African Union Logo Design Competition 2027: Call for Young African Creatives to Design the Official AU Theme of the Year Visual Identity

The African Union Commission has invited young African creatives to participate in an international design competition to develop the official logo and visual identity for the African Union Theme of the Year 2027. The initiative provides an opportunity for young designers across Africa to showcase their creativity, contribute to the African Union’s continental vision, and create a visual identity that communicates the priorities and aspirations of Africa. Applications close on 23 October 2026.

1. Overview of the African Union Theme of the Year 2027 Logo Competition

The African Union Commission has announced a call for entries inviting young African creatives to design the official logo and visual identity for the African Union (AU) Theme of the Year 2027.

The competition, announced on 24 September 2026, is an opportunity for young designers and other creative professionals to contribute to the communication and promotion of the African Union’s annual continental theme through visual storytelling and design.

The initiative is being coordinated through the African Union Commission’s Information and Communication Directorate, which plays a role in communicating the Union’s activities, priorities, and programes to African citizens and international audiences.

The competition seeks to encourage young African talent to develop a distinctive visual identity that can represent the AU Theme of the Year 2027 across different communication platforms. The selected design is expected to serve as an important visual representation of the theme, helping institutions, stakeholders, and members of the public recognize and engage with the African Union’s priorities for the year.

For young African creatives, the competition offers an opportunity to demonstrate their design skills in a continental initiative. It also provides a platform for creative expression, innovation, and participation in the communication of Africa’s development agenda.

2. Background and Purpose of the Competition

The African Union is a continental organization committed to promoting an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

Its work encompasses continental cooperation, economic development, peace and security, regional integration, institutional development, and the implementation of Agenda 2063, Africa’s long-term development framework.

Within this broader vision, the AU Theme of the Year provides a framework for drawing attention to a particular continental priority. Communicating that priority effectively is important for helping governments, institutions, civil society organizations, young people, and other stakeholders understand and engage with the AU’s objectives.

Visual identity is an important part of this communication process. A well-designed logo can help translate a complex policy theme into a recognizable and memorable visual message. Through colors, symbols, typography, shapes, and other design elements, a logo can communicate the central ideas behind a continental initiative in a way that is accessible to diverse audiences.

The 2027 logo competition seeks to harness the creativity of young Africans to achieve this purpose.

Rather than limiting participation to established design professionals, the call specifically welcomes young African creatives, recognizing the potential of emerging talent to contribute fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and culturally relevant visual communication.

The competition therefore connects graphic design with public communication, African identity, youth participation, and the broader mission of the African Union.

3. What Is the African Union Theme of the Year 2027?

The competition focuses on developing the official visual identity for the African Union Theme of the Year 2027.

The announcement identifies the purpose of the competition but does not specify the wording of the 2027 theme in the information provided here. Applicants should therefore consult the official Terms of Reference to establish the exact theme, its policy context, and the messages the proposed design must communicate.

It is important not to confuse the 2027 competition with the African Union’s 2026 Theme of the Year.

The AU website identifies the 2026 theme as “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.” This theme focuses on sustainable water availability and safe sanitation as essential elements of Africa’s development.

However, the 2027 logo competition concerns a separate annual theme. Designers should not automatically base their submissions on water and sanitation unless the official 2027 competition documents explicitly require it.

Understanding the correct theme is one of the most important steps in developing a relevant design. Applicants should study the official documentation before selecting visual symbols, colors, imagery, or typography.

4. Design Deliverables and Creative Direction

The competition calls for the design of the official logo and visual identity for the AU Theme of the Year 2027.

This means that applicants should approach the task as more than an exercise in producing an attractive graphic. The objective is to create a visual identity capable of representing the theme clearly, consistently, and professionally.

A successful visual identity should communicate the central message of the theme while remaining recognizable and adaptable across different communication settings.

Key considerations for applicants

Although the precise deliverables and technical specifications must be confirmed in the official Terms of Reference, designers should consider the following general principles when preparing their concepts:

1. Relevance to the official theme

The design should reflect the central message and objectives of the 2027 theme. Applicants should demonstrate an understanding of the subject before developing their visual concept.

2. African identity and continental relevance

The visual identity should be meaningful to audiences across Africa. Designers may explore appropriate cultural references, symbols, colors, and visual narratives, provided these elements are relevant, respectful, and consistent with the official brief.

3. Originality and creativity

A strong design should present a distinctive idea rather than reproduce an existing logo or rely on generic visual elements. Originality is particularly important in a competition intended to identify an official continental visual identity.

4. Clarity and readability

The logo should communicate effectively without becoming unnecessarily complicated. Its main elements should remain understandable at different sizes and across different viewing environments.

5. Versatility

The proposed identity should be suitable for use in a variety of communication materials, subject to the competition’s requirements. These may include digital publications, websites, social media graphics, reports, presentations, and printed materials.

6. Professional presentation

Applicants should prepare their concepts carefully, paying attention to typography, spacing, colour choices, visual balance, and the quality of the submitted files.

These considerations are general design principles, not a substitute for the competition’s prescribed deliverables. Applicants must follow the official requirements when deciding what files, variations, explanations, or supporting materials to submit.

5. Who Is Eligible to Apply?

The announcement identifies young African creatives as the intended participants.

The initiative is therefore directed towards emerging African talent interested in graphic design, visual communication, branding, illustration, and other creative disciplines relevant to the development of an institutional logo and visual identity.

Potentially interested applicants may include:

• Young graphic designers seeking to demonstrate their creative abilities.
• Visual communication students and recent graduates.
• Young illustrators and digital artists.
• Emerging branding and identity designers.
• Creative professionals with experience in visual storytelling.
• Young Africans exploring opportunities to contribute to continental initiatives through design.

However, the announcement alone does not provide the complete eligibility criteria, including any precise age limits, nationality or residency requirements, restrictions on group submissions, or rules concerning professional experience.

Applicants should consult the official Terms of Reference to confirm that they meet all eligibility conditions before submitting an entry.

Those who are eligible should also review any requirements concerning identification documents, declarations, consent, or other administrative information requested by the organisers.

6. Required Submission Package

The African Union Commission has published supporting documents for the competition, including the English and French versions of the Terms of Reference and the Applicant Declaration and Consent forms.

These documents are important because they provide the formal framework governing participation.

The official announcement lists the following attachments:

1. AU Theme 2027 Logo Competition Terms of Reference — English version.
2. AU Theme 2027 Logo Competition Terms of Reference — French version.
3. Applicant Declaration and Consent — English version.
4. Applicant Declaration and Consent — French version.

The Terms of Reference should be the primary reference for understanding the competition’s submission requirements. Applicants should use it to establish exactly what must be included in their entry and how the materials should be presented.

The Applicant Declaration and Consent form should also be reviewed carefully. Applicants should complete any required declarations and provide consent in accordance with the instructions in the official documentation.

Preparing a complete application

Before submitting an entry, applicants should verify the following:

• The proposed design addresses the official AU Theme of the Year 2027.
• All required design files and supporting materials have been prepared.
• The files comply with the technical specifications stated in the Terms of Reference.
• Any required explanation or rationale for the design has been included.
• The applicant has completed the required declaration and consent documentation.
• All eligibility conditions have been satisfied.
• The submission follows the official procedure and is delivered before the deadline.

This is a general preparation checklist. The official Terms of Reference determine the actual mandatory submission package.

Applicants should avoid relying solely on summaries of the opportunity because a missing document or failure to follow a technical requirement could affect the validity of an entry.

7. Technical Requirements, Originality and Artificial Intelligence Rules

The competition announcement explicitly identifies technical requirements, originality, and artificial intelligence as subjects covered by the competition rules.

These areas deserve particular attention because they affect both the quality of a design and its compliance with the organizers’ requirements.

Technical requirements

Design competitions often prescribe particular file formats, dimensions, resolution standards, color specifications, and submission arrangements. The applicable requirements for this competition must be confirmed in the official Terms of Reference.

Applicants should ensure that their work can be reviewed clearly and that the submitted files meet all specified standards.

Designers should also retain organized copies of their original working files and final exports, where appropriate, so that they can manage revisions or provide supporting materials if requested under the competition rules.

Originality and intellectual integrity

Originality is central to a logo competition. Applicants should develop concepts that reflect their own creative thinking and comply with the competition’s intellectual property requirements.

Designers should avoid copying existing logos, reproducing another designer’s work, or presenting third-party artwork as their own.

Any stock graphics, fonts, illustrations, photographs, or other assets used in preparing an entry should be handled in accordance with the applicable licenses and the competition rules.

Applicants should also review the official requirements concerning ownership, permissions, attribution, and any other declarations related to the originality of their submissions.

Artificial intelligence requirements

The announcement specifically mentions AI requirements, making this an important area for applicants to review before preparing their entries.

Designers who use artificial intelligence tools during their creative process should not assume that every form of AI assistance is automatically permitted or prohibited. The applicable rules must be established from the official Terms of Reference.

Applicants should determine whether the competition permits AI-generated imagery, AI-assisted ideation, automated design tools, or other forms of AI assistance, and whether disclosure is required.

The safest approach is to read the rules carefully, comply with any restrictions, and provide accurate information about the creative process whenever requested.

Regardless of the tools used, applicants should ensure that their submissions satisfy the competition’s originality standards and that they have the necessary rights to the materials they submit.

8. How to Apply for the African Union Logo Competition 2027

Young African creatives interested in participating should begin by accessing the official African Union announcement and downloading the competition documents.

The application process should be guided by the instructions in the official Terms of Reference rather than assumptions about how other design competitions operate.

Step 1: Visit the official African Union website

Go to the African Union’s official website and locate the announcement titled “Call for Entries: Young African Creatives Invited to Design the Official Logo and Visual Identity for the AU Theme of the Year 2027.”

Visit Official website Here

Step 2: Download the Terms of Reference

Read the English or French version of the AU Theme 2027 Logo Competition Terms of Reference.

Pay particular attention to the eligibility requirements, design deliverables, technical specifications, submission procedure, evaluation criteria, and intellectual property provisions.

Step 3: Review the declaration and consent form

Download and read the applicable Applicant Declaration and Consent form.

Complete the form according to the official instructions and ensure that any required information is accurate.

Step 4: Develop an original design concept

Study the official 2027 theme and identify the key ideas that the visual identity should communicate.

Develop a concept that connects the theme with a clear visual message. Consider the intended audience, cultural relevance, readability, and practical use of the logo.

Step 5: Prepare the required files

Organize the design files and any supporting documentation specified in the Terms of Reference.

Check all technical requirements and ensure that the submission is complete.

Step 6: Follow the official submission procedure

Use the submission method, registration process, and contact details provided in the official competition documents.

The announcement excerpt provided here does not specify the exact submission link, upload method, or email subject line. Applicants should therefore obtain those details directly from the official event page and Terms of Reference.

Step 7: Submit before the deadline

The stated deadline is 23 October 2026 at 23:59 EAT (UTC+3).

Applicants should aim to submit well before the closing time to allow for any technical difficulties, document corrections, or other issues that may arise.

APPLY HERE

9. Evaluation Criteria and Selection Process

The African Union’s announcement identifies evaluation criteria and the selection process as a dedicated section of the competition information.

This indicates that submissions will be assessed according to the rules established by the organizers. However, the announcement excerpt does not reproduce the full scoring system, the composition of the evaluation panel, or the weight assigned to individual criteria.

Applicants should consult the Terms of Reference to establish how entries will be assessed and how the final selection will be made.

How applicants can strengthen their entries

While the official scoring criteria must take precedence, designers can improve the quality of their submissions by focusing on several established principles of professional visual communication:

• Conceptual strength: The design should have a clear idea that connects directly to the official theme.
• Visual originality: The concept should be distinctive and avoid imitating existing identities.
• Communication effectiveness: The design should express its intended message without unnecessary complexity.
• Technical quality: The final files should meet the stated specifications.
• Cultural sensitivity: Visual elements should be selected thoughtfully, particularly when representing a continent with diverse cultures and identities.
• Practical adaptability: The identity should function effectively in the applications required by the official brief.

These are general recommendations for preparing a strong design, not a confirmed list of the competition’s official scoring criteria.

Applicants should not assume that a visually attractive design alone guarantees selection. Compliance with the requirements, originality, relevance, and the quality of the overall submission may also be important under the official rules.

10. Award and Recognition

The competition announcement identifies award and recognition as a dedicated section of the Terms of Reference.

This makes the potential recognition associated with the competition an important consideration for young African creatives.

Being selected in a continental design competition can offer an opportunity to demonstrate creative ability in a high-profile institutional context. For emerging designers, participation may also help strengthen a portfolio by providing experience in responding to a formal brief with a continental audience.

The opportunity connects creative practice with public communication and Africa’s broader institutional development agenda.

However, the announcement excerpt does not specify the monetary value of any award, the number of winners, whether runners-up will be recognized, or the precise benefits attached to selection.

Applicants should consult the official Terms of Reference for confirmed information about prizes, recognition, and any conditions associated with the winning design.

It is important not to assume that the competition provides a particular cash prize, employment opportunity, internship, or travel benefit unless such a benefit is expressly stated in the official documents.

11. Intellectual Property and Data Protection

The announcement identifies intellectual property and data protection as another dedicated section of the competition documentation.

These issues are particularly important when submitting creative work to a large institution.

Intellectual property

Intellectual property rules determine the rights and responsibilities associated with submitted designs. Applicants should understand what happens to their work after submission and what rights may apply if their entry is selected.

In particular, participants should review the Terms of Reference for provisions concerning:

• Ownership of submitted concepts and designs.
• Rights granted to the African Union Commission.
• Use, reproduction, adaptation, and publication of the winning design.
• Permissions and licenses for third-party materials.
• Any restrictions on reusing or distributing the selected visual identity.
• Declarations concerning originality and authorship.

The precise terms of these arrangements must be confirmed in the official competition documents.

Applicants should not presume that all submitted designs remain subject to identical ownership arrangements or that selection automatically transfers every intellectual property right. The governing terms determine the applicable conditions.

Data protection

The Applicant Declaration and Consent form should be reviewed alongside any privacy or data protection provisions included in the competition documentation.

Applicants should establish what personal information is requested, why it is required, how it may be used, and what consent they are being asked to provide.

All application information should be supplied accurately and through the official submission channel.

Reading these provisions before applying can help participants understand their responsibilities and make informed decisions about submitting both personal information and original creative work.

12. Why This Competition Matters for Young African Creatives

The African Union Theme of the Year 2027 Logo Competition is relevant beyond the technical task of designing a logo. It demonstrates how creative skills can contribute to public communication, institutional identity, and continental engagement.

An opportunity to demonstrate creative talent

Young designers can use the competition to demonstrate their ability to interpret a formal brief, develop a concept, and communicate an important message through visual design.

The process can also encourage participants to refine their research, conceptual development, and presentation skills.

A platform for African visual storytelling

Africa’s diversity offers a wide range of cultural references, artistic traditions, and contemporary creative expressions. A continental design brief creates an opportunity for young creatives to explore how visual communication can reflect African perspectives while addressing a shared institutional purpose.

An opportunity to engage with continental priorities

By developing a design for the AU Theme of the Year 2027, participants can engage with the African Union’s communication priorities and the broader development agenda.

The competition offers a way for creative professionals to contribute through their own discipline rather than through traditional policy or administrative roles.

Professional development

Responding to a formal design competition requires research, planning, creative problem-solving, technical execution, and compliance with submission requirements.

These are useful professional skills for graphic designers, branding specialists, illustrators, and other creatives who wish to work with organizations, institutions, businesses, and development programes.

Encouraging youth participation

Inviting young Africans to participate in a continental initiative recognizes the importance of youth creativity and innovation.

The competition provides a framework through which emerging talent can contribute ideas to an institutional project while engaging with a broader African audience.

13. Important Deadline and Application Information

Applicants should pay close attention to the official closing date.

Application deadline: 23 October 2026 at 23:59 East Africa Time (EAT), UTC+3.

The African Union announcement lists the competition period as running from 24 September 2026 to 23 October 2026.

As the deadline approaches, interested creatives should priorities the following actions:

1. Access the official announcement.
2. Download the Terms of Reference and Applicant Declaration and Consent form.
3. Confirm eligibility and all mandatory requirements.
4. Review the official theme and design specifications.
5. Prepare the design and supporting documents.
6. Verify compliance with the originality, AI, technical, and intellectual property rules.
7. Submit the completed entry through the prescribed official channel before the closing time.

Applicants should confirm all dates, submission arrangements, and any updates directly with the African Union Commission.

14. Official Links and Contact Information

The African Union Commission is the official source for information about this opportunity.

Official African Union website: https://au.int

Responsible directorate: Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission

Official contact email: DIC@africanunion.org

Headquarters: African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Postal address: P.O. Box 3243, Roosevelt Street W21K19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Telephone: +251 11 551 77 00

Fax: +251 11 551 78 44

Applicants should use the official event announcement to locate the competition documents and verify the prescribed submission process.

The English and French versions of the Terms of Reference and Applicant Declaration and Consent forms are listed among the official event attachments. These are the most important documents to consult before preparing an entry.

Conclusion

The African Union Theme of the Year 2027 Logo and Visual Identity Competition offers young African creatives an opportunity to contribute to a continental communication initiative through design, originality, and visual storytelling.

Organized through the African Union Commission’s Information and Communication Directorate, the competition seeks creative talent capable of developing a visual identity that represents the official 2027 theme and communicates its message effectively.

For young graphic designers, visual artists, branding specialists, students, and other eligible creatives, this is an opportunity to demonstrate their skills while engaging with the African Union’s broader vision of an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa.

However, applicants should not overlook the formal requirements. Eligibility, design deliverables, technical specifications, AI rules, evaluation criteria, awards, intellectual property, and data protection arrangements should all be verified in the official Terms of Reference.

Interested applicants are encouraged to begin their preparations early, develop original concepts, and ensure that every required document is completed correctly.

The final deadline is 23 October 2026 at 23:59 EAT (UTC+3). Young African creatives who are interested in participating should visit the official African Union website, review the competition documents, and follow the prescribed submission procedure before the deadline.

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