2026 Local Letters for Global Change Contest Now Open – Nov 1

Posted by Pulitzer Center on August 18, 2026

It’s that time of year again—it’s back-to-school season and time to launch our annual fall letter-writing contest for students!

We are excited to share that the 2026 Local Letters for Global Change contest is open for submissions. We are ready and excited to hear from your students about which global issues they are passionate about, how those issues connect to what they see in their communities, and their ideas for how those issues can be addressed.

Entrants will write a letter to a local elected representative and cite a Pulitzer Center-supported story of their choice to highlight the importance of their chosen issue, show how it connects to their local community, and propose a solution. These letters have the power to effect real change in students’ lives and communities, and we are excited to see how young people can use the news as a first step to taking informed action.

This contest welcomes entries from K-12 students anywhere in the world—written in English or Spanish—that address important global topics from the Pulitzer Center’s five focus areas:

• Climate and Environment
• Global Health
• Human Rights
• Information and Artificial Intelligence
• Peace and Conflict

Winners and finalists will receive cash prizes to support global community engagement in their classroom, and have their letters, photos, and bios published on the Pulitzer Center website.

Read the contest guidelines to get all the details about this contest, find resources to help you get started, and suggested stories to inspire your students’ letters.

All entries are due Sunday, November 1, 2026.