The UNESCO Youth Hackathon 2026 is now open for applications, inviting young innovators from around the world to develop creative solutions that promote Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in the digital age. This global competition offers participants a chance to collaborate in teams, build impactful projects, and compete for an invitation to an international event in Greece.
Organized under the theme “Play Your Part: Youth Designing the Future of Media and Information Literacy”, the hackathon encourages youth to address modern challenges such as misinformation, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation.
Scholarship Summary
- Organizer: UNESCO
- Program Name: UNESCO Youth Hackathon 2026
- Age Requirement: 18–30 years
- Team Size: 2–6 members
- Eligible Participants: Global Youth (Students, professionals, creators, innovators)
- Project Type: Innovation / Digital Solutions / Media Literacy
- Application Period: 6 July – 16 August 2026
- Mentoring Program: 1–2 July 2026
- Award: Invitation to Greece (Thessaloniki event)
About the UNESCO Youth Hackathon
The UNESCO Youth Hackathon is a global innovation challenge designed to empower young people to create meaningful solutions for today’s digital information problems. Participants are encouraged to design tools, campaigns, platforms, and creative content that strengthen critical thinking, digital citizenship, and responsible media use.
In recent years, participation has grown rapidly, with thousands of teams from over 100 countries taking part, making it one of the most diverse youth innovation competitions worldwide.
Objectives of the Program
The hackathon focuses on building youth-led solutions that:
- Promote Media and Information Literacy (MIL)
- Improve digital awareness and critical thinking
- Address misinformation and fake news
- Encourage responsible use of artificial intelligence
- Strengthen youth participation in digital transformation
- Support inclusive and diverse digital communities
Challenge Areas
Participants can choose from the following tracks:
AI and Media Literacy
Develop solutions that help people understand and responsibly use artificial intelligence tools.
Education and Media Literacy
Create innovative learning methods and tools for MIL education.
Community Impact
Design projects that improve media awareness at the community level.
Youth Engagement
Strengthen youth involvement in digital literacy initiatives.
Open Track
Submit any innovative idea aligned with media and information literacy.
Eligible Participants
The competition is open worldwide. Applicants must:
- Be between 18 and 30 years old
- Apply in teams of 2 to 6 members
- Form national or international teams
- Support values of inclusion, diversity, and freedom of expression
- Have no prior hackathon experience requirement
Students, developers, educators, activists, researchers, and entrepreneurs are all encouraged to apply.
Project Types
Participants can submit a wide range of creative formats, including:
- Mobile applications
- Websites and digital platforms
- Educational games
- Podcasts and radio content
- Short films and documentaries
- Comics and visual storytelling
- Toolkits and learning resources
- Social campaigns
- Community-based interventions
The focus is not only on technology but also on creativity, feasibility, and real-world impact.
Mentoring Support
All registered participants will receive access to a special mentoring program held on 1–2 July 2026. Experts will guide teams in:
- Media and Information Literacy
- Artificial Intelligence
- Innovation and entrepreneurship
- Digital transformation
- Project development
- Social impact design
Participants who cannot attend live sessions will still receive recordings and learning materials.
Awards and Benefits
Winning teams will receive:
- Invitation to Thessaloniki, Greece
- Participation in the Voices European Festival of Journalism and Media Freedom
- Global exposure for their projects
- Networking opportunities with international experts
- Recognition from UNESCO and partners
- Opportunity to present ideas on an international platform
Project Submission Requirements
Each team must submit:
1. Proposal Document
Including:
- Team details
- Problem statement
- Project goals
- Target audience
- Solution design
- Sustainability plan
- Innovation and impact description
2. Pitch Video (Up to 3 minutes)
- The video should explain:
- The problem being addressed
- Why it matters
- Proposed solution
- Expected impact
- Innovation behind the idea
Important Timeline
- Call Opens: 15 June 2026
- Mentoring Program: 1–2 July 2026
- Submission Period: 6 July – 16 August 2026
- Evaluation Phase: 18 August – 13 September 2026
- Winners Announcement: 13–18 September 2026
- Final Event in Greece: 26–28 November 2026
Why You Should Participate
The UNESCO Youth Hackathon stands out because it focuses on real-world social impact rather than only technical coding skills. It gives young people a platform to:
- Turn ideas into global solutions
- Gain international recognition
- Connect with global experts and innovators
- Develop leadership and teamwork skills
- Build strong portfolios for future scholarships and careers
For students, researchers, and young professionals, this is a valuable opportunity to showcase creativity and contribute to solving global digital challenges.
Application Deadline
The submission period runs from 6 July to 16 August 2026. Early registration is recommended to secure access to mentoring sessions and improve project quality.
Official Call: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-youth-hackathon-2026
