Growing Up in America contest 2026 is hosted by AACI and NBC Bay Area.

AACI and NBC Bay Area are hosting the 2026 Growing Up in America contest, and this year’s theme is “Growing Healthy Connections.”

AACI (Asian Americans for Community Involvement) and NBC Bay Area are hosting the 2026 Growing Up in America contest for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The contest, formerly called Growing Up Asian in America, has run for more than 30 years and offers outlets for art, essays, and videos. Each year hundreds of Bay Area students respond to a theme that invites reflection on identity, culture, and hopes for the future. The 2026 theme, "Growing Healthy Connections," focuses on supportive relationships with oneself and others. Key details: - The contest is hosted by AACI and NBC Bay Area and accepts art, essays, and videos from K–12 students. - Eligible participants must live and/or attend school in Santa Clara, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma, Solano, Napa, Alameda, or San Mateo counties. - The 2026 theme is "Growing Healthy Connections," which highlights honest communication, respect for boundaries, and appreciation for differences. - Growing Up in America (GUA) has been running for over 30 years as a platform for youth to explore cultural identity. - The organization lists aaci.org/gua as the online entry form location and gua@aaci.org as the contact for questions. Summary: The contest continues a long-running effort to encourage students to express their experiences through creative work, and the 2026 theme centers on how supportive relationships help learning and belonging. Undetermined at this time.