UNESCO Hackathon Competition 2026 for Developing Solutions in Media Literacy
By: UNESCOLast update:
Applicant criteria
NationalityNo specific nationality required
Age
- 18 - 30
Gender
- Both
Opportunity criteria
Opportunity FieldMedia and Journalism, Others
LocationRemotely
Deadline2026-08-16
Opportunity description
UNESCO opens participation in the UNESCO Youth Hackathon 2026 under the theme “Play Your Part: Youth Designing the Future of Media and Information Literacy.” It is a global hackathon that aims to empower young people to design innovative solutions in the field of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) to address the challenges of today’s digital environment. The opportunity targets young people from around the world to develop creative ideas such as apps, websites, campaigns, educational tools, podcasts, artworks, or community initiatives.
Details
- Application period: from July 6 to August 16, 2026.
- Application deadline: August 16, 2026.
- Announcement of winners: from September 13 to 18, 2026.
- Winners’ event in Greece: from November 26 to 28, 2026.
Responsibilities
- Form a team of 2 to 6 members.
- Choose a suitable track, such as artificial intelligence and media literacy, media education, community impact, youth engagement, or an open track.
- Develop a project idea related to the hackathon theme.
- Prepare a proposal document in PDF or Word format, not exceeding 10MB.
- Prepare a short pitch video not exceeding 3 minutes.
- Explain the problem, solution, target group, impact, innovation, sustainability, and feasibility.
Benefits
- An opportunity to participate in a global hackathon organized by UNESCO.
- Winning teams will be invited to participate in the Voices European Festival of Journalism and Media Freedom in Thessaloniki, Greece.
- UNESCO will cover travel, accommodation, and meal costs for two members from each winning team.
- An opportunity to present projects before international experts and institutions.
- Access to a two-day mentoring program with experts in media and information literacy, artificial intelligence, innovation, and project development.
- An opportunity to develop solutions with social impact in the fields of media, information, and digital awareness.
Eligibility criteria
- Participation is open to young people from all around the world.
- All team members must be between 18 and 30 years old.
- The team must consist of 2 to 6 members.
- The team may be national, regional, or international.
- UNESCO does not require any prior experience.
- Teams must align with UNESCO’s values, such as peace, respect for diversity, and freedom of expression.
- UNESCO encourages gender balance and inclusivity within teams.
See also: Various and Outstanding International Awards and Competitions
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