UNESCO-UNEVOC Skills in Action Photo Competition 2026

Applications are now open for the UNESCO-UNEVOC Skills in Action Photo Competition 2026, a global photography competition that celebrates the transformative role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in equipping young people with practical, future-ready skills.

Organized by UNESCO-UNEVOC, the competition invites both amateur and professional photographers from around the world to capture powerful visual stories that demonstrate how vocational education is creating opportunities, driving innovation, promoting sustainability, advancing digital transformation, and fostering inclusive societies.

Successful entrants will compete for cash prizes of up to USD 750, receive official recognition from UNESCO-UNEVOC, and have their photographs showcased across UNESCO's international communication platforms.

• Host Organization: UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training
• Programme: Skills in Action Photo Competition 2026
• Category: Photography Competition
• Eligible Countries: Open Worldwide
• Eligible Applicants: Amateur and professional photographers aged 18 years and above
• Prize: Up to USD 750
• Application Deadline: 31 August 2026
• Application Fee: None

The Skills in Action Photo Competition was established to showcase the impact of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in helping individuals acquire practical skills that improve employability, encourage innovation, and contribute to sustainable development.

Rather than focusing solely on artistic photography, the competition seeks authentic images that tell meaningful stories about how vocational education is transforming lives, strengthening communities, and preparing people for the future of work.

Participants are encouraged to document real-life moments where skills development is making a difference, whether in classrooms, workshops, laboratories, construction sites, farms, technology hubs, manufacturing facilities, or community projects.

The competition also serves as a platform for highlighting how TVET contributes to achieving global development goals by promoting inclusive education, decent work, environmental sustainability, and technological advancement.

Entries must relate to at least one of the following four themes:

Equity and Inclusion

This category highlights how vocational education creates opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds. Photographs may showcase equal access to skills training regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, economic status, or social background.

Images may feature inclusive classrooms, accessible learning environments, women in technical fields, persons with disabilities participating in vocational training, or community programmes expanding access to education.

Green Skills and Sustainability

This category focuses on vocational skills that contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development.

Suitable entries may include renewable energy projects, recycling initiatives, climate-smart agriculture, sustainable manufacturing, green construction, waste management, environmental conservation, or learners acquiring skills for green jobs.

Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence

Participants are encouraged to capture how technology is reshaping vocational education.

Photographs may showcase coding, robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, automation, digital fabrication, smart manufacturing, computer programming, or learners using emerging technologies to develop innovative solutions.

Innovation and Excellence

This category celebrates creativity, practical problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and technical excellence.

Images may depict apprentices developing innovative products, students applying practical skills, collaborative innovation, modern workshops, engineering projects, or vocational training that improves productivity and quality.

Outstanding photographs will receive cash awards as follows:

• First Prize: USD 750
• Second Prize: USD 500
• Third Prize: USD 350

In addition to the cash prizes, winners will receive:

• An official UNESCO-UNEVOC Certificate of Recognition.
• International exposure through publication on the UNESCO-UNEVOC Flickr platform.
• Promotion across UNESCO-UNEVOC's official social media channels and communication platforms.
• Global recognition among educators, development organizations, policymakers, and creative professionals.

Applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years old at the time of submission.
• Be either an amateur or professional photographer.
• Hold the copyright and full ownership rights to every photograph submitted.
• Submit original photographs that have not been generated or manipulated using artificial intelligence.
• Comply with all competition rules and technical requirements.

The competition is open to participants from all countries without restrictions on nationality.

Applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years old at the time of submission.
• Be either an amateur or professional photographer.
• Hold the copyright and full ownership rights to every photograph submitted.
• Submit original photographs that have not been generated or manipulated using artificial intelligence.
• Comply with all competition rules and technical requirements.

The competition is open to participants from all countries without restrictions on nationality.

Participants may submit:

• A maximum of one photograph per category.
• No more than four photographs in total across all categories.

Each submission must include:

• The title of the photograph.
• A short description of the image (maximum of 75 words).
• The location where the photograph was taken.
• The date the photograph was captured.
• A completed and signed official submission form.

Submitted photographs must meet the following specifications:

• Images must be submitted in JPEG (JPG) format.
• RAW or TIFF versions may also be provided as supporting files.
• Photographs must have a minimum resolution of 3,000 pixels on the longest side.
• High-resolution images with 300 DPI/PPI are strongly recommended.
• Minor editing such as exposure correction, cropping, or colour adjustments is permitted, provided all edits are clearly disclosed in the submission form.

Applicants should:

• Ensure every photograph clearly fits one of the official competition categories.
• Obtain permission from all identifiable individuals appearing in the photograph before submission.
• Clearly disclose any digital adjustments made to the image.
• Submit only authentic and original work.

Applicants must not:

• Submit AI-generated images.
• Use artificial intelligence to generate, replace, extend, or alter any part of a photograph.
• Add watermarks, logos, signatures, decorative borders, or graphic overlays.
• Submit collages or combine multiple photographs into a single image.
• Submit photographs unrelated to the objectives of the competition.

Failure to comply with these requirements may result in disqualification.

All eligible entries will be evaluated based on:

• Relevance to the competition theme.
• Creativity and artistic quality.
• Originality and uniqueness.
• Ability to communicate a compelling message about Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
• Overall visual impact and storytelling.

Applicants retain authorship of their work but agree that all submitted photographs may be used by UNESCO-UNEVOC for educational, promotional, communication, and publication purposes.

Winning and selected photographs may appear in UNESCO publications, exhibitions, reports, websites, media campaigns, and other official communication materials.

Participants should therefore ensure they possess all necessary permissions from identifiable individuals appearing in their photographs before submitting an entry.

To participate in the competition:

• Download and complete the official submission form.
• Select the category that best matches your photograph.
• Provide the required title, description, location, and date information.
• Email the completed submission form together with your photograph(s) to unevoc.skills@unesco.org.
• Use your surname followed by "SAPC26 Submission" as the email subject (for example: Smith – SAPC26 Submission).
• If your files exceed email size limits, upload them to a publicly accessible cloud storage platform and include the download link in your email. The link must not require login credentials or permission requests.