About this opportunity
The African Union Commission, through its Infrastructure and Energy Department and with the support of the African Union Development Agency NEPAD, is giving the AU Theme of the Year 2027 a youth-driven visual identity. The theme marks the AU's 25 year journey and pairs it with two continental ambitions: the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a flagship Agenda 2063 project for a unified and liberalised African aviation market, and the new technologies now reshaping connectivity across the continent under the AU Digital Transformation Strategy.
This is more than a design exercise. The winning logo will carry the Theme of the Year across the continent and beyond throughout 2027, so the Commission wants a concept that shows Africa in motion, connected through its people, its infrastructure and its technologies, and united by a shared vision of the future.
If you are between 18 and 24 and hold citizenship of any African Union Member State, including Nigeria, you can enter as an individual. Students, designers, artists, digital creatives and innovators are all welcome, and no formal qualifications are required.
The
Application timeline
is 23 October 2026 at 23:59 East African Time (UTC+3). The first prize is USD 5,000, with USD 2,000 for second place and USD 1,000 for third, plus a certificate, official acknowledgement through African Union platforms, training opportunities, and the chance for the winner to attend the AU Summit where the winning logo will be unveiled.
What you receive
- USD 5,000 for first place
- USD 2,000 for second place
- USD 1,000 for third place
- A certificate of recognition
- Official acknowledgement through African Union platforms
- Training opportunities
- The winner can take part in the AU Summit where the winning logo is officially unveiled
- The winning concept becomes the visual identity of the AU Theme of the Year 2027 across the continent
Who can apply
- Open to citizens of all African Union Member States, Nigeria included
- You must be aged 18 to 24 on the submission deadline of 23 October 2026
- Entries must be submitted by individuals, joint or team entries are not accepted
- Students, designers, artists, digital creatives and innovators are welcome, formal qualifications are not required
- One entry per applicant
Who should not apply
- Members of the evaluation process cannot enter
- African Union personnel and contractors cannot enter
- Immediate family of the above cannot enter
Documents to prepare
- Completed application form with your name, nationality, date of birth, contact details and a brief profile
- Proof of nationality and age
- Presentation PDF with the primary logo plus colour, black and white and reversed versions, and three mock-ups
- Preview PNG or JPEG files with a minimum width of 3000 pixels
- Concept note of up to 500 words explaining the idea, symbolism, colour choices and adaptability
- Signed originality, intellectual property and AI declaration
- Shortlisted applicants must provide editable vector source files (SVG, EPS or AI) within three working days
How to apply
- Download and read the competition documents, including the Terms of Reference, from the official African Union competition page.
- Prepare the complete submission package in the required formats.
- Remove your name, signature, photo and social media handles from the logo presentation. Applicant information belongs only in the application form.
- Submit through the official entry form on African Union's competition portal before 23 October 2026, 23:59 East African Time (UTC+3).
- Keep the automated acknowledgement you receive as proof of submission.
Selection process
- Administrative review: timely receipt, eligibility, completeness and declarations
- Technical evaluation: anonymised assessment against the criteria by a communication and design panel
- Shortlist verification: vector files, sketches, process evidence and originality checks, including reverse-image and metadata checks
- Final adjudication: the panel recommends a winner and a reserve entry
- Approval and refinement: institutional approval, then the winning concept is refined with the applicant in line with African Union branding guidelines
- Scoring weights: relevance to the complete theme 25 percent, AU values and Agenda 2063 identity 20 percent, creativity and originality 20 percent, simplicity and recognisability 15 percent, adaptability and technical execution 10 percent, accessibility and multilingual usability 5 percent, quality of the concept note 5 percent
- The Commission may decide not to make an award if no submission meets the required standard
Sources and verification
Questions applicants ask
Can I use AI tools in my design?
Every entry must be original and created specifically for this competition. You must sign an AI declaration as part of your submission, and prohibited AI use, plagiarism or misrepresentation leads to disqualification.
Can two people submit one entry together?
No. Entries must be submitted by individuals, joint or team submissions are not accepted.
Do I need a design qualification?
No formal qualifications are required. Students, designers, artists, digital creatives and innovators are all welcome.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
