The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), in partnership with The Kavli Foundation, has opened submissions for the 2026 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards which recognise individual journalists whose work contributes to public understanding of science, engineering, mathematics, and their broader societal impact.
Established in 1945, the programme has developed into an internationally recognised platform for evaluating excellence in science journalism. Following an endowment expansion in 2015, the competition became fully international and is now open to journalists working with independent news organisations across the world.
For the 2026 cycle, eligible work must have been originally published, broadcast, or posted online between July 16, 2025, and July 15, 2026. The submission deadline is August 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. U.S. Pacific Time. Participation is free, and each entrant may submit up to three entries across one or more categories.
However, note that a single story may not be entered in more than one category, and entries submitted individually cannot also be submitted as part of a series. Previous winners from the 2025 awards are ineligible, and individuals who have won the award three times are permanently excluded. Work published or produced by AAAS is also not eligible for submission.
The competition covers multiple categories designed to reflect different formats and newsroom contexts, including Science Reporting (Large Outlet), Science Reporting (Small Outlet), Science Reporting (In-Depth), Magazine, Audio, Video Spot News/Feature Reporting, Video In-Depth Reporting, and Children’s Science News. The Children’s Science News category recognises reporting aimed at children and young teenagers up to age 14, with emphasis on clarity and accessibility.
Entries may be submitted in languages other than English, provided an English translation is supplied. To facilitate judging, paywalled content must be made accessible via login credentials or provided as readable PDFs. All submitted materials must remain accessible throughout the judging period, scheduled from August 1 to October 30, 2026.
Submissions will be assessed by independent judging panels based on scientific accuracy, initiative, originality, clarity of interpretation, and contribution to public understanding of science and its societal implications. Entrants are also required to disclose any use of artificial intelligence in the research, reporting, writing, or presentation of their work.
Each category offers two awards: a Gold Award of $5,000 and a Silver Award of $3,500. Winners will be recognised at the 2027 AAAS Annual Meeting, with travel and accommodation provided for one representative per winning entry, subject to the contest rules. Full details and submission procedures are available on the official AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards website at https://sjawards.aaas.org/entries-now-being-accepted-2026-awards.
