The 2026 Contest will be held at the Ducks Unlimited National Headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, on September 24 and 25, 2026.
You can watch the Federal Duck Stamp Contest live! Day 1 of the Contest will begin at 10:00am CT/ 11:00am ET on Thursday, September 24th. Day 2 of the Contest begins at 10:00 am CT/ 11:00 am ET on Friday, September 25th, 2026.
The judging will be done in person at the Ducks Unlimited National Headquarters. All are welcome to attend and watch the judging live, or you can watch the livestream online.
For those coming to Ducks Unlimited, the doors will open at 9:00 am each day and the artwork will be on display in the Ducks Unlimited National Headquarters Lobby. The Contest will commence at 10:00 am. For the first day of the contest, the estimated finish time is expected to end at 4:00 pm. For the second day of the contest, we hope a winner is announced by 12:30pm. *All end times listed are approximate and will vary according to the number of entries in each round of judging and the length of time the judges need to do their scoring.
If you attend the judging in person, Hog Wild Real Memphis BBQ & A Moveable Feast Catering will be on site and you may purchase food using a credit card or cash. Menu items include a grilled killa burger, grilled chicken sandwich, black bean burger, summer garden salad, tator tots, and a cookie.
You can also purchase your 2026-2027 Federal Duck Stamp products and have them signed by the artist, Jim Hautman, and purchase the 2026-2027 companion species cover and have it signed by the artist, Adam Nisbett. Ducks Unlimited will be offering tours of their Headquarters, and will also be hosting numerous vendors and educational booths including ArtsMemphis, Second Chance Flight, National Duck Stamp Collectors Society, the Tennessee and Kentucky Junior Duck Stamp Programs, and the Ducks Unlimited shop. There is a large free parking lot for visitors to use.
Low resolution scans of the artwork will be published on our USFWS Flickr page on September 14, 2026.
The Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest is one of the most successful conservation programs in our nation’s history. Duck Stamps are vital tools for wetland conservation, with ninety-eight cents out of every dollar spent on Duck Stamps going directly to wetland habitat conservation. Since its inception in 1934, sales of the Duck Stamp have generated over $1.3 billion that has conserved more than 6 million acres of wetland habitat for birds and other wildlife. In addition to the contest itself, partners will be hosting many other exciting activities in the area.
Visit the USFWS website to learn more about the Federal Duck Stamp Program and view the official contest regulations and entry brochure.
If you need a sign language interpreter, please email valerie_fellows@fws.gov and jennifer_c_wright@fws.gov by September 4, 2026.