June 17, 2026

To further promote cultural exchange between the People’s Republic of China and the United Arab Emirates, deepen young people’s understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture, society, and development, and encourage artistic creativity through calligraphy and painting, the China Cultural Center in the UAE is pleased to announce the launch of the 2026 UAE “Nihao! China” Youth Calligraphy & Painting Competition.  Competition Theme: Nihao! China Participants are invited to create original artworks inspired by one of the following themes: Competition Timeline Eligibility The competition is open to non-Chinese students currently residing and studying in the United Arab Emirates. Competition Categories Age Groups Artwork Categories Awards Awards will be presented separately for each category based on age group and submission type. (4 winners from each of the three categories within the 12–18 age group) (3 winners from each of the 6 competition categories) (6 winners from each of the 6 competition categories) (10 winners from each of the 6 competition categories) Submission Requirements Submission Method Participants are required to complete the online registration form and upload their artwork through the following link: Registration Link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/KzyGB5mKqd QR code： File Naming Format Please name your artwork file using the following format: Participant Name + Artwork Title Example: Ahmed Al Mansoori – My Dream of China Enquiries For further information, please contact Oriental Wise Education Institute Abu Dhabi: Email: mandarin@orientalwisechinese.com This event is hosted by the China Cultural Center in the UAE and organized by Oriental Wise Education Institute Abu Dhabi. We warmly welcome young artists across the UAE to participate and share their creativity, imagination, and artistic interpretations of China through this exciting cultural competition.