Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize 2026 for Young Leaders (USD 10,000 Prize, Mentorship & Fully Funded to Athens)

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Applications are open to Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize 2026 for Young Leaders. Launched by the Kofi Annan Foundation (KAF) and the Democracy and Culture Foundation in 2023, the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize is awarded annually to a young leader aged 18 to 30 and presented at the Athens Democracy Forum . The award recognizes exceptional leadership shown by young activists in defending and promoting democracy, and aims to inspire more young people to commit to the advancement of democracy.

Throughout his mandate as Secretary-General of the United Nations and later at the head of KAF, Kofi Annan worked to promote democracy, which he called “a catalyst for better governance, greater security, and human development.” He was also a great believer in youth leadership and inclusion, and he strived to facilitate the participation of young people in local, national and international decision-making forums.

Applications are now open for the 2026 Prize, highlighting actions taken by young leaders to:

foster genuine participation in decision-making;
promote peaceful dialogue on divisive political issues;
advance intergenerational exchange on matters related to democracy;
give a real voice to people and communities who have traditionally been excluded from decision-making;
contribute to or advocate for the organization of free and fair elections and their acceptance;
protect freedom of assembly, freedom of the press and freedom of expression;
garner support for the independence of democratic institutions;
or fight for reform in both the public and private sectors to ensure that democracy adapts, develops and survives as the pre-eminent method of government.

Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize Benefits

Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize winner will receive:
10,000 USD and one-year’s mentorship with a recognized democracy expert.
A place to attend the Athens Democracy Forum in Athens, Greece from 29 September – 2 October 2026, including travel and accommodation.
An invitation to co-curate a session on youth and democracy at the following year’s forum.

Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize winner and nine finalists will receive:

A fully-funded place to attend the One Young World Summit Cape Town, South Africa from 3 – 6 November 2026.
Travel to and from Cape Town (flights in economy).
Hotel accommodation in Cape Town in a private room between 2 – 7 November 2026.
Lifelong membership of the One Young World Ambassador Community, a global network with 20,000+ members in 190+ countries.
Opportunity to present their work at international fora and conferences.
Opportunity to connect with the past winners of the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize.
Opportunities to engage in additional One Young World-led events and programming, including additional mentorship opportunities.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this prize, you must:

Be aged between 18 – 30 at the time of the application.
Have demonstrated ability for leadership.
Be willing and able to participate in public activities in the context of the Athens Democracy Forum and One Young World Summit 2026.
Submit a short video outlining your work defending democracy, and why you have chosen to engage in it.
Submit your application in English.
Submit a letter of support written and signed by an organization recognized in the field of protecting and advancing democracy*. The individual writing your letter of support should be someone who knows you and is familiar with your work. The individual must not be a family member, personal friend, an employee or co-founder of your organization (if you are also a co-founder). In their letter of support, the individual must:
- State their full name, organization and title.
- Explain how they know you and for how long they have known you.
- Explain their understanding of your role.
- Explain why they believe your work helps protect and advance democracy.
- Write the letter in English.

* You must have explicit consent from the individual supporting your application to share their personal details with One Young World. The name and organization of the individual supporting your application may be shared with relevant third-parties involved in the selection process. You must obtain consent to share these details for this purpose.