World Food Day Poster contest of FAO (Age 5-19), 2026

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is calling on children and teens all over the world for its World Food Day Poster Contest. Participation is free of charge. Candidates must be between the ages of 5 and 19. The entry period runs from 12:00 CEST on 1 July 2026 until 12:00 CET on 6 November 2026. Use your imagination and create a poster.

The poster should show a world where no one is left behind, and everyone has access to healthy and affordable food. Everything in our world is connected: our food, our cultures, our environment, and our economies. Today, many people continue to face global challenges like poverty and hunger, climate change, conflict, and inequality. Global challenges need global solutions. We can all learn how to be part of those solutions for a sustainable future where every person counts.

Although progress has been made towards building a better world, too many people have been left behind. Enough food is produced in the world to feed everyone, yet millions continue to suffer from hunger or malnutrition. For roughly 3 billion people, a healthy diet is simply too expensive. A great deal of food is also wasted or lost before it even reaches the market. Worldwide, 75 percent of poor and food-insecure people rely on agriculture and natural resources for their living. They are usually the worst affected by natural disasters, wars, economic crises, or all of these at once. Governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society must work together in solidarity to prioritize food security, peace, and equality for all.

Program Details

• Organizer: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, headquartered in Rome, Italy.
• Area: Poster creation to illustrate a world where no one is left behind, and everyone has access to healthy and affordable food.
• Number of awards: Not specified.
• Duration: One-time contest.
• Target group: Open to children and youth between the ages of 5 and 19, living anywhere in the world.

World Food Day Poster Contest Benefits

The competition is divided into four categories: 5 to 8, 9 to 12, 13 to 15, and 16 to 19. Winners will be selected by a jury in each category.

• The top poster designs in all categories will be announced on the World Food Day website.
• Winners will be promoted on FAO social media and by FAO offices around the world.
• Winners will receive a Certificate of Recognition and a surprise gift bag.

World Food Day Poster Contest Criteria

To enter, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be between the ages of 5 and 19 at the time of entering the contest. Minors must have permission from a parent or legal guardian.
• Submit only one entry per person. Multiple entries from one person will result in disqualification.
• Create your poster using pens, pencils, crayons, charcoal, oil, acrylic, or watercolour paint, or mixed media. Digitally created artwork is also permitted. No photographs are allowed.
• Do not include content generated by any generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool, including but not limited to photorealistic imagery, graphics, or other artistic media. You may use AI for ideation or editing, but you must disclose how the technology was used. FAO reserves the right to disqualify entries that do not comply.
• Text is optional. If used, no more than 25 words or 100 characters are accepted.
• Do not include personal information such as names, school names, or age.
• All artwork must be original and must not include logos or photographic images of the contestant or other personal information.

All participants are encouraged to read about the World Food Day theme in the World Food Day Activity Book. Younger children may want to learn together with a parent or teacher.

How to Apply for the World Food Day Poster Contest

Take a photo or scan your poster and submit your entry by filling out the form. Posters can only be submitted online using the entry form provided.

• All fields in the contest entry form must be completed. After uploading the poster design, the ENTER button must be clicked. Younger children may need help from an adult in making their online submission.
• Only digital files saved as a JPEG will be accepted. Submissions must be made through the online form provided. Please do not send in physical posters.
• Only shortlisted contestants will be notified by email.

The deadline to submit an application is 6 November 2026 at 12:00 CET. For more details on the World Food Day Poster Contest, please visit the official page.