UNESCO Youth Hackathon 2026 in Greece: Apply for a Global Youth Innovation Opportunity

The UNESCO Youth Hackathon 2026 in Greece invites young people aged 18–30 from around the world to develop innovative solutions for Media and Information Literacy (MIL). Successful teams will have the opportunity to travel to Thessaloniki, Greece, for the Voices European Festival of Journalism and Media Freedom in November 2026.

The UNESCO Youth Hackathon 2026 offers young innovators an opportunity to contribute ideas and practical solutions to some of the challenges facing today’s information environment. Organized under the theme “Play Your Part: Youth Designing the Future of Media and Information Literacy (MIL)”, the initiative is designed to place young people at the centre of innovation in media and information literacy.

According to UNESCO, the 2025 edition attracted more than 1,200 teams from 138 countries, demonstrating substantial global interest in youth-led innovation in this area. The 2026 edition builds on that momentum by inviting young people to collaborate, develop ideas and create solutions that can strengthen media and information literacy worldwide.

Background & Programme Description

The UNESCO Youth Hackathon 2026 focuses on empowering young people to help shape the future of Media and Information Literacy. The initiative recognizes youth as important contributors to innovation, leadership and positive change in an increasingly complex information environment.

Participants are encouraged to work with peers and co-design innovative MIL solutions. The programme is international, meaning participants can collaborate with people from different countries and backgrounds.

One of the major highlights is the opportunity available to winning teams. UNESCO states that winning teams will be invited to participate in the Voices European Festival of Journalism and Media Freedom, taking place in Thessaloniki, Greece, from 26 to 28 November 2026.

The event can provide an opportunity for winners to showcase their projects, interact with stakeholders and gain exposure to a broader community working in journalism, media freedom, digital transformation and related fields.

A mentoring programme is also part of the initiative. Registered participants have access to a two-day programme featuring experts in Media and Information Literacy, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, project development and innovation. According to UNESCO, the mentoring sessions are intended to help participants strengthen their ideas and prepare competitive project proposals.

Tasks & Activities

Participants in the UNESCO Youth Hackathon are expected to develop and submit an innovative proposal addressing Media and Information Literacy challenges.

The programme is structured around several stages, beginning with preparation and mentoring before moving to project submission and evaluation.

Participants may work individually or collaborate with other young people. The programme also allows participants to form teams, including teams whose members are based in different countries.

The project-development process can involve identifying a relevant MIL challenge, developing an innovative response, refining the idea through mentoring and preparing the final proposal for assessment.

The mentoring programme is designed to provide practical guidance from specialists working across areas such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, innovation and project development. This makes the initiative relevant not only to traditional technology participants but also to young people interested in communication, education, journalism, digital citizenship and social innovation.

UNESCO’s published timeline indicates that the programme includes a global evaluation stage before the announcement of winners. Winning teams are subsequently expected to participate in the November event in Greece.

Qualifications & Eligibility

Education and Certification

The UNESCO Youth Hackathon 2026 is open to young people aged 18 to 30 from around the world. The information supplied by UNESCO does not state a requirement for a specific university degree, professional qualification or academic field.

Importantly, UNESCO indicates that a technical background is not necessarily required, making the initiative potentially accessible to participants with different educational and professional interests.

Participants should, however, be prepared to develop an innovative project related to Media and Information Literacy and communicate their concept clearly as part of the submission process.

Experience

The programme is targeted at youth and does not require a specific number of years of professional experience in the information, technology or media sectors based on the information provided.

Applicants can participate individually or collaborate with peers. Teams may include members from different countries, which creates opportunities for international cooperation and exchange of ideas.

Because the programme emphasizes innovation, creativity, collaboration and practical solutions, applicants should focus on developing a clear and relevant project idea rather than relying solely on academic credentials.

Additional Information

The UNESCO Youth Hackathon 2026 has the theme “Play Your Part: Youth Designing the Future of Media and Information Literacy.”

The published timeline includes the following key dates:

Call for Participation: From 15 June 2026
Online Mentoring Programme: 1–2 July 2026
Submission Period: 6 July–16 August 2026
Global Evaluation: 18 August–13 September 2026
Winner Announcement: 13–18 September 2026
Winners Ceremony: 26–28 November 2026 in Thessaloniki, Greece

The submission period therefore closes on 16 August 2026, based on the information published by UNESCO. Applicants should carefully review the official submission instructions and ensure their projects are submitted within the stated period.

The mentoring programme is also important for applicants preparing their ideas. UNESCO notes that live-session capacity is limited and places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, although participants who cannot attend live sessions can still access recordings and learning materials.

The hackathon represents an opportunity for young people to build practical experience around media literacy, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, innovation and youth leadership while connecting with peers internationally.

Applicants should rely on UNESCO’s official programme information for the latest requirements, submission instructions and updates, as programme details can change.

This article is an independent presentation of information published by UNESCO and is not affiliated with or endorsed by UNESCO.

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