The global contest for children 15 and under closes on February 27th
Toyota Ireland is reminding children, parents and teachers across the country that entries for the 19th annual Toyota Dream Car Art Contest close on 27th February 2026. With only four weeks to go, young creatives are encouraged to put the finishing touches to their dream car designs before the competition draws to a close.
Running from 1st December 2025 to 27th February 2026, the global art initiative invites children aged 15 and under to imagine and illustrate what the future of mobility might look like. From cars powered by laughter to vehicles that help protect the planet or bring communities together, Toyota is calling on young minds to dream big and share ideas that could inspire a better world.
Now in its 19th year, the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest attracts hundreds of thousands of entries from more than 90 countries worldwide, celebrating creativity, innovation and optimism for the future. In Ireland, the contest continues to uncover extraordinary talent, with children seeing cars not just as machines, but as tools for kindness, adventure and progress.
Toyota Ireland is encouraging parents, guardians and teachers to get involved and help children submit their artwork before the closing date. The contest aims to spark imagination and build confidence, showing young people that even the smallest idea can drive meaningful change.
Irish Competition Categories and Recognition
The Irish competition recognises twelve finalists across three main age categories:
- Under 7s
- 8–11s
- 12–15s
In addition, Toyota Ireland will once again award ‘Honorary Mentions’, a category introduced for Ireland in 2021 to recognise the efforts of children with additional needs. This category reflects Toyota’s commitment to inclusion and ensures children of all abilities have the opportunity to share their creative ideas.
Prizes and Next Steps
Winners will be announced in April 2026, followed by a special celebration event in Dublin. Top Irish entries from each age category will go on to represent Ireland in the global finals later in the year.
Previous Irish finalists have received prizes including Instax cameras, smartwatches and Kindles, with one Irish global ‘Best Finalist’ winning $3,000 in 2024.
Entry Period:
1st December 2025 – 27th February 2026
Eligibility:
Children aged 15 or under as of February 27th, 2026, living in the Republic of Ireland.
How to Enter
Children can create their “Dream Car” using traditional materials (pencils, markers, paint) or digitally using tablets or laptops. All artwork must be in colour and include both a car and background setting. Artwork must not include images, logos, characters, trademarks or symbols from any other brands apart from Toyota, both automotive and non‑automotive, as this will result in disqualification.
If an entry may be suitable for the ‘Honorary Mentions’ category, this should be clearly indicated on the entry form for consideration.
- Physical entries: A3 format, posted to: Toyota Ireland, Killeen Road, Dublin 12
Marked “Toyota Dream Car Art Contest” - Digital entries: Sent in PDF, JPG, JPEG or PNG format to dreamcarart@toyota.ie
Each entry must be accompanied by a completed entry form, available at:
https://www.toyota.ie/company/news/dream-car-art-contest
All entry forms must be signed by a parent or legal guardian to comply with GDPR regulations. The contest closes on February 27th, 2026. Full Terms and Conditions are available at the link above.
