A creative pause for a world that feels a little chaotic
Every year, the 10 Tangles 2026 Creative Challenge offers a small way to slow down and draw. Nothing that asks for hours. Just a short daily moment with a pen, a pencil, and a word that opens doors to new creative possibilities.
When this challenge began five years ago, there were no French speaking Zentangle challenges. Reading about the French Ministry of Culture’s initiative Dis moi dix mots (Tell me Ten Words) sparked the idea to bring these two worlds together. The Zentangle Method offered a way to draw one line at a time. The annual list of ten French words offered a creative direction to explore. And that’s how the challenge took shape.
This 2026 edition runs from March 11 to 20. And this year’s words bring the theme un monde à venir (a world to come), which invites us to look toward what might be ahead.
Like a reminder that imagination matters, especially when the world feels a bit unsettled.
If you are curious about trying a simple drawing practice or want to return to something familiar, this challenge is easy to join. There is no right way to do it. You can draw every day or only when you feel like it.
–> Lire cet article en français https://artsamuse.com/10-tangles-2026-defi-creatif/
Table of Contents
What to expect
For ten days, you receive:
- one French word (with an English translation)
- one tangle
- one small idea to explore
You can use all of it or only part of it. You can also watch the daily videos and draw along.
Please note that you don’t need to understand French to participate fully in the 10 Tangles Creative Challenge. All instructions and pattern guides are provided in English with French terms clearly explained.
The challenge stays open after the dates, so you can come back anytime.
This year’s participating CZTs
The French speaking CZTs will share videos daily. You can subscribe to each account to receive notifications.
- March 11, Day 1: Sabine Gautier CZT — https://youtube.com/@sabinegautier8826
- March 12, Day 2: Juliette Fiessinger CZT — https://www.instagram.com/artsamuse
- March 13, Day 3: Marie Mangin CZT — https://www.instagram.com/mmmsreveries
- March 14, Day 4: Isabelle Courbin CZT — https://www.instagram.com/odiccreation
- March 15, Day 5: Magali Feige CZT — https://www.instagram.com/creazaline
- March 16, Day 6: Christelle Mendelssohn CZT — https://www.instagram.com/bezenandcreative
- March 17, Day 7: Pauline Hanfi CZT — https://www.instagram.com/fanfi.fr
- March 18, Day 8: Murielle Delepine CZT — https://www.instagram.com/murielle_cocooning
- March 19, Day 9: Lidia Fontaine CZT — https://www.instagram.com/lestraitszen
- March 20, Day 10: Carole Coudurier CZT — https://youtube.com/@zencalitimo
To share your artwork and discover the diversity of participants’ creations, you can also use the hashtags:
#10tangles, #10tangles2026 or#10tanglescreativechallenge
Recommended Supplies:
- Paper or square paper tile (3.5 inches)
- Black fine-tip pen
- Pencil for shading
- Tortillon or blender if you have one
Color is optional.
What Is the Zentangle Method?
If you are new to this practice, the Zentangle Method is a simple way to draw patterns one line at a time. You don’t need to know how to draw. You don’t need to plan anything. You follow the steps and see what appears.
The method uses a small square paper tile or some kind of paper, a black pen, a pencil and a tortillon (or blender) for shading. That’s it. The focus is on the process, not the result. Many people use it to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with their creativity.
The patterns in the Zentangle Method are called “Tangles.” Each tangle follows a specific sequence of steps, making them easy to replicate. You don’t need artistic training, you can create beautiful Zentangle artwork!
If you want to learn more before starting, you can explore the Zentangle resources on the ArtsAmuse blog or join one of the beginner friendly workshops.
The ten words for 2026
These words move between the tiny and the vast. They can spark shapes, textures, stories, or simply a direction for your creative practice.
- alunir — to land on the moon
- anticipation — anticipation
- continuum — continuum
- dystopique — dystopian
- humanoïde — humanoid
- particule — particle
- programmer — to program
- sidéral — stellar / relating to the stars
- théorie — theory
- transmuter — to transmute
Daily Challenge Process:
- Review the day’s word, Tangle, and suggestion and/or follow the daily live video
- Draw your dots, border, and string with pencil
- Add the Tangle (or more tangles) with your pen
- Shade as desired
- Share your creation with the community – using #10tangles, #10tangles2026, #10tanglescreativechallenge
No artistic experience is needed. The Zentangle Method is designed for everyone, regardless of your drawing background.
The 2026 edition of the 10 Tangles creative challenge marks the 5th year of this popular challenge.
Also, remember, there are no mistakes in the Zentangle Method, only opportunities to create something unexpected and beautiful.
Day 1-10
The 10 Tangles creative challenge offers a journey through different daily creative combinations.
Each day presents a unique pattern, word and prompt that helps you build skills while enjoying a relaxing artistic practice.
During the challenge, this article will be updated regularly with the prompts and links to videos to showcase ways to create with the creative challenge.
Day 1 — alunir (to land on the moon)
Tangle: Dented Moon – Lisette Hofer ( https://tanglepatterns.com/2019/10/how-to-draw-dented-moon.html ).
Suggestion: Tangle more or less quickly. Make several tiles on Jewel and draw the tangle, for 30 sec, 1 min, 2 min, 3 min … and observe what happens.
Video 1 : https://youtu.be/Q21WKwosIUE?si=E1P0oYtlfpFIF5U_
Video 2: https://youtu.be/cLaP6qsCsL4?si=mNvvQ6opVCzqS5uq
Day 2 — anticipation (anticipation)
Tangle: CalligraV – Mary D’Angelo CZT (https://tanglepatterns.com/2018/07/how-to-draw-caligrav.html)
Suggestion: Play with the word, tangle and/or tangle as a string – will you add a tangle(s)?
Video: https://youtu.be/-DDZk61Z0b0
Day 3 — continuum (continuum)
Tangle: Whirlee – Lynn Mead CZT (https://tanglepatterns.com/2014/11/how-to-draw-whirlee.html )
Suggestion: Write the word in pencil on the tile before covering the tile with tangles. And let the following text inspire you and see where it takes you
“For a truck driver, day and night form a continuum, a homogeneous whole essentially delimited by the 3,500 kilometres he drives each week in order to earn a decent wage.” (Serge Bouchard and Mark Fortier, Diesel in the Veins: The Saga of Northern Truckers, Lux Éditeur, 2021)
Video: Vidéo: https://youtu.be/7vIcyW5YIkY
Day 4 — dystopique (dystopian)
Tangle: Deluge – Kacey Jarvinen (https://tanglepatterns.com/2026/02/how-to-draw-deluge.html)
Suggestion: Slow down, take your time, breathe, bubble. Find three ways to draw the tangle by slowing down as much as possible and letting your breathing adjust to that rhythm.
Video: https://youtu.be/4-d74ENEjdI
Day 5 — humanoïde (humanoid)
Tangle : Strutz – Sarah Fowler CZT (https://tanglepatterns.com/2017/03/how-to-draw-strutz.html)
Suggestion: Change the scale – if you draw small – try to draw large and vice versa or vary the size of the tangle.
Video: https://youtu.be/WEJWqqrxASo
Day 6 — particule (particle)
Tangle : Woody – Ludmilla Blum ( https://bunte-galerie.de/meine-zentangle-muster/)
Suggestion: Change the shapes: Change the shape(s) of your tangle to make them more pointed, rounded, or elongated.
Day 7 — programmer (to program)
Tangle : Tubez – Ludmilla Blum (https://bunte-galerie.de/meine-zentangle-muster/ )
Suggestion: Change the texture: Add something inside (lines, dots…?) to create an extra texture.
Video: Day 7 on the Fanfi.fr Instagram account (instagram.com/fanfi.fr)
Day 8 — sidéral (stellar, relating to the stars)
Tangle: Niuroda – Tina Hunziker CZT (https://akua-art.ch/mustersammlung/niuroda/ )
Suggestion: Give yourself time and invite a little lightness on your tile. Leave some blank or play with the TransluZence and TranZendance techniques. (See TransluZENce – A Tangler’s Mind and Kitchen Table Tangles: TranZending – Zentangle).
Video: https://youtu.be/NsrjBSoTD4M
Day 9 — théorie (theory)
Tangle: Plandi – Karin Frank (https://www.musterquelle.de/2593-plandi.html-176-new tangles-and-some-colour-fun.html)
Suggestion: Use the illuminated letters technique today and the tangle of the day on your tile. (See Kitchen Table Tangles: Embedded Letters – Zentangle).
Video: https://www.youtube.com/live/WkoZPBWwo30
Day 10 — transmuter (to transmute)
Tangle: X – Lila Popcheff / Poppy_60 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lillypop12/8299703597/in/photostream/-mein-neues-muster-loev.html)
Suggestion: Change the density: Draw more or less densely, spacing evenly or grouping more closely.
Video: https://youtu.be/evO52tMiJw8
After the challenge
You can return to these prompts whenever you want. Some people draw during the ten days. Others come back later when they need a small creative break or a way to restart a habit. The challenge stays open so you can explore at your own pace.
There is no need to finish anything. The idea is to give yourself a moment to draw and see what appears on your paper.
Join the 10 Tangles 2026 creative challenge
You can receive the 10 Tangles 2026 PDF the day before the creative challenge begins (or at any time thereafter) so that you have everything you need at your fingertips.
This PDF includes the words, tangles, and links to information, so everything is in one place.
What’s next?
You can explore past editions or other resources on ArtsAmuse if you want more ideas or want to keep drawing after the challenge. You can also try another challenge.
Remember, this isn’t about perfection, it’s about discovering your creative voice one pen stroke at a time.
If you enjoy this creative challenge, please share this article with your friends, it’s so fun to do the challenge together !
And, don’t forget to pin this article so you can easily come back to it.
PS. You can sign up here to receive the 10 Tangles 2026 Creative Challenge PDF: https://artsamuse.kit.com/10-tangles-2026
PPS: interested in the 2025 edition? Check this article : 10 tangles Creative Challenge 2025
