A logo may seem a small thing, but for the African Union it is the public face of a year meant to speak to every citizen on the continent. That is the thinking behind a new competition the African Union Commission has launched, inviting young Africans aged 18 to 24 to design the visual identity for the AU Theme of the Year 2027.
The theme itself was adopted by the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government. It reads: “AU at the Dawn of its 25th Anniversary: Leveraging the Full Potential of SAATM and New Technologies for Continental Integration.” Behind the formal title lie ideas with everyday stakes for Africans: the promise of open African skies, the transformative potential of new technologies, the aspirations of continental integration, and the Union’s 25th anniversary. The winning design will represent those ambitions throughout 2027.
The competition, launched on 24 September 2026 with the support of the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), is one of the early awareness-raising activities carried out by the Commission’s Department of Infrastructure and Energy. Its purpose is to build public awareness, encourage participation and strengthen ownership of the Theme among ordinary citizens, and to harness the creativity of Africa’s youth in shaping the Union’s public identity.
Eligibility is straightforward. The call is open to citizens of AU Member States aged 18 to 24 on the submission deadline. Young designers, artists, students and digital creatives are all encouraged to take part. Entries must be submitted individually and must be original, human-created designs; the use of generative artificial intelligence is not permitted.
Timing matters for those wishing to participate. The call will remain open for approximately four weeks, with submissions closing on 23 October 2026 at 23:59 East Africa Time (UTC+3).
The rewards reach beyond money, though cash prizes are part of the package. The top three entries will receive USD 5,000 for first place, USD 2,000 for second place and USD 1,000 for third place. Alongside the prizes come certificates of recognition, acknowledgement through African Union platforms and training opportunities. The winner will also have the chance to participate in the AU Summit, where the selected logo will be officially unveiled.
Whatever design is chosen will not simply be adopted as submitted. The winning concept will be refined in consultation with its creator and in accordance with African Union branding guidelines, then used officially throughout 2027.
Meanwhile, the Commission has coupled the launch with a call to institutions that serve young people. It is encouraging eligible young Africans to submit their designs and asking media organisations, universities, youth organisations and creative networks to share the opportunity widely, widening access to a chance to shape a symbol of continental significance.
Full competition guidelines and submission details are available on the official competition webpage. Media inquiries may be directed to Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar, Senior Communication Officer in the Information and Communication Directorate of the African Union Commission, or to Ms. Bezayit Eyoel, Information Analyst in the Department of Infrastructure and Energy. General contact details for the Commission’s Information and Communication Directorate are available via www.au.int, with the Commission based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
For the young Africans who enter, the question now is what a symbol of 25 years of continental ambition should look like, and whose hand will draw it.