2026 Student Poster Contest

Contest now open!

2026 submissions are due April 3, 2026.

 

Contest Flyer

Contest Guidelines

Submit finished posters here!

 

Friends of the Chicago River is proud to host our annual Student Poster Contest to inspire action to improve our rivers and communities by creating a Litter Free Chicago-Calumet River system. The theme of this year's poster contest is "Taking Action for a Litter Free River," and celebrates the upcoming 34th Annual Chicago River Day on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

See our winning and honorable mention posters from previous years.

With the support of WM, the Student Poster Contest is free and open to all Chicagoland youth ages 8 to 18. Submissions may be made individually or through a school or community group. The winning and honorable mention posters from each age category will be displayed at Friends' McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum during the 2026 season. See below for contest guidelines.

• Original artwork and drawings by students are encouraged, but posters may include photos as well. Posters must not include any copyrighted images or illustrations.
• Each poster's theme should be "Taking Action for a Litter Free River," and should engage the audience on the issues of litter reduction, individual or community action, and ways to improve our rivers.
• Posters must include Friends' logo and WM's logo, which can be downloaded here.
• All submissions should be provided in a digital format at print-quality resolution when viewed (PDF, JPG, or PNG). The recommended poster size is 11 x 17 inches.
• One poster submission per student. The submission deadline is April 3, 2026.
• One winner and two honorable mentions will be selected in the following categories: Ages 8-12, 13-15, and 16-18.