By Olcay Tetik and Lokamitraa Tokala, UNDP

In a time of growing global challenges, progress depends on those who choose to act now. Across communities and countries, people are driving change, often unseen, yet deeply impactful. They are the heroes of tomorrow, working quietly against the odds to build a sustainable, just, and peaceful future.

To recognize them and elevate their stories, the UN SDG Action Campaign has launched the 2026 edition of the Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards, and welcomes applications until 17 May 2026.

For eight consecutive years, through the Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards, the Campaign has honored initiatives and committed individuals who transform vision into action. Driven by courage, resilience, and bold leadership, these heroes demonstrate that meaningful progress is not only possible, but already underway.

A high-level panel of judges selects three winners from more than 5,000 entries across 190 countries. The panel is composed of distinguished figures from across the globe, including UN leadership, senior government representatives, civil society and grassroots leaders, creatives, and impact-driven business champions.

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The 2026 Award Finalists will be invited to Rome, Italy, to be part of the finalist programme and the Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony, taking place on Thursday, 29 October 2026. The Ceremony will feature global leaders, business leaders, and artists, and it will be broadcast worldwide through Rai, Italy’s national broadcaster and official media partner, and UN WebTV.

The 2026 edition of the Awards recognize efforts across three categories:

  • The Changemaker Award, which honors individuals leading collective action towards justice, equality, and peace;
  • The Creativity Award, which honors initiatives that inspire hope and action through visual expression, art, innovation, and more; and
  • The Resilience Award, which honors initiatives building resilience in the face of conflicts, inequalities, or climate change.

How to apply

To apply for the Creativity or Resilience Awardclick here.

To (self-)nominate for the Changemaker Award click here.

The deadline for applications is 17 May 2026, Sunday, at 23:59 EST.

Meet our past winners

The 2025 edition of Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards saw two Changemaker Winners for the first time. One of the Changemaker Award Winners, Julienne Lusenge, is a human rights defender who supports thousands of survivors of gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As founder of Solidarité Féminine pour la Paix et le Développement Intégral (SOFEPADI) and Executive Director of the Fund for Congolese Women (FFC), Julienne has provided holistic care to 7,500+ survivors and mobilized USD 3 million in 700+ grants, empowering 250+ grassroots women-led groups across 14 provinces. From documenting crimes to creating futures of dignity, winners like Julienne Lusenge show that resilience is not only about survival – it’s about transforming pain into peace.

The other 2025 Changemaker Award Winner, Jîn Dawod, supports displaced communities with mental health care across 26 countries. In a world where 122.6 million people are forcibly displaced, and trauma, depression, and anxiety are widespread, Jîn is pioneering a model, Peace Therapist, that blends refugee leadership, digital innovation, and mental health equity. The platform connects people to therapy in Arabic, Kurdish, Turkish, and English through AI-powered psychologist matching, crisis support, and a network of 150 psychologists.   

The 2025 Creativity Award Winner, Smartel, is an innovative social enterprise that is transforming agriculture with climate-smart solutions in Nigeria and beyond. Their portable and easy-to-use systems have already produced thousands of kilos of fresh food for vulnerable communities while cutting water use by up to 90%. Smartel proves that climate-smart farming can grow anywhere – and that every community should have the tools to grow its own future.

The 2025 Resilience Award Winner, Central Única das Favelas (CUFA), received this award for transforming favelas into hubs of talent, creativity, and innovation. From its Mothers of the Favela program – which supported 17 million people during the COVID-19 pandemic – to rapid disaster relief after Brazil’s 2024 floods, CUFA combines emergency response with long-term empowerment. Every school built, every youth trained, and every entrepreneur funded moves the world closer to a future where no one is left behind.