Children in Ealing can design the council’s official Christmas card

Ealing Council has opened its annual Christmas card design competition. This year’s theme is “Places We Love in Ealing at Christmas”. Entries are open to school-age children and young people who either live in the borough of Ealing or attend a school in the borough.

The deadline is 5pm on Wednesday 4 November 2026. Artwork should be created on plain white A4 paper in landscape format. Entrants might choose to depict a local park, a high street with festive lights or a familiar landmark in their part of the borough. The essential point is that the design should connect with this year’s theme and a place in Ealing.

The council has set three age categories: six and under, seven to 11, and 12 to 18. Each entry must include the child’s full name, age and school. It must also provide contact details for a responsible adult, such as a parent, carer or teacher.

There is no need to post the original sheet of paper. A photograph or scanned image of the finished design should be emailed to vaghelah@ealing.gov.uk. Before sending it, families should check that the image is clear, shows the whole page and is in landscape orientation. They should also make sure the message contains every requested detail, as the official notice does not describe a separate process for chasing missing information.

Winning designs will be used as official festive cards by the leader of Ealing Council, cabinet members and senior officers, including the chief executive. Selected entries may also appear on the council’s social media channels and in the winter edition of Around Ealing magazine. The winners are due to be announced in the digital version of that edition.

The judging panel will include council leader Peter Mason; deputy leader and cabinet member for safe and genuinely affordable homes Louise Brett; and cabinet member for a fairer start Blerina Hashani. The council says the competition is intended to show familiar local places through the work of young artists.

Parents, carers and teachers can help entrants check the technical requirements, while leaving the creative work to the child. With the 4 November deadline approaching, it is sensible to prepare the scan or photograph before the final afternoon. The practical checklist is short: use the correct paper and orientation, select the right age group, include the entrant’s details and school, add an adult contact, and send the email before 5pm.

The competition is open across all seven towns in the borough, so a favourite place in Acton, Ealing, Greenford, Hanwell, Northolt, Perivale or Southall can provide the subject. The official brief does not require a particular type of landmark; it asks children to interpret a place they love at Christmas.