Six Literacy Programmes from Six Countries Receive UNESCO International Literacy Prizes 2026

Key facts

• Six literacy programmes from Colombia, Lebanon, Mexico, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Nigeria and Thailand won the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes, presented during International Literacy Day celebrations on 8 and 9 September 2026 in Chiapas, Mexico, under the theme 'Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity'.
• The UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize, sponsored by the Republic of Korea, went to the 'Escuelas LEO' Programme by BibloRed (Colombia), the 'Language Friendly School' programme by the Rutu Foundation (Kingdom of the Netherlands), and 'Project PAL' by the WAER Waters Charity Foundation (Nigeria).
• The UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy, sponsored by the People's Republic of China, went to the Alsama Project (Lebanon), the 'Chiapas Puede' State Literacy Programme by the Government of the State of Chiapas (Mexico), and the Hat Yai City Municipality programme (Thailand).
• Each of the six laureates receives an endowment of US$ 30,000, a medal and a diploma.
• Since 1967, UNESCO's International Literacy Prizes have rewarded more than 600 individuals, organizations and institutions.
• International Literacy Day 2026 marked its 60th anniversary; it was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1966 during the 14th session of the General Conference.
• 739 million youth and adults worldwide lack basic literacy skills, 63% of whom are women; more than 77% of non-literate youth and adults live in sub-Saharan Africa (225 million) and Southern Asia (347 million).
• Four in ten students globally do not achieve minimum reading proficiency by the end of primary education, and 273 million children and youth are out of school.
• In 2024 and 2025, UNESCO's literacy and adult learning work reached more than 460,000 learners and beneficiaries and supported 43 countries, including 22 that strengthened their literacy policies and frameworks.