The African Union (AU) has opened a continental logo and visual identity competition for young African creatives to design the official visual identity for the AU Theme of the Year 2027.

The competition is open to citizens of African Union Member States aged 18 to 24 and gives young designers, artists, students and digital creatives an opportunity to have their work used by the African Union throughout 2027.

The deadline for submissions is 23 October 2026 at 11:59 PM East Africa Time (EAT).

What Is the AU Theme of the Year 2027?

The AU Theme of the Year 2027 is:

“AU at the Dawn of its 25th Anniversary: Leveraging the Full Potential of SAATM and New Technologies for Continental Integration.”

The theme focuses on the African Union’s 25-year journey and the role of connectivity, the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and new technologies in advancing continental integration.

The proposed logo should reflect ideas including African integration, open skies, connectivity, innovation, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, youth participation and Agenda 2063.

Who Can Enter?

The competition is open to:

Citizens of any African Union Member State
Young Africans aged 18–24 on the submission deadline
Students
Designers
Artists
Digital creatives
Innovators

No formal creative qualification is required.

Entries must be submitted individually. Joint or team submissions are not allowed, and each applicant can submit only one entry.

Members of the evaluation process, AU personnel, contractors and their immediate family members are not eligible.

What Should the Logo Communicate?

The AU is looking for a visual concept that brings together four main ideas:

The African Union at 25
Continental integration and African unity
SAATM and connectivity
New technologies and African-led innovation

The competition guidelines encourage applicants to think about open African skies, movement, digital transformation, AI, inclusion and shared prosperity.

Applicants are advised to avoid national flags, political symbols, cultural stereotypes, copied stock imagery and overly literal combinations of aircraft and technology icons.

What Do You Need to Submit?

Applicants are required to prepare a complete design package containing:

A primary logo, with and without the campaign title
Colour version
Black-and-white version
Reversed version
Basic colour palette
Typography direction
Digital card mock-up
Event backdrop mock-up
Publication cover mock-up
Logo preview in PNG or JPEG format
Concept and motivation note of no more than 500 words
Proof of nationality and age
Completed application form
Signed originality, intellectual property and AI declaration

The presentation PDF should contain the required logo versions and mock-ups. The logo preview must have a minimum width of 3,000 pixels.

The concept note should explain the idea behind the design, including its symbolism, colours and visual elements, and how it connects with the 2027 AU Theme.

Generative AI Is Not Allowed

The AU has specifically prohibited the use of generative artificial intelligence in the competition.

Entries must be original and created by the applicant. Logos generated, modified or substantially enhanced using generative AI will not be accepted.

Applicants can use standard graphic-design software, provided its generative AI features are not used. The AU may also request sketches or evidence of the design process and conduct originality and technical checks.

Prizes

The competition will award cash prizes to the top three entries:

First place: USD 5,000
Second place: USD 2,000
Third place: USD 1,000

The top three winners will also receive certificates of recognition, acknowledgement through African Union platforms and training opportunities.

The winning designer will have the opportunity to participate in the AU Summit, where the selected logo will be officially unveiled.

The winning concept will also be refined with its creator and adapted according to AU branding guidelines for official use throughout 2027.

How Will Entries Be Judged?

The African Union will assess submissions based on several criteria, including:

Relevance to the full 2027 AU Theme – 25%
AU values, Agenda 2063 and Pan-African identity – 20%
Creativity, originality and visual impact – 20%
Simplicity, clarity and recognisability – 15%
Adaptability and technical execution – 10%
Accessibility, cultural sensitivity and multilingual usability – 5%
Quality of the concept note – 5%

The selection process will include administrative screening, technical evaluation, shortlist verification and final adjudication.

How to Apply

Eligible young creatives should first review the official competition guidelines and prepare all the required materials.

Applications must be submitted through the official African Union entry portal.

Application: Apply for the AU Theme of the Year 2027 Logo Competition

Deadline

The application deadline is 23 October 2026 at 11:59 PM EAT (UTC+3).

Applicants should submit early and keep the automated acknowledgement received after submission as proof of entry.

Key Details

Competition: AU Theme of the Year 2027 Logo and Visual Identity Competition
Organiser: African Union Commission
Eligible applicants: Citizens of AU Member States aged 18–24
Submission type: Individual entries
Theme: AU at the Dawn of its 25th Anniversary: Leveraging the Full Potential of SAATM and New Technologies for Continental Integration
First prize: USD 5,000
Second prize: USD 2,000
Third prize: USD 1,000
Deadline: 23 October 2026, 11:59 PM EAT
Generative AI: Not permitted
Application fee: No application fee stated by the AU