Participants must be female-identifying or gender non-binary students in 3rd-12th grade.

Write a computer program to generate a self-portrait using, but not limited to, Processing.js or p5.js, and provide a working link to view both the artwork and the code (e.g. Khan Academy, CodeHS, p5.js, Code.org).

2026-2027 Theme: 🎨 “Life is Art” – CodeYourSelf as a Work of Art

For this year’s CodeYourSelf™ competition, Code/Artists are invited to explore identity, imagination, and creativity by coding themselves into the artistic worlds that inspire them most.

From famous paintings and bold street art to anime, pop art, surrealism, sculpture, fashion, music, poetry, photography, or completely original styles, students can transform themselves into living works of art through code.

•  Entry must include a self-portrait to qualify (i.e. a depiction of the artist/coder that includes the face, head, and shoulders).
• All design elements MUST be coded. No gifs, jpgs, pngs, images from an image library (e.g. Sprites from Scratch’s sprite library – including Sprites created with the Paint Editor), or other graphic files can be part of your portrait. The inclusion of any of these non-coded elements in your entry will lead to disqualification.
• Portrait must pull inspiration from this year’s theme (students can explain connection to theme in write up).
• Each entry must include a clear photograph of the participant.
• Only one CodeYourSelf™ submission is allowed per entrant.
• Each entry must provide parent/guardian or teacher consent and contact information (if under 18 years old).

CodeYourSelf™ consists of two separate competitions: a U.S. national competition for all girls in grades 3-12 (including South Florida students) and a South Florida regional competition that ONLY includes entries from residents of Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe Counties.

U.S. Competition 

• All submissions will be viewed by a panel of judges who will identify the top 10 finalists per Grade Division (Elementary, Middle, and High) using a judging rubric.
• The remaining 7 finalists, per grade division, will be recognized during an Awards Ceremony and have their project printed in the annual CodeYourSelf™ book.

South Florida Regional Competition:

• A judging panel will determine the 1st-3rd place regional winners per grade division that will be awarded at a regional Awards Ceremony. 

• Teachers! Access our easy-to-teach lesson plans by registering to our Hub.
• Use our Excel template for easy submission of multiple student projects
• The top elementary, middle school and high school teacher – those with the most student submissions – will each be recognized during the Awards Ceremony.

• Submission Deadline – Feb. 16, 2027 @ 11:59pm
• Judging Period – Feb. 17 – Mar. 6, 2027
• Awards Ceremony – Spring 2027