The Commonwealth Youth Awards 2026 are here to recognise young people aged 15 to 29 who are making a real difference in their communities. If you’re working on a development project that helps people or the planet, this is your chance to get noticed. These Commonwealth awards are run by the Commonwealth Youth Programme to highlight the great work young leaders are doing to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Commonwealth countries.
The Commonwealth award is all about encouraging youth-led change. Whether you’re working in education, health, environment, tech, peacebuilding, or social work, your story matters. You can apply yourself or someone else can nominate you. To be eligible, you must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country and involved in development work volunteer or paid or at least 12 months.
Winners are chosen based on the impact, creativity, and long-term value of their work. There will be 20 regional finalists, each receiving £1,000, a trophy, and a certificate. From those, 5 regional winners will get a total of £3,000, and one person will be named the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year 2026, receiving £5,000. Winners will be announced during Commonwealth Week in March 2026. The last date to apply is 17 October 2025. Don’t miss the chance to share your work with the world!
Commonwealth Youth Awards 2026:
Organized By:
- Commonwealth Youth Programme
Competition Location:
- Online
Awards and Prizes:
- There will be 4 finalists from each region of the Commonwealth. One of them will be chosen as the Regional Winner. The best Regional Winner will be named the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year 2026 and will also get the Pan-Commonwealth Award.
- 20 Regional Finalists will each receive £1,000 cash, a trophy, and a certificate.
- 5 Regional Winners will each receive an additional £2,000 (total £3,000), a trophy, and a certificate.
- The Pan-Commonwealth Winner will receive an additional £2,000 (total £5,000), a trophy, and a certificate.
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Nomination Requirements for Commonwealth Youth Awards 2026:
- The nominee must be 15 to 29 years old as of 31 December 2025
- Must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country
- Must have been involved in development work for at least 12 months, either voluntarily or professionally
- The work must be taking place in a Commonwealth member country
- Nominations can be submitted by the individual themselves or by someone familiar with their work.
How to apply for Commonwealth Youth Awards 2026:
- First register your account with an email address.
- Answer the questions asked.
- Paste/Attach your entry.
- Upload any required documents, if applicable
- You can save it and submit later if the form isn’t completed.
- Submit your entry before 17 October, 2025.
Commonwealth Youth Awards Submission Deadline:
- The last date to apply is 17 October, 2025.
