Competitions - why they help your teen build skills - and deadlines for entry

Dec 27, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Jul 22

Competitions are a great way to help your teen focus on something that interests them and do something a little different from others. There are lots of competitions online: writing fiction, creating fashion, submitting essays, creative, science and cookery, as well as many relating to curriculum activities. We’ve listed a few below as a starting point, but with a little online research your teen’s bound to find a competition specific to their interests.

Some competitions require a little effort to enter, others a lot. Working to a specification, creating something that meets it, and working to a deadline (the competition close date) demonstrates terrific transferable skills.

Entries are great to include on CVs and personal statements, or to talk about in interviews. If they win or are acknowledged as a good entry, it can be a great confidence booster. But win or not, entering a competition demonstrates initiative, intellectual curiosity, drive, research skills, preparation and organisation. These are all desirable, and should be the primary focus when including them in applications or talking about them in interviews.

If you’re looking for other things your teen can do that they’ll enjoy, that will build character, develop their skills and help them stand out during interviews, take a look at The Parents’ Guide to Developing Skills and Character.

2026 competitions

Art

Royal Academy of Arts - Young Artists Summer Show - schools must register candidates. Registration 5 Jan to 4 Mar 2026. Judging in May. Exhibition 14 Jul to 30 Aug (age 4-18).

Business and economics

Young Economist of the Year - deadline tbc, July 2026 (Years 10-13).

Gaming

BAFTA Young Game Designers - registration open, deadline tbc (age 10-18).

Geography

Young Geographer of the Year - run via schools, details to be released in April (age 14-16 and 16-18).

Fashion and design

Young Fashion Designer UK - registration open, deadline Fri 1 May (studying fashion or textiles at GCSE or sixth form).

LGBT+ History Month Badge Competition - design the LGBT+ History Month badge for 2027. Ages 5-18. Opens May, deadline tbc.

Film and photography

Childnet Film Competition - deadline tbc, likely June (age 11-19).

RSPCA photography competition - opens early May 2026, deadline tbc, likely August (age 12-15 or 16-18).

Wimbledon Shorts - opens shortly, deadline tbc, likely Jul 2026 (under 25).

Literature

Author of Tomorrow - opens early 2026, deadline tbc (age 16-21).

Foyle Young Poet of the Year, The Poetry Society - opens in the spring, deadline tbc, likely July (age 11-17).

Music

BBC Young Composer - register by noon 2 Feb (age 12-18), entry deadline 16 Mar. Awards 16 Apr.

Science and maths

Big Bang Competition (for STEM) - now open, deadline 4 Mar (age 11-19).

The UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC) - registration closed 31 Dec. Deadlines mid-to-late Mar, vary by region. 25 Jun UK final. 23-24 Jul international final at Farnborough Air Show.

IEA Budget Challenge - deadline 30 Jan 2026. Finals take place in Mar 2026.

Assorted

Rotary Youth Competitions - a range of competitions for young people.

Inspiring ways for your teen to stand out from others

If you’d like to know how your teen can build their character, develop skills, stand out from others and improve their chances at interviews, all while doing things they enjoy, read our suggestions in The Parents’ Guide to Developing Skills and Character. It includes sections on: