Texas Students Reel In Big Honors With Fish Art Contest

Young Texans are proving their creativity runs as deep as our lakes and rivers. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the 2026 Texas Fish Art Contest winners have been announced, showcasing incredible student talent from across the state.

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Where Art Meets The Outdoors

This contest isn’t just about drawing fish,it’s about connecting kids to nature. Students from kindergarten through high school submitted original artwork featuring fish, and older students included a short written piece about their species, habitat, or conservation efforts.

Out of more than 700 entries, only 14 were selected for the 2027 calendar and will be displayed at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens.

Texas Winners Making Waves

Top winners include:

• Dalia Morales (Houston) - Grades 10–12
• Alice Zhang (Manvel) - Grades 7–9
• Candice Chen (Bee Cave) - Grades 4–6
• Cathie Zhang (Austin) - Grades K–3

Annabelle Yuan of Frisco earned the Special Species Award for her paddlefish artwork, while kindergartner Haasya Doddapaneni of Frisco received the Mighty Minnow Award.

Why This Matters In Texas

This year’s focus was the paddlefish, a protected species in Texas that has struggled due to habitat loss. Efforts are underway to restore its population, and programs like this help educate the next generation on why conservation matters.

A Big Texas Win For Young Talent

What I love about this contest is how it gets kids thinking about the outdoors in a real way. When they study a fish and bring it to life through art, it creates a connection, and that’s how future conservationists are born.

Information courtesy of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.

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