The UNESCO-UNEVOC Skills in Action Photo Competition 2026 invites amateur and professional photographers to document how Technical and Vocational Education and Training prepares young people for the future. Entries should demonstrate the role of TVET in innovation, inclusion, sustainability, digital transformation, and youth employment. The submission deadline is 31 August 2026.
Programme Snapshot
Programme: Skills in Action Photo Competition 2026
Category: Photography competition
Organizer: UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for TVET
Theme: TVET for the Future
Entry Limit: One photograph per category and up to four submissions
Prizes: USD 750, USD 500, and USD 350
Application Deadline: 31 August 2026
Eligible Applicants: Amateur and professional photographers aged 18 or above who own the copyright to their submissions
About the Skills in Action Photo Competition 2026
The competition celebrates the role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training in preparing young people for changing workplaces and societies.
Participants should capture real examples of people developing or applying technical and vocational skills. Photographs may highlight inclusive training, sustainable practices, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, or innovative approaches that improve productivity and quality.
The competition accepts entries from both amateur and professional photographers who meet the official eligibility conditions.
Competition Categories
Applicants may submit photographs under one or more of the four official categories.
Equity and Inclusion
Entries should show how skills-development opportunities can be made available to people regardless of:
• Gender
• Ethnicity
• Nationality
• Socio-economic status
• Disability
Photographs may document inclusive learning environments, accessible training, or individuals overcoming barriers to vocational education.
Green Skills and Sustainability
This category focuses on vocational skills that support environmentally responsible work.
Relevant subjects may include:
• Resource-efficient technologies
• Sustainable working practices
• Green occupations
• Renewable energy
• Environmentally responsible production processes
Entries should visually communicate how technical skills can contribute to a more sustainable future.
Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence
Photographs in this category should feature young people participating in digitally focused education or work.
Possible subjects include:
• Coding
• Robotics
• Virtual reality
• Artificial-intelligence tools
• Digitally supported technical training
The submitted photograph must be an authentic image. AI-generated photographs and images containing AI-generated or AI-expanded elements are not accepted.
Innovation and Excellence
This category highlights training, methods, and skills that improve:
• Quality
• Productivity
• Efficiency
• Technical performance
• Workplace innovation
Entries may show learners, workers, trainers, or institutions applying innovative approaches in vocational education and professional practice.
Number of Permitted Entries
Applicants may submit one photograph in each competition category.
This means that one participant can submit:
• One entry for Equity and Inclusion
• One entry for Green Skills and Sustainability
• One entry for Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence
• One entry for Innovation and Excellence
The maximum number of submissions is four photographs.
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Competition Prizes
Three cash prizes will be awarded.
✓ First Prize: USD 750
✓ Second Prize: USD 500
✓ Third Prize: USD 350
In addition to the cash prizes, winners will receive:
✓ An official certificate
✓ Publication of their work on the UNESCO-UNEVOC Flickr account
✓ Promotion through UNESCO-UNEVOC social media channels
The winning photographs will therefore receive both financial recognition and visibility through UNESCO-UNEVOC’s digital platforms.
Photo Submission Requirements
Each photograph must be accompanied by the required contextual information and submission documents.
Applicants must provide:
• A title for each photograph
• A short description of no more than 75 words
• Information explaining where the photograph was taken
• Information explaining when the photograph was taken
• A completed and signed submission form
• The selected competition category
Descriptions should help the selection team understand the photograph’s context and its connection to the relevant competition theme.
Technical File Requirements
Photographs must comply with the official technical standards.
• The photograph must be submitted in JPEG format.
• The longest side of the image must be at least 3,000 pixels.
• Images should be submitted at 300 DPI or PPI.
• RAW or TIFF files may be included as supplementary formats.
• Minor digital adjustments are permitted when fully disclosed.
• Photographs must not contain watermarks, logos, signatures, borders, or overlays.
Applicants should submit the highest-quality version of each photograph available.
Permitted and Prohibited Editing
Minor digital adjustments may be made to a photograph. However, applicants must declare the nature of any changes in the submission form.
Applicants must not:
• Submit AI-generated photographs
• Use AI to generate, extend, or expand any part of an image
• Combine multiple photographs into a collage or single frame
• Add visible watermarks
• Add logos, signatures, or text overlays
• Submit images unrelated to the official categories
These conditions protect the authenticity and visual integrity of the competition entries.
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Consent and Copyright Requirements
Applicants must be the owners or copyright holders of every photograph they submit.
They must also obtain consent from identifiable individuals appearing in their photographs. This requirement is especially important when a person is clearly recognisable or forms the main subject of the image.
Applicants should retain appropriate evidence that permission was obtained.
Use of Submitted Photographs
The official competition page states that all submitted photographs become the property of UNESCO-UNEVOC.
UNESCO-UNEVOC may use submitted images in:
• Future publications
• Media campaigns
• Promotional materials
• Digital communications
Applicants should review this condition carefully before submitting their work.
How to Submit a Photograph
Applications must be submitted by email to the address stated on the official competition page.
The submission process includes the following steps:
• Select the category or categories that match the photograph.
• Prepare up to one photograph for each selected category.
• Add a title and description of no more than 75 words.
• Include where and when the photograph was taken.
• Complete and sign the official submission form.
• Attach the form and photograph files to the submission email.
• Use the required email subject format.
• Submit all materials by 31 August 2026.
The required email subject is the applicant’s last name followed by “SAPC26 Submission.”
For example:
Muller – SAPC26 Submission
Sending Large Files
Applicants who cannot attach their photographs directly to the email may provide a cloud-storage link.
The link must:
• Be publicly accessible
• Open without requiring the recipient to sign in
• Not require a permission request
• Allow UNESCO-UNEVOC to access the files directly
Applicants should test the link before submitting the email.
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Selection Process
Eligible photographs will be evaluated according to four official criteria:
• Relevance to the competition theme
• Originality and uniqueness
• Creativity
• Innovative communication of the message
Applicants should ensure that the connection between their image and the selected category is visually clear. The photograph should communicate its message without relying entirely on the accompanying description.
Winners will be announced through UNESCO-UNEVOC’s digital platforms.
Application Deadline
The final date for submitting photographs is:
31 August 2026
Applicants must email the completed submission form and photograph files according to the official instructions before the deadline.
Apply Here
Review the official competition details, download the submission form, and follow the email submission instructions provided on the official page.
View the Official Skills in Action Photo Competition 2026 Page
