Join Plato’s Find-a-New-Earth Art Challenge
Hello there, it’s Paxi here, with my new good friend, Plato!
Are you ready to join us on an adventure with the Ariane 6 rocket sending Plato to explore planets orbiting other stars, just like my own planet Ally-O?
This spring, we’re launching a very special competition: Plato’s Find-a-New-Earth Art Challenge. One lucky winner will have their art decorate a real Ariane 6 rocket and keep Plato company on its launch to outer space in 2027.
Plato is ESA’s exoplanet mission which aims to explore one great question: “Does a second Earth exist in the Universe?”. It will look out into the cosmos, taking in information with 26 cameras, and helping us understand exoplanets like never before!
“So what’s the competition?” I hear you ask…
The Plato Art Challenge calls all kids up to 12 years old to help ESA by creating an illustration inspired by the Plato mission. A jury of experts, chaired by me – Paxi – will select the most inspiring artwork. The winner’s illustration will be printed on a giant sticker, and this will be placed on the faring – that is the ‘nose’ – of the Ariane 6 rocket.
Get the help of an adult, read carefully the competition guidelines, go creative and show us your imagination through art! The artwork can be submitted exclusively by an adult through the dedicated submission form no later than 6 July 2026, 23:59 Central European Summer Time (CEST). Only the entries that respect all the competition guidelines will be accepted.
Special prizes are waiting for you:
1st prize
• The winning design will be displayed on the Ariane 6 rocket that will take Plato to space.
• The winner, accompanied by his/her/their parents or a legal guardian, will be invited by ESA to follow the live launch of Plato from ESA’s ESOC establishment in Germany in early 2027.
Other prizes
• The children who have submitted the 12 best drawings worldwide, including the 1st prize winner, will see their artwork featured in the 2027 Plato calendar, which will be available for everybody to download online!
• The top 30 winners worldwide, including the ones above, will receive an ESA goodie bag and their artwork will be displayed online in the dedicated image gallery hosted on the ESA Kids website and on the ESA official Plato webpages.
• All participants will receive a participation certificate.
Remember: the maximum age limit for participants is 12!
At ESA we cannot wait to see your amazing artwork and share this incredible adventure with you!
Access the full competition guidelines.
If you are facing any issues with the submission form, please email kids@esa.int.
Submissions are closed!
