- Program Name: Moonshot Awards 2026
- Organizer: Moonshot Platform
- Website: moonshotplatform.org/awards
- Application Deadline: July 12, 2026, 11:59 PM Pacific Time
- Awards Ceremony: November 2026 in New York City,
- Application Link: https://
moonshotplatform.submittable. com/submit/903f88da-45c2-44b0- a71e-39bedae6bb2b/moonshot- awards-2026
The Moonshot Awards are an annual global program celebrating young innovators, founders, artists, scientists, and advocates aged 15–30 who are building bold solutions to the world’s most urgent challenges. Free to apply and open to all nationalities. They serve as the entry point into the broader Moonshot ecosystem—a holistic, two-year journey that develops the person behind the work, not just the work itself.
Applications are accepted across 3 main categories: Idea, Start-Up, and Nonprofit, as well as 5 thematic categories: Learning, Health, Art for Humanity, Borderless, and AI for Good.
Eligibility Criteria
- Age 15–30
- Working on an impact-driven project, idea, venture, initiative, or creative practice
- Contributing to at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or working toward positive social, environmental, or systemic impact
- Open to all nationalities, no restrictions
- Free to apply
- Individuals and teams both welcome
Applicants from underrepresented communities, the Global South, refugee and displaced populations, and indigenous communities are especially encouraged to apply.
Benefits
The Moonshot Awards are not just recognition; they are a gateway into a full ecosystem of support built around three pillars: Connect, Embody, and Create.
- Equity-free grant funding to support and grow your work
- Moonshot Young Leaders Camp: an immersive week-long leadership retreat in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic, bringing together young leaders and world-class mentors
- Moonshot Youth Innovation Summit: a global gathering exploring bold ideas at the intersection of technology, democracy, and the future of humanity
- Two-year acceleration program including mentorship, skill-building, and ongoing support (valued at $30,000 per leader)
- Moonshot Impact Labs: online education covering organizational building, fundraising, storytelling, self-care, and more.
- Moonshot Global Community: a lifelong network of young changemakers, mentors, investors, and supporters from across the world
- Moonshot Access: opportunities to speak and be represented at leading global convenings and forums.
- Funded trip to the Moonshot Awards Gala in New York City
Other Key Information
- The top 100 shortlisted candidates, not just the winners, are welcomed into the Moonshot Global Community.
- The top 20–25 finalists also enter the two-year acceleration program.
- No travel or nationality restrictions. Grants are delivered regardless of whether the recipient can attend the ceremony.
- Selection criteria focus on: personal connection to the problem, innovative yet accessible solutions, and meaningful potential for scalable impact
- Much more ecosystem-forward now. The Awards feel like a door, not a destination.
For more information about this opportunity, visit here.
Discover more Global Award Opportunities on OFY here.
