2026 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Award

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This is a preview of the 2026 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Award form. When you’re ready to apply, click Fill Out Now to begin.
 

2026 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards

Information before you start

The Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards (the Awards) is an annual celebration, established in 1989, that recognises the achievements and  contributions of young people aged 12 to 25 years in the ACT.

The Awards recognise a diverse range of achievements, including contributions to community service, sport, education, science, culture, the arts, environmental sustainability, leadership, advocacy and personal development.

Nominations are invited across the following categories:

  • Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Award
  • Young Achiever Award
  • Personal Achievement Award
  • Environment and Sustainability Award
  • Group Achievement Award
  • Arts and Multimedia Award

The Awards are supported by the ACT Government and sponsors, who are committed to recognising the talents and contributions of young people from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. 

Nominations close: Tuesday 1 September 2026

Awards Ceremony: Friday 6 November 2026 at the Anne Harding Conference Centre, University of Canberra, Bruce. 

Before submitting your nomination, please read the 2026 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Guidelines for eligibility and application details. https://www.act.gov.au/community/honours-and-awards/young-canberra-citizen-of-the-year-award

How to nominate

  • All nominations must be submitted online through this SmartyGrants form. 
  • You can nominate yourself or someone else
  • You can nominate one individual, group, or organisation per application. 
  • You can nominate for more than one award category in the same application.

Note: Incomplete forms cannot be submitted. SmartyGrants will prompt you to complete missing fields before proceeding.

Assistance and support

If you have any questions or need help accessing or completing the nomination form, the Office for Youth Engagement team is here to assist you. 

Assessment

The Office for Youth Engagement will convene a selection panel to assess all nominations.

Nominations will be assessed based on the quality of responses provided in the application and any supporting documentation. Reference checks will be conducted for shortlisted nominees.

Category Information

For detailed descriptions of each Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Award category, including eligibility criteria and examples, please visit:

https://www.act.gov.au/community/honours-and-awards/young-canberra-citizen-of-the-year-award

Who can be nominated?

Nominees must:

  • be aged between 12 to 25 years by the closing date of nominations (1 September 2026)
  • live, work, study or make a significant contribution to the ACT community
  • meet the requirements of the award category they are nominated for
  • agree to be nominated.

Previous recognition

Where a nominee, program, project or initiative has received a Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Award or commendation across all categories within the past two years, nominations should clearly show new achievements, growth, outcomes or innovation since the previous recognition.

 Nominations that do not provide evidence of new or expanded impact may be considered less competitive during the assessment process.