What Is the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival?
The NVCAF is an invitation-only event reserved for veterans who have earned gold-medal status in national-level creative arts competitions in VA facilities nationwide. Throughout the year, veterans enrolled in VA facilities compete at a local level in many categories, from visual arts, creative writing, to music, dance, and drama. Winners advance to national-level judging, and gold-medal winners are invited to attend the Festival as participants.
Medalists present their artwork in gallery-style exhibitions, perform on stage, and participate in workshops designed to expand their creative skills. It is explicitly a showcase rather than a competitive event at that stage.
Because the national competition for 2025 is now closed, selected first-place entries will be invited to the 2026 festival. Results for 2025 are expected in January 2026.
How Veterans Can Participate 2026
While festival attendance is by invitation only, the path begins at the local VA creative arts competition:
- Check with your VA medical center (or outpatient clinic / Vets Center) for deadlines and local competition rules.
- Submit your art, writing, performance, or other work to your local competition during the designated submission window (often between May and August in many VA facilities).
If you’re unsure who your local contact is, you can reach out to arts4vets@va.gov