2026 marks the 11th anniversary of the Smile Art Contest organized by Westcoast International Dental Clinic – a creative art competition for children aged 12 and under in Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau, and Binh Duong.

The contest aims not only to inspire children’s passion for art and creativity, but also to raise awareness about oral health care while spreading smiles, kindness, and positive energy to the community.

Theme of Smile Art Contest 2026

This year’s theme is:

“Draw the Future. Share the Smile with Westie”
Draw Westie – Westcoast’s mascot friend. Join Westie on a journey into the future and do a good deed to spread smiles, happiness, and togetherness

Through this journey, children are encouraged to believe that every small act of kindness can help create a brighter future. Whether it is taking care of themselves, helping family members, caring for friends, protecting the environment, participating in community activities, or contributing to a better city and country – every good deed can create a smile for the future.

Contestants should clearly express the activities and stories of themselves and Westie through their artwork.

What Makes Smile Art Contest 2026 Special?

One of the most exciting highlights of this year’s competition is the combination of creativity, storytelling, and hands-on artistic expression.

Participants can freely create artworks in different formats such as:

• Drawings and paintings
• Illustrated comics
• 3D artwork and creative models

To encourage creativity, children are required to use at least three materials from daily life, such as toothbrushes, dental floss, recycled materials, paper, fabric, or other decorative objects.

Another special feature this year is the opportunity for children to design their own version of Westie. After the competition, the Organizing Committee will select one outstanding artwork to further develop into the official mascot design of Westcoast.

In addition to the artwork, participants are also encouraged to submit a short video showing the creative process and introducing the meaning behind their. This helps children confidently express their ideas and storytelling skills through art.

Awards & Recognition

Main Awards

• First Prize – Smile Ambassador: 01 prize – VND 8,000,000
• Second Prize – Rising Art Star: 02 prizes – VND 4,000,000 each

Talent Awards (VND 2,000,000 per award)

• Promising Young Artist (for children aged 5–7)
• Most Creative Artwork
• Best Westie Mascot Design
• Best Presentation Video
• Outstanding Artistic Artwork
• Most Loved Artwork at the Award Ceremony

Contribution Awards

• Young Artist Award: 06 prizes – VND 500,000 each
• School / Art Center Award for Outstanding Participation: 01 prize – VND 2,000,000

The competition promises to showcase many colorful and inspiring artworks created by talented young artists.

Competition Timeline

• 18 May 2026 – 30 June 2026: Online submission period
• 03 July 2026 – 06 July 2026: Announcement of the Top 15 finalists
• 10 July 2026: Finalists submit their original artwork to the Organizing Committee
• 02 August 2026: Award Ceremony at  Westcoast Norfolk Mansion

All contest updates and activities will be posted in the official Facebook Group: Cuộc thi vẽ Smile Art Contest – Westcoast

How to Join the Competition

Submission Information

Participants must provide the following information when submitting their entries:

Personal Information

• Full name
• Date of birth
• School / Art Center (if applicable)
• Parent or guardian information (full name and phone number)

Artwork Information

• Artwork title and short description (maximum 300 words)
• Clear photos of the artwork
• A photo of the contestant with the completed artwork
• One video under 2 minutes showing:
• The creative process
• A short presentation explaining the artwork’s idea, message, and materials used

Submission Process

Step 1: Submit all materials via email to marketing@westcoastinternational.com

Step 2: The Organizing Committee will review and confirm valid submissions.

Step 3: After receiving confirmation, parents or guardians should help contestants post the artwork publicly on their personal Facebook account with the hashtags: #SAC2026 #Westcoast and tag the official Facebook Group: “Cuộc thi vẽ Smile Art Contest – Westcoast”

The Organizing Committee will publish contest entries weekly: Tuesdays and Fridays, including artwork and presentation videos

Judging Criteria

Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Message & Storytelling (40%): Relevance to the theme, meaningful storytelling, inspiration, and positive messages about smiles, kindness, and connection.
• Artistic Quality (30%): Composition, visual presentation, color balance, and overall aesthetics.
• Creativity (20%): Originality, uniqueness, innovation, and creative use of materials.
• Presentation Video (10%): Confidence, clarity, engagement, and effectiveness in presenting the artwork’s concept

Important Notes

• All submissions must be original works created by the contestant and must not have been previously submitted to or awarded in any other competition.
• Artwork size must be at least A3. Digital artworks are not accepted.
• The Organizing Committee reserves the right to use photos, videos, and submitted artworks for communication and promotional purposes without time limitation or additional compensation.
• Once a submission has been published, contestants may not withdraw their entry unless approved under special circumstances by the Organizing Committee.
• Contestants are responsible for providing accurate information and supporting documents upon request. Parents or guardians will represent the contestant in receiving prizes and completing related procedures.
• By participating in the contest, parents, teachers, and guardians acknowledge and agree to all contest rules and regulations.
• Any acts of cheating, plagiarism, or submission of false information may result in disqualification. All decisions made by the Organizing Committee are final.

Westcoast International Dental Clinic sincerely thanks all teachers, parents, and guardians for supporting children in participating in this meaningful competition. We wish all young artists a wonderful and memorable creative experience at Smile Art Contest 2026.