UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2026 (up to $25,000) – YOA

Deadline: February 15, 2026

Nominations are open for the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2026. Created in 1997, the annual UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize honours an individual, group or establishment that has made an impressive contribution to the defence and or promotion of press freedom wherever on the planet, and particularly when this has been achieved within the face of hazard.

The Prize was established on the initiative of UNESCO’s Executive Board and is formally conferred by UNESCO, on the event of World Press Freedom Day, on 3 May. It is called in honour of Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist who was assassinated in entrance of the workplaces of his newspaper El Espectador in Bogotá, Colombia on 17 December 1986.

Prize

• The prize winner receives $25,000.

Eligibility

• Candidates shall have made a big contribution to press freedom wherever on the planet representing all kinds of media together with digital media.
• Prizes could also be conferred upon people, establishments, different entities or non-governmental organizations.

Nomination

Nominations shall be submitted to the Director-General by the governments of Member States, in session with their National Commissions, and by worldwide and regional skilled and non-governmental organizations energetic within the discipline of journalism and freedom of expression. A self-nomination can’t be thought-about.

Each nomination shall be accompanied by a written suggestion, which shall embody, in English or French, inter alia:

• an outline of the candidate’s background and achievements;
• the candidate’s contributions of main significance to the promotion of freedom of the press, submitted to the Jury for consideration;
• a definition of the candidate’s contribution to the Prize’s targets.
• a excessive-decision photograph portrait of the candidate.

For extra info, go to UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.