Voices Awards 2026

The Voices Awards is an international competition rewarding innovative ideas and changemakers in the fields of journalism and media freedom, co-funded by the European Union. It celebrates 25 remarkable achievements across eight categories, each carrying a €1,200 monetary prize to cover both prize money and travel and accommodation expenses to attend the festival in Thessaloniki, 26–28 November 2026.

Thematics

• The Voices Awards aim to celebrate the diversity of contemporary journalism, and
  comprehensively cover the different media and formats that journalists employ to
  effectively convey their stories.
• The Awards will also recognise media literacy initiatives and international best practices in journalism.
• The Awards have a broad focus across eight categories, recognising outstanding achievements in various journalistic formats (Radio, Video, Digital, Cartoons and Comics, and Photojournalism) as well as in Media Literacy and International Best Practices.

Requirements

• Applicants may be media outlets, freelance journalists, students at journalism schools, trainee journalists, or individuals/groups active in media literacy activities
• Applicants must be legally residing or established in EU27 member states or eligible candidate/potential candidate countries (for categories 1–7); applicants outside EU27 only for the Lorenzo Natali Prize (category 8)
• Submitted works must be publicly available journalistic outputs produced in the 12 months prior to 15 June 2026
• Entries must be submitted in English; attached material may be in any language but must be translated or subtitled
• Each applicant may submit only one entry per category; the same entry may not be submitted in more than one category
• Applicants who have already received a Voices award in a previous edition are not eligible

How to apply

Submit entries online through the application form. Receipt will be acknowledged by automated message. Incomplete and anonymous entries will not be considered. A valid ID and proof of residence (natural persons) or evidence of legal existence (legal entities) must be provided. Apply here.

For more information, please visit this page.