Deadline: 31-May-2026
The Social Fiction Design Competition invites writers, filmmakers, artists, animators, and creative thinkers worldwide to imagine the life of a young person in the year 2050 through powerful Social Fiction storytelling. The competition encourages visionary ideas addressing climate change, innovation, social justice, sustainability, health, employment, and other global challenges.
Winning participants will receive USD 10,000 in funding support to help transform their fictional ideas into real-world prototypes, pilot projects, products, services, or social impact initiatives.
Overview of the Competition
The Social Fiction Design Competition is a global storytelling initiative that encourages participants to imagine future societies and propose creative solutions to major social and environmental challenges.
Participants are asked to create a Social Fiction story set in 2050 that explores how young people may live, work, interact, and overcome future challenges.
The competition combines:
- Creative storytelling
- Future thinking
- Social innovation
- Systems change
- Imaginative design
The initiative encourages ideas that promote justice, sustainability, equity, and positive social transformation.
Key Themes and Focus Areas
Participants may explore themes such as:
- Climate Change
- Agriculture
- Technology and Innovation
- Transport
- Circular Economy
- Waste Management
- Tourism
- WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)
- Health and Well-being
- Employment and livelihoods
- Literature and Music
- Sports
- Micro-credit and finance
- Environmental justice
- Social justice and equity
Stories may address one or multiple interconnected themes.
What is Social Fiction?
Social Fiction is a storytelling approach that imagines future societies, systems, and human experiences while exploring solutions to current and emerging global challenges.
The competition encourages participants to:
- Imagine future communities
- Explore social and environmental transformations
- Design innovative systems and ideas
- Present hopeful and practical future possibilities
- Inspire action and innovation through storytelling
The focus is not only on fiction, but also on actionable future-oriented thinking.
Funding and Prize Details
Winner Support
Selected winners will receive:
- USD 10,000 in funding support
Eligible Use of Funding
The funding may support:
- Prototype development
- Pilot implementation
- Market testing
- Product development
- Service design
- Early-stage operations
- Social innovation activities
The goal is to help participants transform fictional ideas into real-world impact initiatives.
Who Can Apply?
The competition is open globally.
Eligible participants include:
- Writers
- Filmmakers
- Artists
- Animators
- Designers
- Creative thinkers
- Storytellers
- Dreamers and innovators
There are:
- No age restrictions
- No geographic limitations
Anyone from any country may participate.
Submission Requirements
Applicants must submit:
- A Social Fiction story between 1,000 and 5,000 words
The story should:
- Imagine life in 2050
- Focus on the experiences of a young person
- Explore future systems and societal change
- Present creative and meaningful solutions
Participants are encouraged to use imaginative storytelling while grounding ideas in social and environmental realities.
Why the Competition Matters
Young people today face growing challenges related to:
- Climate change
- Economic inequality
- Social injustice
- Environmental degradation
- Technological disruption
- Public health and well-being
The competition encourages creative thinkers to imagine better futures and inspire practical innovation through storytelling.
Social Fiction can help:
- Shape public imagination
- Encourage systems thinking
- Inspire future policies and innovations
- Promote social and environmental responsibility
- Support youth-centered futures
How the Competition Works
Participants submit future-oriented Social Fiction stories for evaluation.
Competition Process
- Develop a future-focused Social Fiction concept
- Write a story between 1,000–5,000 words
- Explore social, environmental, or technological challenges
- Present innovative future solutions
- Submit the completed story
- Selected winners receive funding support
Winning ideas may move toward prototype or pilot-stage implementation.
Tips for a Strong Submission
Participants should:
- Build a realistic and imaginative future world
- Focus on human-centered storytelling
- Present practical or inspiring future solutions
- Connect fiction with real-world challenges
- Show creativity and originality
- Explore social and environmental impact
Strong submissions usually include:
- Clear future vision
- Emotional storytelling
- Innovative systems thinking
- Inclusive and equitable perspectives
- Creative but believable solutions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Social Fiction Design Competition?
It is a global competition inviting participants to imagine future societies and youth experiences in 2050 through Social Fiction storytelling.
Who can apply?
Anyone worldwide can apply, including writers, artists, filmmakers, animators, and creative thinkers.
Is there an age limit?
No, there are no age restrictions.
What is the required submission format?
Applicants must submit a Social Fiction story between 1,000 and 5,000 words.
What themes can participants explore?
Themes include climate change, technology, health, transport, agriculture, employment, circular economy, social justice, and more.
What do winners receive?
Winners receive USD 10,000 in funding support.
What can the funding be used for?
Funding may support prototyping, pilot implementation, product development, testing, and early-stage operations.
Conclusion
The Social Fiction Design Competition 2026 offers a unique opportunity for global storytellers and innovators to imagine transformative futures and inspire real-world change. By combining creative storytelling with systems thinking and social innovation, the competition encourages participants to explore how communities and young people can thrive in a more just, sustainable, and equitable world by 2050.
The initiative also supports turning visionary ideas into practical action through funding for prototypes, pilots, and impact-driven innovation.
For more information, visit Yunus Centre.