Join us on 11 March 2026 as we announce the winners of the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work in London as part of a series of celebratory events marking Commonwealth Day.
Organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat, in partnership with the Commonwealth Association and the Commonwealth Journalists Association, the awards recognise dynamic young people aged 15-29 and celebrate their achievements towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Those shortlisted include social entrepreneurs, journalists, environmental champions, writers, innovators and human rights activists across the Commonwealth.
Breaking new ground, this year, one of the six finalists shortlisted for the inaugural Patsy Robertson Award for Outstanding Communications Skills – a new category in the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards – will receive a cash prize sponsored by the Commonwealth Association. Each finalist in this category will also receive a complementary membership in the Commonwealth Journalists Association, granting them access to a global journalism network and a range of professional development opportunities.
The overall winners of the Commonwealth Youth Award will attend the awards ceremony at Marlborough House, the Commonwealth Headquarters in London.
Each finalist will receive a £1,000 grant, a trophy, and a certificate.
Five finalists will emerge for each Commonwealth region. The top finalist from each region will be recognised as the regional winner and will receive £3,000, a trophy, and a certificate. One of the five regional winners will be named the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year 2026 and will be awarded £5,000. For over five decades, the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) has focused on empowering and enriching the lives of over 1.5 billion young Commonwealth citizens.
Registration
Watch the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards Ceremony live on the Commonwealth Secretariat's Facebook and YouTube channels. In-person attendance is by invitation only.
For more information, please contact us
About the Commonwealth Youth Awards
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