The national Art Bytes competition is returning for its fifth year, inviting schools across England to celebrate creativity and talent among students in Years 5 and 9. The inclusive art and EdTech programme, which has already seen 6,825 students from 273 schools take part, is now open for registration for the 2026 edition. With more than 200 schools expected to join next year, the Art Bytes 2026 competition promises to be its biggest yet.
The programme combines an inter-school art competition with an immersive virtual gallery and live celebration events held at prestigious cultural venues including The Saatchi Gallery in London, Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge and The Henry Moore Institute in Leeds. It provides young people with the chance to showcase their work on a national stage and experience galleries as spaces for everyone, not just the privileged few.
Art Bytes is open to all schools in England and invites participation from a broad range of students, including those with special educational needs. Two of the eight overall winners to date have come from SEND schools, underlining the competition’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion. The shortlisting process involves both a public vote and a judging panel drawn from education, professional artists and the National Society of Education in Art and Design (NSEAD).
Lucy Byrne, managing director of Art Bytes, said: “The Art Bytes programme is inclusive, accessible and supportive, and proves that art really is for everyone. Giving children the opportunity to build confidence, showcase talent and rightly feel proud of their achievements, is a wonderful gift for a school to give its pupils. At a time when the arts are so badly funded and represented, it is vital that the formative years of students’ lives are not devoid of art. Every child deserves to see themselves as creative, and we’re proud of the part Art Bytes plays in achieving that.”
The importance of arts education has been reaffirmed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently pledged to “place the arts back where they belong”. However, with AccessArt research showing that the average spend on a primary school pupil’s art education is as little as £1.80 per year, Art Bytes 2026 stands as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through dedicated programmes.
Teachers have praised the competition for its impact on school communities. Penny Hamilton of Monkton Park Primary School in Wiltshire said: “Art Bytes has become an integral part of our school calendar. The children promoted the voting this year which was wonderful. They led an assembly, planned a gallery event for parents to see the artwork and vote, and made banners and information booklets for parents.”
For students, the experience can be transformative. Past winner James Murphy, who triumphed in the forerunner programme dot-art Schools, went on to found a successful film company, crediting the competition with giving him the confidence to pursue his creative career.
The Art Bytes 2026 competition not only recognises young artistic talent but also strengthens school communities and broadens access to cultural spaces. Paula Morgan, Assistant Head Teacher at Crosby High School in Merseyside, said: “As our pupils are all SEN, I am very protective of them and was wary of submitting their work, and having it judged against mainstream pupils. How wrong I was! I was beyond proud to see them competing and holding their own in this forum, and will definitely ensure they participate every year.”
Schools can register easily online at artbytes.co.uk/registration/ for a small fee that covers all entrants. To be included in next year’s showcase, teachers are encouraged to sign up before 31 December and submit artwork by the February 2026 half-term.
With its inclusive ethos, creative encouragement and celebration of young talent, the Art Bytes 2026 competition continues to demonstrate that art truly is for everyone.
