In a outstanding achievement for young artists, Rio Gomez, a senior at Fullerton Union High School, has been honored with the prestigious YoungArts Award in Dance for 2026. The announcement was made on November 24 by YoungArts, which recognized 734 of the nation’s most gifted young visual, literary, and performing artists from 39 states and the District of Columbia.

Since its inception in 1981, the YoungArts Award has been the only national accolade dedicated to exceptional young talent across various disciplines. This annual recognition not only highlights artistic excellence but also supports recipients in pursuing professional careers in the arts. Award winners join a lifelong community of peers and mentors, receiving access to resources that help sustain their creative practices.

Gomez was chosen from a record pool of nearly 13,000 applications reviewed by esteemed panels of artists during a rigorous adjudication process. The selection criteria emphasized exceptional technique, artistry, and a commitment to developing their craft. She, along with other winners, will receive a monetary award of $250 in recognition of this achievement.

Among this year’s cohort, a select group of 171 artists have been designated as YoungArts Award Winners with Distinction, gaining the opportunity to participate in National YoungArts Week from January 4-11, 2026, in Miami. This weeklong program will allow participants to showcase their work, engage in interdisciplinary classes and workshops, and receive mentorship from prominent artists, with the possibility of additional awards of up to $10,000.

This year’s notable guest artists include acclaimed dancer Camille A. Brown, poet Mahogany L. Brown, photographer Anastasia Samoylova, and visual artist Kennedy Yanko. Winners with Distinction also have the opportunity to be nominated as U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts, a highly esteemed honor for high school seniors.

YoungArts, established in 1981 by Lin and Ted Arison, is dedicated to identifying and nurturing exceptional young artists, providing them with support in the form of funding, mentorship, and professional development. Entrance into this esteemed organization begins with a highly competitive application process for talented artists aged 15-18 or in grades 10-12, judged by discipline-specific panels of artists.

Rio Gomez’s recognition not only highlights her talent but also places her among a distinguished community of past YoungArts awardees, which includes notable figures such as Timothée Chalamet, Viola Davis, and Amanda Gorman, all of whom have made significant contributions to the arts. A complete list of the 2026 winners is available online at youngarts.org/winners.