Call for Youth Artists: Balloons Over Route 66

In celebration of the Route 66 Centennial, the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is hosting an art exhibition featuring a black and white mural by a local artist with colorful hot air balloons floating above. This call for artists is for school age children who are invited to create original artwork of colorful hot air balloons. Up to 50 submissions will be selected to be enlarged and printed for the exhibit. The selected artists will have their work featured in the museum’s exhibit that will be on display for approximately one year. Featured artists and their families will be invited to an opening reception.

• WHO: This contest is open to all students, grades K-12, who are residents of the greater Albuquerque Metro area.  
  
  
• WHAT: Create your own, original, 2-D picture of a hot-air balloon.  Winning artwork will be featured floating across the Albuquerque skyline in a new Route 66 exhibit opening at the Balloon Museum in June, 2026. Templates available in the links below.
  
  Winners will be judged in three categories: Elementary, Middle, and High School.  Up to 50 submissions will be selected.  All artwork selected will be scanned, reproduced, and printed for the exhibit.  Original artwork will not be on display.  Only the balloons will appear, no background.
  
  
• WHEN: Artwork will be accepted from December 15th, 2025, to February 20th, 2026. Announcement of the winners will be made in March of 2026.  The exhibit is scheduled to open in June of 2026. The exhibit will be on display for approximately one year.
  
  
• HOW: Drop off or mail your original artwork to the Balloon Museum by February 20th, 2026.  Be sure to include the submission form with all information and signatures completed.  No electronic submissions will be accepted.