This year, we’re inviting students in school years 5 to 13* from across the region to design the official poster for the 2026 Battle of the Schools event at the Velodrome. The competition is open to all students, not just those taking part in the event, and is a chance for young creatives to showcase their design skills while creating artwork for one of New Zealand’s biggest school cycling events.

We’re looking for designs that feel bold and eye catching, somewhere between a concert poster and an event poster, capturing the energy, excitement, and competitive spirit of Battle of the Schools. The winning design will become the official 2026 event poster, creating a one-of-a-kind keepsake for the event.

Entries will be judged on creativity, originality, impact, and overall style. The Plus Mortgage Trust logo will be added to the final artwork.

Prizes will be awarded for the top three shortlisted posters. The overall winner will receive a prize pack from our sponsors and a free individual entry to Battle of the Schools 2026 (valued at $120). If the winner is not competing in the event, this can be exchanged for a Have a Go experience on the velodrome track or gifted to a friend.

Entries close Monday 4 May at 5pm, with finalists notified on Monday 11 May.

How to enter:

• Design a poster for the 2026 Battle of the Schools event (portrait layout, A3 size)

• Make sure your design captures the energy of the event and follows the brief above.

• The poster can be hand drawn hardcopy or in digital format.

• Include the event details shown on the competition poster. It must have the words Battle of the Schools 2026 on the poster somewhere.

• Add the designer’s name, year level, school (or group), and contact details on a separate cover page.

• Submit your poster design to events@velodrome.nz before the closing date. If need be, you can send a low-resolution version first. You can also hand in or post your hard copy to reception. 

• If shortlisted, you may be asked to provide a high resolution or editable version of your design for printing.

• By submitting your design, you agree to us using it for the event and sharing the artwork across our web and social channels. 

For full details and how to enter, visit the Battle of the Schools event page at velodrome.nz. If you have any questions about the process, please email events@velodrome.nz

If you'd like to print a copy of the below for your school or student group, you can download it via the button below. 

*Younger children - we'd love to see you colour in the flier!