Entries have officially opened for the 2026 edition of The Nigeria Prizes, with organisers announcing a renewed focus on Artificial Intelligence, poetry, and documentary filmmaking across the competition categories.
This was made public on Sunday, February 1, 2026 via a statement by NLNG’s Manager, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku.
The annual awards, widely regarded as Nigeria’s most prestigious platform for recognising excellence in science, literature, and the creative arts, are sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG).
For the 2026 cycle, The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation will focus on “Innovations in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Technologies for Development.” The theme continues from the 2025 edition, which ended without a winner.
NLNG’s General Manager for External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, said the chosen themes reflect current global realities shaped by technology and creativity.
“The themes for the 2026 cycle reflect the realities of a world being reshaped by digital intelligence and creative expression,” she said, noting that the prizes aim to support ideas and talents capable of delivering long-term national impact.
Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Science and Innovation Prize, Prof. Barth Nnaji, urged scientists and innovators worldwide to submit entries that move beyond theory to practical solutions.
“The Prize recognises innovations grounded in rigorous research, demonstrating technical maturity and clear potential for application within Nigeria’s development landscape,” he said.
Valued at $100,000, the Science and Innovation Prize seeks digital and AI-driven solutions capable of improving efficiency and decision-making across key sectors of Nigeria’s economy.
In literature, the 2026 competition will spotlight poetry, with Nigerian writers at home and in the diaspora invited to submit poetry collections published from 2023 onward. The literature prize also carries a $100,000 award.
Meanwhile, NLNG has introduced The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, which will debut with Documentary Filmmaking under the theme “Identity.” The new prize, valued at $20,000, is targeted at Nigerian filmmakers aged 18 to 35.
Chairman of the Advisory Board for both the Literature and Creative Arts prizes, Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, described the introduction as a significant expansion of the awards’ legacy.
She said the initiative encourages creatives to explore memory, truth, and lived experiences while reshaping perceptions of Nigeria through storytelling.
Interested participants can obtain further details and submission guidelines via the official website of The Nigeria Prizes.