Global Youth Poster Competition 2026 is now open for entries!
Brief Overview
The Global Youth Poster Competition 2026 invites young creatives aged 15–25 worldwide to design an original poster exploring democracy, civic participation and the transformative power of education.
Competition Details
The Global Youth Poster Competition 2026, launched through the Youth4Rights Activation of the Global Alliance for Human Rights in connection with the United Nations Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, invite young people aged 15–25 to create an original poster expressing their vision of civic participation, democracy and the transformative power of education.
The competition explores the theme “Education for civic participation: empowering future generations, fostering knowledge and critical thinking”, encouraging participants to reflect on democracy, civic engagement and the role of education in shaping inclusive societies.
Participants are invited to create an original poster addressing questions such as what democracy means to them, why civic participation matters, and how education can strengthen critical thinking and youth engagement.
Your poster may explore one or more of the following questions:
1. What does democracy mean to you?
2. Why is civic participation important?
3. How can education strengthen democracy, critical thinking, and youth participation?
Submissions will be evaluated based on relevance to the theme, creativity, originality and visual impact. The competition welcomes different artistic and graphic design techniques, but the use of generative artificial intelligence is not permitted.
The competition is organized in connection with the sixth session of the United Nations Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, on 16–17 November 2026.
Submission requirements
➜ Create an original poster in A0 portrait format (841 × 1,189 mm), with a 10mm bleed on each side and a minimum resolution of 300 dpi at final size.
➜ Submit the final poster as a high-resolution, printable PDF file.
➜ Ensure that the poster is suitable for both digital publication and high-quality printing.
➜ You may use any artistic or graphic design technique and combine images, graphic elements, and text, provided that the final poster meets the format and resolution requirements above.
➜ The use of generative artificial intelligence tools is not permitted.
➜ Each participant may submit only one poster.
Eligibility
The competition is open to all young people aged between 15 to 25 years, as of 31 October 2026, from any country.
Benefits
➜ 10 winning posters will be selected for exhibition at the United Nations Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on 16–17 November 2026.
➜ A selection of posters will be featured on the Forum website and the Global Alliance platform.
➜ Selected works may also be displayed during the Human Rights Day event on 10 December 2026.
Entry fees
The competition is free to enter.
