Call for Participation

The UNESCO Youth Hackathon

Paris (F), July 2026 - UNESCO is calling on young people worldwide to take part in its Youth Hackathon 2026, themed "Play Your Part: Youth Designing the Future of Media and Information Literacy (MIL)". This is a wonderful initiative to share with your students, networks, and communities.

Who can participate?

The hackathon is open to teams of 2–6 members, all aged 18–30, from anywhere in the world. No prior experience is required, only passion and motivation. Gender balance and inclusion are strongly encouraged.

What are participants asked to do?

Teams choose a challenge track — options include AI and MIL, MIL Education, Community Impact, Youth Engagement, or an open track for other creative MIL-related ideas. Each team submits a proposal document and a short pitch video of up to three minutes, outlining their idea, its impact, and what makes it unique.

What’s at stake?

Winning teams will be invited by UNESCO to the Voices European Festival of Journalism and Media Freedom in Thessaloniki, Greece, from 26–28 November 2026, where they will showcase their projects and engage with stakeholders from across the field.

Key dates:

Submission window: 6 July – 16 August
Winners announced: 13–18 September
Winners ceremony: 26–28 November, Thessaloniki

The UNESCO Youth Hackathon

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