2026 Arbor Day Poster Contest Survey

NYSDEC Annual Arbor Day Poster Contest

To enter the annual Arbor Day poster contest, upload your submission and complete the form below. Only one submission is allowed per person. Submissions will be accepted until November 10, 2026.

Submissions should reflect this year’s theme, “Trees for Vibrant Communities,” expressing the importance of trees in building resilient, livable communities, the relationship between trees and people, and how trees can contribute to the overall wellness of a community.

The winner, whose artwork will be reproduced as the Arbor Day Poster for 2027, will be directly notified by DEC and the winning poster will be announced in April 2027.

Please be sure to read the full contest rules and information on the DEC website.

1.Upload your image file here.(Required.)

Please ensure the image quality meets the requirements listed on the contest webpage. Your image must be at least 4000 X 3000 pixels and a tree or trees should be the main subject. Please refer to the DEC website for instructions on how to check the size of your image. If your image file is larger than 16MB, or if you have any other issues, email arborday@dec.ny.gov with your image as an attachment, upload a placeholder file to this form, and then finish the rest of the form.

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DEC Website - How to check the size of your file

2.By checking the box below, I acknowledge I have read the contest rules and checked the photo size and confirmed it meets the minimum size requirements.

Agree

3.What medium of art is your submission?(Required.)

Photography

Painting

Digital sketch

Other (please specify)

4.Where was your photo taken, or what New York State location does your artwork depict?

(Only photos taken in NYS or artwork depicting a NYS location will be accepted)(Required.)

5.Upload model consent form, if required for your image.

If any person is a focus of your photo, or if the photo features a partially or wholly visible face or likeness, you must include a model consent form for that person with your submission. Children under age 18 must have parent or guardian provide model consent. Form can be found on the contest webpage . In any uncertain situation, assume that model consent is required. DEC reserves the right to reject any submission for lack of model consent.

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Model Consent

6.Artist first name(Required.)

7.Artist last name(Required.)

8.Artist city and state(Required.)

9.Artist phone number(Required.)

10.Artist email address(Required.)

11.How did you hear about the contest?

12.If you are a student, what school do you attend?

13.May we use your artwork in future DEC publications and social media outside of this poster contest? Artist will be credited.(Required.)

Yes

14.By typing my name in the field below, I acknowledge that the artwork I have submitted is original and completely my own. I understand that the NYS Arbor Day Planning Committee functions through donations and contributions. Artwork is submitted as a donation. The selected artist/photographer will benefit from the widespread exposure received by having their work used as the NYS Arbor Day Poster. There is no monetary payment. I accept that DEC may reject any submission to the contest based on their own discretion.

Type your full name here.(Required.)