Top 20 Pieces
2026 Poster Participants
2026 Lilac Festival Poster Contest
Theme: Stop and Smell the Lilacs
Submissions for 2026 are now closed.
ABOUT THE PROCESS:
Artists are invited to submit artwork for the Lilac Festival Poster Contest and a Peoples’ Choice Award. Artists may submit one piece of artwork for a $20 entry fee. The entry fee is used to support the poster contest and the Lilac Festival.
The winning poster will be announced on Opening Day of the 2026 tourism season May 1st, 2026.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:
The Mackinac Island Lilac Festival is a beloved 10-day event in June. The festival celebrates the unique varieties of lilacs that grow on Mackinac Island and features the Lilac Queen coronation, official poster reveal, 10K Run/Walk, lilac walking tours, lilac planting seminars, bounce houses, Michigan Cornhole tournament, live music, the Grand Parade, and more. The first Lilac Festival poster was produced in 1994.
JUROR AND SELECTION PROCESS
The Mackinac Arts Council will judge submitted entries and select the Top 20 pieces. The Mackinac Island Poster Committee, comprised of Island business and art gallery owners, will select winners of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place and 2 honorable mentions.
Judging will be based on a combination of:
- Theme: Stop and Smell the Lilacs
- Lilacs
- Mackinac Island
- Marketability & Sellability
ABOUT THE JUROR
Mackinac Arts Council is the designated Mackinac Island non-profit arts agency. In its 23rd year, the Arts Council serves and works in partnership with national, state, and community groups to meet the arts and cultural needs of the Mackinac Island community through a diversity of initiatives, services and cultural programming. Mackinac Arts Council programs have included numerous exhibits in a wide range of media including 2D, 3D, video, experimental, and installation formats, partnering with ArtPrize, The Bonifas Art Center, Sensoria Artist Collective, and others. The Mackinac Arts Council gallery in the Center for the Arts at Mission Point Resort holds a complete set of historic Lilac Festival posters in its permanent collection.
PEOPLES’ CHOICE AWARD
The Top 20 finalists will have their work voted on and the public will choose their favorite piece. The Peoples’ Choice winner will be announced June 5th, the first day of the Lilac Festival.
ARTIST RECEPTION & POSTER UNVEILING
A reception celebrating all participants will be held the first day of the Lilac Festival Friday, June 5th, 2026. More details to follow.
CASH AWARDS
$1000: 2025 Mackinac Island Poster Winner
$250: Peoples’ Choice Award
IMPORTANT DATES
November 20, 2025: Artwork Submissions Open
February 10, 2026: Submission Deadline, 5:00 pm EST
February 23, 2026: Top 20 announced
February 24 - March 9, 2026: Peoples’ Choice Voting
May 1, 2026: Winning poster revealed
June 5, 2026: Peoples’ Choice Winner announced
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
- Artists 18 and older are welcome to participate.
- All mediums are accepted, keeping in mind that the winning piece must be photographed and will be printed as a poster. Including the medium used is required on the entry form.
- No use of AI generated entries are allowed in the competition.
- One entry per artist will be accepted. Artists may submit past artwork if the piece has not placed in a previous art contest.
- Artwork can be any size, however, the submitted file must be vertical and sent to be printed as a 16 x 20 vertical image.
- Files must be submitted in JPEG, JPG, or PDF (preferred) format at 300 dpi or higher.
- The winning artist retains ownership of the original artwork and can sell it at their discretion, but irrevocably assigns to Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau, by submitting and signing the entry form, exclusive copyright, trademark, licensing, marketing, distribution, reproduction, and registration rights to the artwork for any, and all purposes and uses.
- By submitting to this contest, all artists are agreeing to have their artwork posted online.
- The artwork must depict this year’s theme: Stop and Smell the Lilacs, lilacs, Mackinac Island, and be marketable. No headliner text please.
- All artists must complete the online submission form, an artist bio, artist statement for their piece, and a $20 entry fee.
- If your piece is a Top 20 finalist, you must be able to get your artwork to Mackinac Island by May 1, 2026 to be displayed during the Lilac Festival. Participants will work with the Mackinac Arts Council to coordinate their artwork. Finalists are responsible for all shipping fees.
ENTRY CHECKLIST
- Photo of original artwork with signature
- Submitted files must be vertical and will be printed as a 16 x 20 vertical image.
- Files must be submitted in JPEG, JPG, or PDF (preferred) format at 300 dpi or higher.
- If chosen as the winner, the submitted file will be used to print the poster. Keep this in mind when submitting your work.
- Completed online submission form
- Artist bio (100 words or less)
- Artist statement of artwork (100 words or less)
- $20 entry fee. Pay online with credit card or make checks payable to MITB at PO Box 451, Mackinac Island, MI 49757
CONTACT
Please direct all submissions & questions to:
Emily Delperdang
emilydelperdang@mackinacisland.org
906-847-3783
WHERE DO I PICK UP MY COMPLIMENTARY FERRY TICKET?
More information to come.
SUBMIT YOUR ARTWORK HERE
2025 Lilac Poster Contest Winners
2025 People's Choice Award winner
2025-2016 Lilac Festival Poster Winners
