The Book of Life: Enter Global Canvas 2026 and be part of the world’s greatest children’s wildlife art competition.
Create. Inspire. Protect. Show us your vision for how we can preserve our living world before pages are lost forever.
Key Dates
Global Canvas is an annual international art competition run by David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation for children and young people up to 16. Each year, we choose a theme that challenges young artists to think deeply about wildlife, conservation, and the environment.
The Book of Life holds as many as ten million species – from tiny plankton to towering elephants. Every time we discover a new animal, like the vegetarian piranha, the book gets bigger. But when a species goes extinct – like the Pinta Island tortoise – a page is lost forever.
We already know how to protect the Book of Life. We can create wild protected areas, restore damaged habitats, rescue endangered species, and stop the illegal trade in wildlife.
For Global Canvas 2026, show us how we can save the Book of Life forever.
The 2026 competition will open for entries in late 2025. Make sure you’re following our socials and signed up to our e-news to be kept in the loop.
Visit the Global Canvas 2025 finalists gallery
Winners in each category receive:
Art supply vouchers or cash awards
Winners’ certificates*
Finalists’ work featured online, and winners announced at our Awards Ceremony
*Due to the size of the competition, we are unable to provide participation certificates for non-winners.
Individual applications for Global Canvas 2026 are opening very soon! Check back here to apply for next year’s competition.
Group applications for Global Canvas 2026 are opening very soon! Check back here to apply for next year’s competition.
Here you can find helpful videos, and guides to help you create your masterpiece.
BLOG: Creating a display for Global Canvas read more
VIDEO: How to Emboss with James Hitchens
BLOG: Tips for using recycled material in your Global Canvas display read more
VIDEO: How to use charcoal with Gale More O’Ferrall
A special thank you to artist and co-founder of Michael O’Mara Books, Lesley O’Mara, for her ongoing support as a personal champion of our work. Buster Books is an imprint of Michael O’Mara Books, publishing quirky children’s books – from picture books and reference titles to interactive books and beyond. They are also an official publisher for LEGO colouring, sticker, and activity books. In both 2020 and 2021, Buster won the Blue Peter Book Award for Best Book with Facts.
Find out and read more at https://www.mombooks.com
We were delighted to receive a record-breaking number of entries, and the creativity and innovation on display was truly exceptional.
After a comprehensive judging process, winners were announced at our live Awards Ceremony.
