Get Creative for a Litter-Free Oklahoma: Enter the 2026 Trash Poster Calendar Contest, 2025 calendars available

Attention, young artists of Oklahoma! It’s time to channel your imagination to create artwork that champions a cleaner, litter-free future! Enter the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s statewide Trash Poster Calendar contest, where your artwork could shine in the 2026 Oklahoma Trash Poster Calendar. This annual calendar showcases student creations that promote litter reduction, especially along our beautiful highways. And, Route 66 turns 100 in 2026 which presents valuable learning opportunities and artistic inspiration.

Now is the ideal time to submit your art for the 2026 contest! We’re looking for creative masterpieces that highlight the importance of keeping Oklahoma litter-free. Fourteen talented state winners will be rewarded with cash prizes: $300 for first place, $300 for the State Promotional Poster of the Year, $200 for second place, $200 for the Contest Entry Form Poster, and $150 for third place in each of the four grade divisions. Plus, winners, along with their families and teachers, will be celebrated at a special awards event in April, where students will be introduced on the floor of the Oklahoma State Senate and House of Representatives at the state Capitol!

This contest not only encourages creativity but also helps students learn about Oklahoma’s litter issues and explore solutions through their art and classroom projects. Students can enter in one of four categories based on their grade: K-2nd, 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, and 9th-12th. Make sure to submit your entries by January 31, 2026, to your local county Department of Environmental Quality office. Local judging will take place in February, and winning entries will advance to the state competition in March.

Remember, your artwork should be original and feature positive themes related to litter. We prefer poster sizes of 12 inches x 18 inches or 11 inches x 17 inches, using paper or poster board. Please avoid using syndicated characters, computer-generated images, or materials that could damage scanning equipment.

Last year, over 4,600 students participated in this wonderful initiative, which is supported by a fantastic partnership of organizations dedicated to keeping Oklahoma beautiful. Collaborative partnerships of ODOT, DEQ, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department-Oklahoma State Parks, Cherokee Nation, OG&E, Oklahoma’s Credit Union, OMES – Application Development & Deployment, Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, Ardmore Beautification Council, Oklahoma Rural Water Association, Oklahoma City Beautiful, Solid Waste Institute of Northeast Oklahoma, Oklahoma State Department of Education, Oklahoma Department of Public Safety and Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Oklahoma Highway Safety Office.                                                       

For more details about the contest, feel free to reach out to the ODOT Beautification Office at 405-521-2557, or download an entry form from the ODOT website at www.odot.org/tpc. Let your creativity shine and help make Oklahoma a cleaner, greener place!