The United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) has officially opened its call for submissions for the 30th annual UNCA Awards.
This international competition seeks to recognize the most outstanding print, broadcast, and online coverage of the United Nations, its various agencies, and field operations.
The 2026 winners will be celebrated during a high-profile gala on December 3, 2026, held at the New York Public Library.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres is scheduled to personally honor the awardees for their contributions to global journalism.
Funding and benefits
The awards program features several prestigious categories, including the Elizabeth Neuffer Memorial Prize for print and online media and the Ricardo Ortega Memorial Prize for broadcast journalists.
These honors specifically celebrate the courage and investigative prowess of reporters covering the UN’s complex global mission.
Specialized prizes are also awarded for thematic reporting, such as the Prince Albert II of Monaco and UNCA Global Prize for Water and Sanitation.
Furthermore, the Italgas Global Prize highlights excellence in reporting on how digital innovation and artificial intelligence are shaping sustainable development and public service.
Application requirements and eligibility
The competition is open to journalists from every corner of the globe, and the association explicitly encourages entries from media organizations based in the developing world.
To be eligible for the 2026 cycle, all submitted work must have been published or broadcast between September 2025 and September 2026.
While entries are accepted in any of the six official UN languages, applicants must provide a written transcript in either English or French to facilitate the judging process.
Candidates are permitted to enter a maximum of two prize categories, with a limit of one story per category, and joint entries can include up to three credited names.
Deadline
All submissions must be completed electronically using the official UNCA Awards Entry Form, where applicants must upload their files or provide valid web links.
Each entry must also include a photograph of the applicant to be considered complete.
The final deadline for all applications is September 30, 2026.
For any technical questions or detailed inquiries regarding the entry process, journalists are advised to contact the association directly via email at contactus@unca.com.
To apply, visit UNCA call page. Visit our global opportunity page for more.
Summary not available at this time.
