About The Competiton

The 2025-26 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Western Art Contest is open to high school students currently enrolled in one of the 183 eligible school districts, as well as those attending a private school or homeschool in one of the 54 eligible counties. The lists of eligible school districts and counties can be downloaded below. The Western Art Contest is held annually in early December. This year the students whose entries are judged as champions in their division at the contest will be eligible for a total of $135,000 in college scholarships (certain restrictions apply). Please see the Rules and Regulations for more information.

Important Dates

Please note the following dates for this year’s Western Art Competition, held in the Auction Barn (located on Freeman Boulevard, at the Freeman Coliseum/Frost Bank Center Grounds):

Saturday, November 15, 2025 – Late Entry Deadline for online Western Art Entry Application Form.
Friday, December 5, 2025 – Check-In: All artwork must be dropped off between Noon to 7 P.M.
Saturday, December 6, 2025 – Judging: Closed to the Public
Sunday, December 7, 2025

1:00 P.M. – Championship Reception for students, parents, teachers, family, and friends to view all entries submitted in this year's contest and learn who won this year's class championship.
2:00 P.M. - 3:30 P.M. – Art Check Out

All artwork not selected to be Champion in Class, Reserve Champion in Class or selected as a Museum Choice or People’s Choice must be picked up and checked out to the student or teacher following the Student Reception on Sunday afternoon. Artwork not picked up at that time may not be returned unless a special arrangement has been made in advance.

NOTE: The artwork selected to be the Champion in each Class will be retained by the Western Art Committee to be exhibited at The Briscoe Western Art Museum as well as during the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo in February in the Expo Hall. The Champion in Class artworks will not be returned to the contestants.

Artwork selected as Reserve Champions in Class, those pieces selected as a Museum Choice and the piece selected as the People’s Choice will be retained by the Western Art Committee to be exhibited at The Briscoe Western Art Museum beginning in January 2026 and during the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo in February. Artwork will be returned to the contestants at the end of March 2026.

Western Art Competition - Premium List/Rules

2025-26 Premium List Rules

Brushstrokes & Ballads

Join us February 6, 2026, 6:00 pm at the Briscoe Western Art Museum

Brush Strokes & Ballads is a fundraising event hosted by the Western Art Committee that honors the winners of its annual Western Art Contest.

The evening showcases top-placing works from high-school students across Texas, celebrates Western-themed art that highlights heritage, landscapes, and lifestyle of the American West, and raises funds in support of the San Antonio Stockshow & Rodeo's mission to promote agriculture and education for youth.

By attending Brush Strokes & Ballads, the community not only enjoys art and culture — but also helps empower young artists and supports scholarships and agricultural-education programs benefiting Texas youth.

Get Involved With Art Angels

Since 2010, the Art Angels have united to support scholarships through the Western Art Committee's annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Western Art Contest. Thanks to our members' generous donations, we provide scholarships to high school students whose artwork was chosen as one of 13 Class Champions. As a thank you, Art Angels are entered into a drawing for a piece of Championship artwork.

For a $60 donation, you will receive an Art Angels exclusive pin and get the opportunity to win an original Championship piece. This program not only supports the young artist's in our program, but the overall San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo scholarship fund.