The Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards

The 2025 UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, 29 October 2025 in Rome, Italy. It will reach global audiences – with over 5 million viewers for the 2024 edition – through UN WebTV, Deutsche Welle, and RAI, Italy’s public national broadcaster.

Through the Awards, the Campaign is committed to showcasing the heroes of tomorrow while sending a message of hope and possibilities. Each year, a high-level panel of judges and a technical review team consider over 5,500 applications and nominations from 190 countries, selecting finalists and then the winners.

Categories

• Creativity Award: This Award recognizes extraordinary campaigns or initiatives that, through the power of creativity, have galvanized significant action and achieved measurable results in shifting people’s behaviours and public perceptions and/or influencing policies and budgetary allocations towards more sustainable, equitable and peaceful societies. They have successfully leveraged a creative medium, including music, art, poetry, digital and multimedia, theatre, documentaries, dance, street art and any other form of creative expression, to achieve sustainable, fair, peaceful societies and/or promote human rights.
• Resilience Award: This Award honours initiatives that have demonstrated extraordinary resilience in overcoming crises, adversity, or systemic challenges while advancing progress towards the SDGs. These initiatives have not only endured but have successfully adapted, persevered, and thrived despite obstacles—whether environmental, economic, political, or social. By embracing innovation, collaboration, and determination, they have overcome challenges and contributed to building more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable communities, reinforcing the importance of resilience in achieving the SDGs and leaving no one behind.
• Changemaker Award: This Award honours exceptional individuals who have made a lasting impact in their communities and societies. They are the movers and the shakers but also people working quietly behind the scenes driving change. A changemaker envisions a new reality, takes action and collaborates with others to bring that vision to life. A changemaker stands up for equality, justice and human rights, leading movements to transform our world and illuminate the path towards sustainable, fair, peaceful societies. Changemakers are identified through nominations or self-nominations.

Prize Information

• Funded participation to the UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony and Finalist Induction Programme: One representative from each finalist initiative will be invited to attend the Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony and Finalist Induction Programme in Rome, Italy, in October 2025. The one-day Induction Programme includes creative workshops, skill development sessions, and networking opportunities, leading up to the inspiring UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony, where the winners will be announced and celebrated. Flight and accommodation expenses will be covered by the UN SDG Action Campaign.
• Global Recognition: Finalists and winners will receive international promotion and visibility for their work through the UN SDG Action Campaign.
• Customized Trophy: Each finalist and winner will receive a prestigious trophy.

Eligibility Criteria

• Campaigns or initiatives must demonstrate proven results within the last three years and align with the 2025 award categories. Initiatives still in the planning or conceptualization phase are not eligible.
• Initiatives led by United Nations entities or national governments will only be considered for honourable mentions.
• Previous finalists and winners of the UN SDG Action Awards are not eligible to apply.

For more information, visit UN SDG Action Campaign.