Empowering Creative Thinking in Education
International Creativity in Schools Awards 2026
About
The International Creativity in Schools Awards 2026, co-organised by GIoCT and the UNESCO IITE, continues to serve as a transformative force in the global education landscape, guided by the 2026 theme “Educating Polymaths: Nurturing Creativity Across Boundaries.”
Each year, the Awards aim to recognize and honor creative thinking in education, providing a platform for educators to speak out and share their pioneering ideas that drive development in teaching and learning.
As part of this pioneering program, we are inviting individuals and organisations to submit their most ambitious projects that demonstrate creative approaches across the school curriculum. The Creativity in Schools Awards highlights exceptional examples of creative thinking across subjects, focusing on approaches that foster long-term, sustainable impact in education.
Award winners will gain recognition and an opportunity to showcase their achievements in the 2026 Awards celebration. Exemplary projects will be selected, with winners receiving honours that amplify their voices and contributions to the future of education.
Award Objectives
Promote
Emphasise the significance of creative thinking and encourage the establishment of collaborative communities among educators dedicated to creative thinking in action.
Establish
Build a globally recognised brand symbolising excellence in creative practices in schools worldwide.
Showcase
Spotlight innovative teaching and learning practices that foster student’s creative thinking.
Achnowledge
Honour teachers and educational institutions, elevating the teaching profession’s status on a globalscale.
Message from
Chair Of The International Committee
Dear Award Participants and Esteemed Guests,
It is a great honour to welcome you to the International Creativity in Schools Awards 2026 on behalf of our dedicated Committee.
As Chair of this Committee, I am deeply inspired by the creative minds and forward-thinking educators who are redefining the role of creativity in education. Our focus for the 2026 Awards, “Educating Polymaths: Nurturing Creativity Across Boundaries,” invites us to reflect on how the cultivation of broad, interdisciplinary knowledge and creative problem-solving can help shape the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.
This year’s theme challenges us to think beyond traditional academic boundaries, encouraging students to engage with diverse fields of knowledge, build connections, and develop the curiosity and versatility that define a polymath. As we explore the incredible projects submitted this year, we are reminded of how essential creativity is in addressing global challenges and fostering lifelong learning.
Creativity, at its core, empowers both teachers and students to embrace complexity, take risks, and develop innovative solutions. By nurturing this creativity across various disciplines, we prepare students to thrive in a world that demands adaptability, collaboration, and an open mind.
We are privileged to witness the inspiring and transformative ideas from educators worldwide who are championing these values. As Chair of the Committee, I look forward to celebrating each of your achievements and exploring how we can continue to nurture creativity and interdisciplinary learning in education.
Thank you for joining us on this journey and for your unwavering commitment to making a lasting impact on education.
Chair
Andreas Schleicher
Director for Education and
Skills, Special Advisor on
Education Policy to the Sec-
retary-General, OECD
International Committee 2026
Chair
Andreas Schleicher
Director for Education and Skills, Special Advisor on Education Policy to the Secretary-General, OECD
Vice-Chair
Asha Singh Kanwar
Chair, UNESCO IITE
Governing Board
Vice-Chair
Stéphan Vincent-Lancrin
Deputy Head of Centre for Educational Research and Innovation, OECD
Honorary Advisor
Tao Zhan
Director, UNESCO IITE
Director of Organising Committee
Frankie Lowe
Founder, GIoCT,
Frankie Lowe Foundation
Muriel Poisson
Team Leader a.i., Knowledge Management and Mobilisation, UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP)
Mark A. Runco
Director of Creative
Research and Programming,
Southern Oregon University
Trustee, GIoCT
Laura McBain
Co-Interim Managing
Director, Hasso Platter
Institute of Design at Stanford
and Co-Director of the K12 Lab,
Member of Advisory
Committee, GloCT
International Creativity in Schools Awards 2026
Educating Polymaths: Nurturing Creativity Across Boundaries
With “Educating Polymaths: Nurturing Creativity Across Boundaries”
as the theme for 2026, we recognise that we are at a pivotal moment in shaping education to nurture versatile, interdisciplinary thinkers. As the world evolves, so too must the ways in which we educate, preparing students to engage with diverse fields of knowledge and to think creatively across boundaries.
In this year’s focus, we are especially looking to reward educators and innovators who have fostered environments where students can develop polymathic skills — combining creativity with critical thinking across disciplines. These educators are guiding students not only to excel within a single domain, but to connect ideas and solutions from multiple perspectives, thereby building the versatility and adaptability that define a polymath.
By nurturing creativity across boundaries, we aim to highlight examples of educational practices that encourage students to think beyond traditional limits, exploring interconnectedness in knowledge and fostering skills that transcend specific subject areas. The 2026 awards will celebrate those who set a standard for helping students embrace creative, interdisciplinary approaches to learning and who inspire educators and institutions to cultivate a culture of curiosity, adaptability, and lifelong learning.and sustainable future.
Through this celebration, we aim to amplify practices that prepare students to contribute to a more sustainable, innovative, and collaborative world, ensuring that the next generation of polymaths will have the tools and mindset needed to address tomorrow's global challenges.
Sub Themes
Interdisciplinary
Innovation in Learning
Recognising teaching approaches and projects that weave together knowledge from diverse fields, for example: science, art, technology, humanities, to inspire new perspectives and creative problem-solving.
Best Use of AI as a
Creative Tool in the Classroom
Highlighting innovative practices where AI empowers students and teachers to unlock new forms of creativity, design, and exploration, while encouraging critical thinking about technology’s role in learning.
Imagination in
Everyday Learning
Recognising schools that embed creativity not just in “special projects,” but in the daily rhythms of teaching across all subjects.
Creativity for
Real-World Challenges
Highlighting student projects that apply creative, interdisciplinary thinking to solve local or global issues (e.g., sustainability, social impact, community development).
Digital Tools for Creativity:
Using digital tools to
enhance students’ creativity and encourage digital literacy in ways that align with creative thinking.
AI-Powered Creative Assessment:
Innovative approaches to
assessing creativity in students through AI-driven tools that offer real-time feedback and adaptive assessments.
Cultural and Artistic Expression:
Exploring how AI can be used to enhance cultural and artistic projects in schools, allowing students to express their creativity in new ways.
Key Dates
17 September 2025
30 April 2026
Deadline for Award Applications to the Local Organisers
Late submissions will not be accepted to ensure fairness to all participants.
May 2026
Evaluation Period by Local Organisers
Local panel of independent reviewers responsible for the selection of the most promising candidates according to the criteria by the co-organisers of the international Awards.
15 June 2026
Deadline for Award Applications
Recommended by the Local Organisers
All submissions must be received from the Local Organisers for the Committee to review each project.
16-31 July 2026
Invitations to the Global Award Ceremony
Following the selection by the International Committee, the co-organisers will invite Award finalists to the Global Award Ceremony taking place on 17 September 2026 in Paris, France.
September 2026
Announcement of Award Finalists
Finalists will be notified via email and publicly announced on the GIoCT website.
September 17-18 , 2026
Global Award Ceremony
UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France
Award 2026
Award Rules
The awards are set to stimulate the sustainable development of creativity projects in schools rather than focusing on competition. We encourage project submissions in multimedia formats. Therefore, GloCT and UNESCO IITE have set the overall prize as follows:
The best 30 organisations/teams recommended by the Local Organisers and selected by the International Committee will be invited to attend the Award Ceremony to further showcase and promote their projects.
NOTE: In submitting aproposalor video for the awards, the applicants are deemed to have conveyed to the organisers the right to choose excerpts from the proposal or video and use in the promotional materials of the organisers, including the website, the posters or the media content produced by the organisers. The organisers reserve the right for the final interpretation of the awards rules.
Scoring Rubric
Content and Relevance
- Clarity and Alignment with the Theme and/or Sub-Themes: Does the project clearly convey the importance of nurturing creativity across disciplines and empowering students to become polymaths? How well does it address the theme of interdisciplinary thinking, creative problem-solving, and fostering adaptability
- Relevance to Educational Challenges: How well does the project address specific educational challenges, both locally and globally? Does it contribute to solving pressing issues such as the UN’s sustainable development goals or other recognized educational priorities?
- Originality in Approach: How unique and innovative is the project within its educational context, especially in terms of crossing traditional subject boundaries and encouraging creative collaboration between disciplines?
Creativity and Student Development
- Creative Thinking Development: Does the project demonstrate how it fosters students’ creative thinking skills? How effectively does it encourage students to explore multiple fields, inquire, generate ideas, design solutions, and reflect on their interdisciplinary learning journey?
- Fostering Interdisciplinary Learning: How well does the project promote the integration of different subject areas, encouraging students to connect knowledge across disciplines and develop versatile, polymathic skills that are applicable to a range of real-world problems?
Learning Impact and Evidence
- Learning Outcomes and Evidence: Are there measurable impacts on student learning, such as improved interdisciplinary thinking, engagement with learning across subject areas, creativity, or problem-solving skills? Is there concrete evidence of this impact through assessments, reflections, or other relevant data?
- Sustained Engagement in Learning: Does the project demonstrate a process for measuring the long-term positive effects on students’ learning outcomes and engagement, both within the classroom and, if relevant, within the broader community?
- Educational Viability: Is the project practical and adaptable? Can it be scaled or applied to other educational environments, both nationally and internationally, to foster interdisciplinary learning and polymathic development?
Effectiveness of Communication
- Video/Media Clarity and Appeal: Is the project clearly and effectively showcased using high- quality visuals and sound that accurately reflect the project’s focus on nurturing creativity and interdisciplinary thinking?
- Evidence-Based Engagement: Does the media include concrete evidence, such as interviews, demonstrations, or data, that showcase student engagement and growth in creative and interdisciplinary thinking?
- Emotional Resonance and Call to Action: Does the project media inspire action or garner support from viewers through compelling storytelling that highlights the educational and societal benefits of nurturing polymaths and creativity across boundaries?
Eligibility and Participation
The guidelines below ensure fairness and integrity throughout the review, evaluation and award process during the local and international stages. The organisers, Local Organisers and the International Committee are bound to adhere to these standards when reviewing submissions.
Eligible Participants
- Teachers and educators from any level of K-12 education are eligible to participate.
- Participants may enter as a team or on behalf of a school/organisation, with only one submission allowed per school/organization. Once projects have been shortlisted, no additions or substitutions of team members are permitted.
Nomination Requirements
- Candidates must apply with an original project that has demonstrated enduring value and potential impact on students.
- Only one project may be submitted per school/institution.
Award Categories
To qualify, each project must align with the overarching theme of the year and address at least one of the following sub-themes:
- Interdisciplinary Innovation in Learning
- Best Use of AI as a Creative Tool in the Classroom
- Imagination in Everyday Learning
- Creativity for Real-World Challenges
Scoring breakdown
Criterion
Points
Content and Relevance
Clartiy of Presentation
Relevance to the Theme
Educational Contexts
10
10
10
Creativity and Originality
Clartiy of Presentation
Clartiy of Presentation
10
10
In Total
100
Scoring Breakdown
| Content and Relevance | |
| Clarity of Presentation | 10 |
| Relevance to the Theme | 10 |
| Educational Contexts | 10 |
| Creativity and Originality | |
| Clarity of Presentation | 10 |
| Technical Quality | |
| Visual Quality | 10 |
| Engagement and Impact | |
| Emotional Impact | 10 |
| Audience Engagement | 10 |
| Outcome and Expectation | |
| Practicality of Methodology | 10 |
| Resilience | |
| Resolve educational challenges | 10 |
| In Total | 100 |
Publications
CES@Magazine
The quarterly publication CES@MAG provides in-depth coverage of the CES, including the International Creativity in Schools Awards. Each issue offers a comprehensive review of the discussions and outcomes of CES, alongside interviews with leading educators and experts who share their insights on creativity in education. Through this platform, we aim to capture diverse perspectives, disseminate innovative practices, and contribute to advancing creative education for sustainable development.
30 + 3 Award
As one of the flagship books in the GIoCT Press Creative Thinking series, an annual “30 + 3 Case Studies Collection” is published alongside the International Creativity in Schools Award results.
The “30” represents fifty excellent projects across the world, while the “3” highlights the year’s top three outstanding projects. The collection also features diverse feedback on the project from the members of the International Committee of the year. The case studies offer a valuable way to foster exchange and learning. Look forward to this practical tool book, set to be released before the end of 2026, a valuable way to foster exchange and learning. Look forward to this practical tool book, set to be released before the end of 2024.
International Creativity in Schools Awards 2026
Co-Organisers
GIoCT
The Global Institute of Creative Thinking is an institute in the UK, and now a registered charity, the Global Institute of Creative Thinking has always stayed true to its roots. GIoCT’s mission remains the same, to nurture creative thinkers, empower those we teach, and inspire futures. GIoCT wants to make a purposeful contribution with the seeds we plant to bring about meaningful lifelong learning. The main activities of the institute include evidence-based advocacy, international conferences and workshops, teacher-professional learning courses, and creative thinking programmes run in collaboration with schools.
UNESCO IITE
The Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE) is a specialized agency established by UNESCO to promote the innovative use of ICT in education. Situated in Moscow, Russia, the institute focuses on assisting member states in developing policies and capacities related to ICT in education. Its activities include research, advocacy for ICT-enabled pedagogy, promoting ICT skills among teachers, sharing knowledge on best practices, enhancing inclusive education, and developing partnerships to support educational goals related to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).