UNESCO International Literacy Prizes 2026 ($30,000 prize) – YOA

Deadline: May 18, 2026

Applications are open for the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes 2026. The Prizes intention to advertise literacy as a basis for lifelong studying, fairness and sustainable growth, particularly in mild of ongoing international challenges. Despite progress, over 739 million youth and adults nonetheless lack fundamental literacy expertise, and tens of millions of kids stay out of college or wrestle with studying and numeracy.

The prizes embrace six annual awards:

• UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize (3 awards): Supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea since 1989, the Prize highlights mom-tongue and multilingual literacy efforts.
• UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy (3 awards): Supported by the Government of the People’s Republic of China since 2005, the Prize acknowledges programmes supporting practical literacy in rural areas and amongst out-of-faculty youth, notably by expertise.

Prizes

• Each laureate receives a medal, a diploma and US$30,000.

Eligibility

• Open to individuals, non-governmental organizations and government bodies engaged in literacy promotion.
• Programmes must demonstrate measurable impact and align with the 2026 theme “Literacy for people, the planet, and prosperity”.

Application

• 18 May 2026 (midnight, GMT +2): Deadline for candidates to submit applications to nominating entities.
• 1 June 2026 (midnight, GMT +2): Deadline for nominating entities to submit nominations to UNESCO.

Awardees will be announced during the celebration of International Literacy Day on 8 September 2026.

Click here to apply

For extra data, go to UNESCO International Literacy Prizes.