Arizona Selects New Grand Canyon License Plate Design

A Peoria graphic designer won the state contest to create a new plate benefiting Grand Canyon National Park.

Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in National Parks

Screen-print poster illustration of a stylized canyon landscape plate, featuring layered geometric rock strata in desert-inspired hues. — Arizona state officials announced a new Grand Canyon license plate design created by Peoria-based graphic designer Peter Malamas to benefit national park conservation. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you pay an extra annual fee for a license plate to support state park conservation?

The Grand Canyon Conservancy has named Peoria-based graphic designer Peter Malamas as the winner of its specialty license plate design competition. The new plate will serve as a funding mechanism for the park following legislative authorization in 2026.

Why it matters

Revenue generated by the license plate will directly support critical conservation, education, and cultural preservation initiatives within Grand Canyon National Park. The program provides a sustainable funding stream for projects that enhance the overall visitor experience.

Drivers will pay an annual fee of $25 for the specialty plate. From that total, the Grand Canyon Conservancy receives $17 per plate to fund park operations.

The players

Peter Malamas

A graphic designer based in Peoria who won the design competition.

Grand Canyon Conservancy

The official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park tasked with managing the contest.

Arizona Department of Transportation

The state agency responsible for the final review and approval of the plate design.

The details

The winning design emerged from a process involving both public online voting and internal judging. The design now heads to the Arizona Department of Transportation for final review and potential modifications before official production.

The Arizona Legislature authorized the specialty plate in June 2026.
The Grand Canyon Conservancy announced the winner on October 22, 2026.
The new license plate is expected to be available to drivers in late 2027.

Travel Outlook

This initiative follows the established regulatory framework of the Arizona specialty license plate program. It reflects a growing trend of using state-level vehicle registration fees to supplement federal funding for national park preservation.

Arizona drivers interested in supporting the park can expect the plates to become available for purchase in late 2027. Each driver opting for the specialty plate will contribute an additional $25 annually to their registration costs.

The takeaway

This specialty plate offers a simple way for residents to contribute directly to the ongoing maintenance and preservation of one of the nation's most iconic landscapes. Consider how your registration choices can help fund local conservation efforts in future years.