The 2026 Voices Awards are now officially open for submissions. This call invites applications across seven distinct categories to recognise and support the journalists and media professionals who are defending Europe’s information landscape in a period of increasing pressure. The initiative advances the project's goal of fostering a resilient, interconnected media community across borders.
The 25 selected awardees will each receive a €1,200 prize, designed to provide practical support for their participation in the third edition of Voices, the European Festival of Journalism and Media Freedom, which will take place from 10–12 March at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence. There, they will be honoured in a public ceremony and integrated into the festival’s rich programme.
More than a prize, the Voices Awards are a direct investment in professional resilience and emerging talent. By bringing awardees into a dedicated space for exchange, the initiative aims to strengthen the networks and skills of those working to uphold informed societies, with a particular focus on supporting the next generation of talent.
This ambition aligns with the urgent need highlighted by EUI President Patrizia Nanz in her recent column for La Nazione, which called for safeguarding those who inform the public and rebuilding trust between newsrooms and communities.
“Citizens and journalists need a space to speak to one another, get to know one another, and protect each other,” she wrote. “Only a living alliance—built on trust and participation—can safeguard the right to be informed and, with it, democracy.” Her words capture the core objective of Voices: to reinforce the essential alliance between journalism, informed citizens, and democratic life.
About the Voices Awards
In this spirit, the Voices Awards were established to spotlight and materially support excellence and innovation in journalism. The scope encompasses the full spectrum of contemporary journalism across all formats, as well as important contributions to media freedom and literacy.
Submissions will be accepted until 11:59 PM CET on 12 January 2026.
Award categories
The competition features seven distinct categories for a total of 25 prizes:
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Radio and Podcast (4 awards)
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Video and Documentary (4 awards)
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Digital Storytelling and Social Media (4 awards)
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Cartoons and Comics (4 awards)
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Photojournalism (4 awards)
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Media Literacy (4 awards)
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Lorenzo Natali Prize – International Best Practices in Journalism (1 award).
Eligibility and application details
Entries are welcome from a broad range of applicants, including:
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Media outlets (websites, blogs, podcasts, etc.)
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Freelance journalists
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Students at journalism schools and trainee journalists
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Individuals or groups active in media literacy activities
Key requirements:
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Applicants (natural persons or legal entities) must be legally residing or established in the 27 EU Member States, candidate countries, or potential candidates: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.
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Entries must focus on current news and public affairs content of public interest.
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Submitted works must have been publicly available and produced in the 12 months prior to the call for entries.
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All entries must be submitted online through the official application form.
About Voices
The awards are a cornerstone of Voices, the first European festival dedicated entirely to journalism, media freedom, and the future of information in democracy. Described by its organisers as ‘a movement towards informed societies’, the festival provides a crucial space for dialogue between citizens and media professionals, featuring public debates, practical workshops, cultural events, and a live newsroom entirely run by students from across Europe.
Full details regarding the awards categories, eligibility, and submission guidelines are available on the official website: Voices Awards - Voices festival.