The 2027 theme is “My 1st International Day of Air Sports”. Its age categories are defined by birth dates: junior, January 1, 2017–December 31, 2020; intermediate, January 1, 2013–December 31, 2016; senior, January 1, 2009–December 31, 2012. The overview’s broad ages 6–18 description should be read alongside those exact categories. Artwork uses thick A3 white paper or a close equivalent and permitted permanent handmade media; digital art that is not handmade is excluded.
For 2027, national organizations must submit digital images of their finalists by April 1 through FAI’s online form. This does not replace each student’s earlier national or state deadline. Physical finalist artwork may also be sent, but the digital submission remains mandatory; the general rules ask for optional mailed artwork to arrive before April 1. International winners receive medals and diplomas. National and state prizes vary; a universal state cash-prize schedule and a 2027 zero entry fee were not verified.
The checked NASAO page remains historical: its 2026 theme was “Fly to Save Lives”, the US student-to-state cutoff was January 16, 2026, and state winners had to reach national judging by February 20, 2026. It does not establish 2027 US deadlines, fees or awards. Sources checked November 4, 2026: FAI 2027 announcement, current FAI rules, FAI overview and official indexed NASAO page, whose direct route returned 403. The linked FAI finalist form could not be retrieved; its mandatory role and the date are established by the official announcement and rules.