Poster Contest

SHARE YOUR FLAIR

Every year, one artist's vision becomes the face of Harborfest. Submit your original artwork for a chance to have your poster seen by thousands — and become part of festival history.

2026 Contest Details

Submission Deadline

SUBMISSIONS CLOSED | Winner reveal coming soon

Prize

$250 and your artwork featured as our offical poster!

Who Can Enter

Open to all artists — any age, any medium

All Contest Entries

contest gallery

Every summer, the spirit of Harborfest comes to life twice — once on the stage, and once on the page. Our poster contest invites artists from Oswego and beyond to capture the soul of the festival through their own eyes. From bold and vibrant to quietly nostalgic, each submission tells a story of a community that shows up — not just to attend, but to create.

These aren't just designs. They're love letters to a festival built by the people who cherish it most. Browse the gallery and see Harborfest the way its fans do.

HOW TO ENTER

SUBMIT YOUR DESIGN

The winning poster becomes the official face of Harborfest 2026 — printed on merchandise, used across all marketing, and displayed at the festival all weekend long.

Create Your Artwork

Design an original poster inspired by Harborfest — the music, the lake, the community, the fireworks. Any medium accepted. Full submission guidelines will be posted when the contest opens.

Submit Online

Upload your design through the official submission form before the deadline. Include your name, contact info, and a short description of your concept.

Judging + Announcement

Submissions are reviewed by the Harborfest team. The winning design will be announced publicly and the artist will be contacted directly.

See Your Work at the Festival

The winning poster is printed, published, and displayed throughout the festival — and lives on as part of Harborfest history.

The 2026 Official Poster Theme: The Music that Shaped America

Celebrate the sounds that defined a nation in this year’s Oswego Harborfest poster design contest. America has a rich history of innovation in music and the arts, across diverse genres such as country, rock, jazz, rhythm-and-blues, hip-hop, folk, and pop. For 250 years, American musicians have shaped culture, amplified diverse voices, and reflected the struggles, hopes, and triumphs of a growing nation. Artists are invited to capture how these sounds continue to unite generations and tell the story of American culture, and Harborfest’s part of that, through music, past and present. Your poster should reflect this theme.

Submission Guidelines

Artists are encouraged to explore different mediums: painting, sketching, digital art, photography, mixed media, etc. will all be accepted.
Poster must be portrait orientation with standard poster dimensions. 18” x 24” recommended.
Artwork must be submitted in PNG, JPG, or PDF format at minimum 300 DPI.
Artwork must be wholly original. No use of copyrighted characters, logos, or images. Use of clipart or AI generated art will not be accepted.
All art submitted must be free of suggestive content and appropriate for general audiences. Art depicting references to drugs or alcohol, nudity or other adult themes will not be accepted.
Artwork must be submitted by the contest deadline at midnight. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Contest winner will be notified by early May, 2026 and win a $250 prize alongside having their work featured as the official Harborfest poster.
Submissions will be judged by a panel based on their originality, quality, and how well they represent this year’s theme and the festival.
One submission per artist. Multiple entries will be disqualified.
By submitting, you grant Harborfest the right to use or alter your design for promotional purposes.
Open to all ages and skill levels — professional and amateur artists welcome.

your art. our festival.

Thank you for your 2026 submissions! We can't wait to reveal this year's winner. In the meantime, start planning your visit at the link below.

Plan Your Visit

Harborfest 2026 · Oswego, NY

Oswego Harbor Festivals, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit producing Oswego’s annual waterfront festival since 1988. McCrobie Building, 41 Lake Street, Oswego, NY 13126.