Varkey FoundationAward

$1 Million Global Teacher Prize

Oct 12, 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Opportunity type

Award

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

Global

Deadline

Oct 12, 2026 09:00:00 GMT

About this opportunity

The Varkey Foundation, working with UNESCO and sponsored by GEMS Education, awards US$1 million to one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession. The 2027 edition is open to educators of any nationality in any country, and this year it widens to digital educators, leaders of education programmes and teachers in refugee and other non-formal settings, alongside classroom teachers. You can apply yourself or nominate a teacher you know.

What you get:

US$1 million for the winner, paid in ten equal annual instalments of US$100,000
Five years as a Varkey Foundation Global Ambassador, with travel and accommodation for ambassador duties paid by the Foundation
Free financial counselling sessions provided by the Foundation
A Top 50 and Top 10 shortlist, giving finalists global recognition

What you'll do:

Complete the online application form and questions on the Prize Platform, in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Russian or Chinese
Show evidence of effective and innovative practice, measurable student learning outcomes, impact beyond your own classroom, education for global citizenship, and recognition from others
If you win: keep teaching students aged 4 to 18 for five years, serve as a Global Ambassador, and send an annual report on how prize money over US$5,000 was spent

Key dates:

Applications and nominations close 12 October 2026 at 9am BST (4am in Toronto)
Top 50, Top 10 and winner dates for this cycle have not been published; the terms say they will be confirmed in due course

More information:

Full eligibility rules and prize conditions are in the official Terms and Conditions
Applications are checked for AI-generated content, and any found leads to disqualification

Who can apply

At least 18 years old at the time of entry
Any nationality, working in any country, subject to local laws
At least five years working in the education of students aged four to eighteen
Must be a classroom teacher in a state or independent school, an Early Years teacher working to a recognised curriculum, a teacher in a non-formal setting such as refugee education, a digital educator with ongoing cohorts, or a founder or leader of an education programme for ages four to eighteen
Part-time, contract and self-employed educators are eligible on the same basis as full-time staff
Must have direct responsibility for children's learning; purely administrative or managerial roles are not eligible
Teachers in further or higher education (18+) are not eligible
Previous winners and previous Top 10 finalists cannot enter; one application per person
No criminal record for the applicant or any connected person

AI Verification

✓ AI Verified

Our AI read the official sources and cross-checked the key facts. Here is what held up, and what it could not confirm.

We could not fully verify this organization or all of its details. Check it independently on the official website before you apply, and never share sensitive personal or financial information until you are sure a request is genuine.

LOT Verification ScoreSolid

Cross-checked 10 of 11 key facts

Confirmed Our best read Not stated

Good to know

+US$1 million to one teacher, from an established charity working with UNESCO, with selection audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers
+Open to educators of any nationality in any country; self-application and nomination both accepted
+Eligibility widened this cycle to digital educators, programme leaders and non-formal and refugee educators

Worth checking yourself

!Closes Monday 12 October 2026 at 9am UK time, which is 4am in Toronto. The Varkey Foundation posted this date; its prize website only says applications close soon
!The money is not a lump sum: ten annual payments of US$100,000, and the Foundation can stop payments or demand repayment if the winner breaches the terms
!Winners must keep teaching students aged 4 to 18 in a school setting for five years, serve as a Global Ambassador, give 14 days' notice of any media appearance, file an annual spending report, and may not spend prize money on political activity, party donations or trade unions
!The prize FAQ is out of date. The current Terms require at least five years of teaching; follow the Terms
!Not a youth opportunity in practice: five years' teaching experience means most eligible applicants are in their mid-twenties or older
!Applications are screened for AI-generated content and disqualified if any is found
!Applicants grant the Foundation a perpetual worldwide licence to use their application, including for commercial purposes

Sources checked

OPopportunitydesk.orgOfficialGLglobalteacherprize.orgApplyGLglobalteacherprize.orgApplyGLglobalteacherprize.orgApplyGLglobalteacherprize.orgApplyGLglobalteacherprize.orgApplyGLglobalteacherprize.orgApplyGLglobalteacherprize.orgApplyGLglobalteacherprize.orgApplyVAvarkeyfoundation.orgOfficialVAvarkeyfoundation.orgOfficialVAvarkeyfoundation.orgOfficialLIlinkedin.comOfficialGLglobalteacherprize.orgApply

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