Rep. Sewell Announces 2026 Congressional Art Competition

Birmingham, AL — Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) announced that her office is now accepting submissions for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. The competition is open to high school students from both public and private schools throughout Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, as well as home-schooled high school students. The winner will receive free, roundtrip airfare for two to Washington D.C. to attend an official reception honoring the winners from congressional districts across the nation. The winner’s artwork will be showcased in the U.S. Capitol for one year. This year’s theme is Reflecting on Alabama’s 7th: Where History is Made . The deadline to submit artwork is Monday, March 2, 2026. To enter the contest, students must fill out and submit a Student Information and Release Form with their artwork by Monday, March 2, 2026. Students should deliver their submission to one of Rep. Sewell’s district offices located in Birmingham, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, or Selma. To coordinate a drop-off, students or guardians should call one of Rep. Sewell's district offices at the numbers below: Birmingham: (205) 254-1960 Montgomery: (334) 262-1919 Tuscaloosa: (205) 752-5380 Selma: (334) 877-4414 Students can also bring their submissions to school and call (334) 262-1919 for pick up. Artwork may be up to 26” high X 26” wide X 4” deep. For a full list of guidelines, visit Rep. Sewell's official website at sewell.house.gov/art-competition or contact her Montgomery office at (334) 262-1919. A proud product of Alabama’s rural Black Belt, Rep. Sewell has witnessed firsthand the talent that Alabama’s 7th Congressional District holds. Each year she is immensely impressed with the submissions and proud to have the winning artwork representing the 7th Congressional District displayed in the U.S. Capitol. Last year’s winners were: 1st Place - " Bama Beams Ahead " by Victoria Hardin, 9th grader at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama 2nd Place - “ A Ribbon in the Sky ” by Kayden Prince, 12th grader at Paul W. Bryant High School in Cottondale, Alabama 3rd Place - “ Stand, for We Light the Way ” by KaNiya Williams, 11th grader at Amelia Love Johnson High School in Thomaston, Alabama 4th Place - “ The Bridge Between Yesterday and Tomorrow ” by Ja’Kya Furniss, 12th grader at Huffman High School in Birmingham, Alabama Honorable Mention - “ You Are Enough ” by Kensharie Roy, 11th grader at Minor High School in Adamsville, Alabama Honorable Mention - “ A Self Portrait of Emanuel Garcia ” by Emanuel Garcia, 12th grader at Clay-Chalkville High School in Pinson, Alabama Honorable Mention - “ The Heart Revealed ” by Brianna Turner, 11th grader at Demopolis High School in Demopolis, Alabama ###