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Inktober prompt archive

Every Official Inktober Prompt List, 2016–2026

11 published lists, day by day, transcribed from the official announcements. No invented years, no fan lists mixed in, and no list for a year that has not been published.

Catalog status

341 prompts · 11 years

Inktober is a thirty-one-day ink drawing challenge created by Jake Parker in 2009. Each year an official list of thirty-one single-word prompts is published, traditionally on 1 September. This page keeps every published list in one place so you can work an old year, mine several years for a theme, or simply check what day fourteen was.

The prompts are deliberately open. “Trunk” is a tree, an elephant, a car boot and a suitcase; picking the second or third reading is usually where the good drawing is. If a word stalls you, write down four meanings before you draw anything.

Draw a random promptSee the 31-day challenge list

The 2026 list

The 2026 official list is published and included below.

View the official Inktober lists

Any archived year below works as a full thirty-one-day challenge, and the older lists are far less crowded to post into.

The archive

All 11 published lists

Inktober 2026 prompt list

  1. 1Apple
  2. 2Relic
  3. 3Miniature
  4. 4Cactus
  5. 5Smack
  6. 6Ogre
  7. 7Panic
  8. 8Stinky
  9. 9Ram
  10. 10Mystical
  11. 11Rescue
  12. 12Toss
  13. 13Flimsy
  14. 14Lady
  15. 15Hooray
  16. 16Gangly
  17. 17Contraption
  18. 18Flightless
  19. 19Confused
  20. 20Lounge
  21. 21Hero
  22. 22Beacon
  23. 23Dapper
  24. 24Bake
  25. 25Fracture
  26. 26Zip
  27. 27Dumb
  28. 28Trophy
  29. 29Tusk
  30. 30Cookie
  31. 31Flex

Inktober 2025 prompt list

  1. 1Mustache
  2. 2Weave
  3. 3Crown
  4. 4Murky
  5. 5Deer
  6. 6Pierce
  7. 7Starfish
  8. 8Reckless
  9. 9Heavy
  10. 10Sweep
  11. 11Sting
  12. 12Shredded
  13. 13Drink
  14. 14Trunk
  15. 15Ragged
  16. 16Blunder
  17. 17Ornate
  18. 18Deal
  19. 19Arctic
  20. 20Rivals
  21. 21Blast
  22. 22Button
  23. 23Firefly
  24. 24Rowdy
  25. 25Inferno
  26. 26Puzzling
  27. 27Onion
  28. 28Skeletal
  29. 29Lesson
  30. 30Vacant
  31. 31Award

Inktober 2024 prompt list

Theme: Travel and exploration

  1. 1Backpack
  2. 2Discover
  3. 3Boots
  4. 4Exotic
  5. 5Binoculars
  6. 6Trek
  7. 7Passport
  8. 8Hike
  9. 9Sun
  10. 10Nomadic
  11. 11Snacks
  12. 12Remote
  13. 13Horizon
  14. 14Roam
  15. 15Guidebook
  16. 16Grungy
  17. 17Journal
  18. 18Drive
  19. 19Ridge
  20. 20Uncharted
  21. 21Rhinoceros
  22. 22Camp
  23. 23Rust
  24. 24Expedition
  25. 25Scarecrow
  26. 26Camera
  27. 27Road
  28. 28Jumbo
  29. 29Navigator
  30. 30Violin
  31. 31Landmark

Inktober 2023 prompt list

  1. 1Dream
  2. 2Spiders
  3. 3Path
  4. 4Dodge
  5. 5Map
  6. 6Golden
  7. 7Drip
  8. 8Toad
  9. 9Bounce
  10. 10Fortune
  11. 11Wander
  12. 12Spicy
  13. 13Rise
  14. 14Castle
  15. 15Dagger
  16. 16Angel
  17. 17Demon
  18. 18Saddle
  19. 19Plump
  20. 20Frost
  21. 21Chains
  22. 22Scratchy
  23. 23Celestial
  24. 24Shallow
  25. 25Dangerous
  26. 26Remove
  27. 27Beast
  28. 28Sparkle
  29. 29Massive
  30. 30Rush
  31. 31Fire

Inktober 2022 prompt list

  1. 1Gargoyle
  2. 2Scurry
  3. 3Bat
  4. 4Scallop
  5. 5Flame
  6. 6Bouquet
  7. 7Trip
  8. 8Match
  9. 9Nest
  10. 10Crabby
  11. 11Eagle
  12. 12Forget
  13. 13Kind
  14. 14Empty
  15. 15Armadillo
  16. 16Fowl
  17. 17Salty
  18. 18Scrape
  19. 19Ponytail
  20. 20Bluff
  21. 21Bad Dog
  22. 22Heist
  23. 23Booger
  24. 24Fairy
  25. 25Tempting
  26. 26Ego
  27. 27Snack
  28. 28Camping
  29. 29Uh-oh
  30. 30Gear
  31. 31Farm

Inktober 2021 prompt list

  1. 1Crystal
  2. 2Suit
  3. 3Vessel
  4. 4Knot
  5. 5Raven
  6. 6Spirit
  7. 7Fan
  8. 8Watch
  9. 9Pressure
  10. 10Pick
  11. 11Sour
  12. 12Stuck
  13. 13Roof
  14. 14Tick
  15. 15Helmet
  16. 16Compass
  17. 17Collide
  18. 18Moon
  19. 19Loop
  20. 20Sprout
  21. 21Fuzzy
  22. 22Open
  23. 23Leak
  24. 24Extinct
  25. 25Splat
  26. 26Connect
  27. 27Spark
  28. 28Crispy
  29. 29Patch
  30. 30Slither
  31. 31Risk

Inktober 2020 prompt list

  1. 1Fish
  2. 2Wisp
  3. 3Bulky
  4. 4Radio
  5. 5Blade
  6. 6Rodent
  7. 7Fancy
  8. 8Teeth
  9. 9Throw
  10. 10Hope
  11. 11Disgusting
  12. 12Slippery
  13. 13Dune
  14. 14Armor
  15. 15Outpost
  16. 16Rocket
  17. 17Storm
  18. 18Trap
  19. 19Dizzy
  20. 20Coral
  21. 21Sleep
  22. 22Chef
  23. 23Rip
  24. 24Dig
  25. 25Buddy
  26. 26Hide
  27. 27Music
  28. 28Float
  29. 29Shoes
  30. 30Ominous
  31. 31Crawl

Inktober 2019 prompt list

  1. 1Ring
  2. 2Mindless
  3. 3Bait
  4. 4Freeze
  5. 5Build
  6. 6Husky
  7. 7Enchanted
  8. 8Frail
  9. 9Swing
  10. 10Pattern
  11. 11Snow
  12. 12Dragon
  13. 13Ash
  14. 14Overgrown
  15. 15Legend
  16. 16Wild
  17. 17Ornament
  18. 18Misfit
  19. 19Sling
  20. 20Tread
  21. 21Treasure
  22. 22Ghost
  23. 23Ancient
  24. 24Dizzy
  25. 25Tasty
  26. 26Dark
  27. 27Coat
  28. 28Ride
  29. 29Injured
  30. 30Catch
  31. 31Ripe

Inktober 2018 prompt list

  1. 1Poisonous
  2. 2Tranquil
  3. 3Roasted
  4. 4Spell
  5. 5Chicken
  6. 6Drooling
  7. 7Exhausted
  8. 8Star
  9. 9Precious
  10. 10Flowing
  11. 11Cruel
  12. 12Whale
  13. 13Guarded
  14. 14Clock
  15. 15Weak
  16. 16Angular
  17. 17Swollen
  18. 18Bottle
  19. 19Scorched
  20. 20Breakable
  21. 21Drain
  22. 22Expensive
  23. 23Muddy
  24. 24Chop
  25. 25Prickly
  26. 26Stretch
  27. 27Thunder
  28. 28Gift
  29. 29Double
  30. 30Jolt
  31. 31Slice

Inktober 2017 prompt list

  1. 1Swift
  2. 2Divided
  3. 3Poison
  4. 4Underwater
  5. 5Long
  6. 6Sword
  7. 7Shy
  8. 8Crooked
  9. 9Screech
  10. 10Gigantic
  11. 11Run
  12. 12Shattered
  13. 13Teeming
  14. 14Fierce
  15. 15Mysterious
  16. 16Fat
  17. 17Graceful
  18. 18Filthy
  19. 19Cloud
  20. 20Deep
  21. 21Furious
  22. 22Trail
  23. 23Juicy
  24. 24Blind
  25. 25Ship
  26. 26Squeak
  27. 27Climb
  28. 28Fall
  29. 29United
  30. 30Found
  31. 31Mask

Inktober 2016 prompt list

  1. 1Fast
  2. 2Noisy
  3. 3Collect
  4. 4Hungry
  5. 5Sad
  6. 6Hidden
  7. 7Lost
  8. 8Rock
  9. 9Broken
  10. 10Jump
  11. 11Transport
  12. 12Worried
  13. 13Scared
  14. 14Tree
  15. 15Relax
  16. 16Wet
  17. 17Battle
  18. 18Escape
  19. 19Flight
  20. 20Squeeze
  21. 21Big
  22. 22Little
  23. 23Slow
  24. 24One Dozen
  25. 25Tired
  26. 26Box
  27. 27Creepy
  28. 28Burn
  29. 29Surprise
  30. 30Wreck
  31. 31Friend

Inktober and the annual prompt lists are the work of Jake Parker. The lists are reproduced here for reference and study; PromptToDraw is not affiliated with or endorsed by Inktober. Check the official Inktober lists linked above if you need to confirm a transcription.

Questions

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