Western Horseman invites you to enter your best drawing or painting in our 2026 cover art contest. The 2026 cover will celebrate the 90th anniversary of Western Horseman Magazine, the world’s leading horse magazine.
*Contest Closed*
Winners judged by: Cowgirl Artists of America, Cowboy Artists of America and Western Horseman editorial staff.
Prizes
Grand Prize: Artwork featured on the January 2026 cover of Western Horseman, plus:
- $500 cash award
- Feature profile in the magazine and online
- Two-year subscription to Western Horseman
- Western Horseman prize package
Honorable Mentions: Selected finalists may be featured in the magazine or on westernhorseman.com.
Guidelines
Contest Guidelines
- Artwork must be original and created solely by the entrant.
- Artwork must not have been previously published or reproduced in any form, including online or in print, and must be unique to this contest.
- Art must reflect Western Horseman’s core themes — horses, horsemanship, cowboy life, ranching or the Western landscape.
- Mediums accepted: painting or drawing (oil, acrylic, watercolor, pencil, charcoal, etc.).
- No digital art accepted.
- Final cover dimensions: vertical 8.25 x 11 inches; please keep this in mind when composing your piece.
- One entry per artist.
- Artwork must include fully completed official entry form; no entry fee required.
Judging Criteria
Artwork will be evaluated by a panel of judges from:
- Cowgirl Artists of America
- Cowboy Artists of America
- Western Horseman editorial staff
Selections will be based on creativity, technical execution and how well the piece captures the spirit of the Western Horseman brand and the 90th anniversary.
Submission Process and Deadline
How to Submit:
- Entries must be submitted by mail or online.
- Participants are required to complete the official entry form and include it with their artwork, following all guidelines outlined in the contest rules.
All entries must be received by September 1, 2025.
All original artwork will be returned to the artist after the contest concludes.
Contest is now closed, Western Horseman will announce winners October 1, 2025.
Attn: Jennifer Christian. I had a question regarding the 2026 Cover Contest. Where it says Artwork must not have been previously published or reproduced in any form, including online or in print, and must be unique to this contest, does that include if I posted my “reference” photo that would be used to create the exclusive artwork on my facebook page?
Thank you for clarifying if I would be allowed to use a reference photo that I had posted on my Facebook.
I have attempted to enter the 2026 cover art contest on three occasions online. Can you please confirm receipt1 on my entry?
Thank you, Tom Wright
I submitted through email! Must have been an error on the website but it’s in! Thank you so much for having this contest Western Horseman!
I’m a little confused about the entry. I plan on submitting online but it doesn’t have a size qualification do you want it 300 DPI for an 8×10 or are we going to eventually mail you the original? I’m a little confused..
Hi Debra,
Yes, it needs to be at least 300 DPI for an 8 x 10!
Hello, I am trying to find the actual entry form to include, is it a download, or here on the site somewhere?
Also, I assume you are asking for a .jpg of which works great for an RGB, or, do you want a .tiff CMYK for possible print?
Inquiring minds need to know…lol!
Thank you so much for this opportunity!
Hi! I submitted my entry today through email because the link said my files were too big. Please let me know when you receive it. Also, please let me know if the picture I sent of my artwork is good quality because I can send it in a different format. Thanks
What a wonderful opportunity for artists. I intended to submit but skin cancer surgery & an infection prevented that. Is there a way I can submit my art to you maybe to use as one of your covers? I loove your magazine & it’s covers.
Do you have another cover art contest for 2026 if so can I submit some of my work