Khalifa Award for EducationAward

$100,000 Khalifa Early Learning Award

Dec 31, 2026 23:59:00 GST

Opportunity type

Award

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

Global

Deadline

Dec 31, 2026 23:59:00 GST

About this opportunity

The Khalifa International Award for Early Learning, run by the UAE's Khalifa Award for Education and this year promoted through a HundrED Spotlight, gives US$100,000 to one winner in each of two categories: the best early learning programme, curriculum or teaching practice, and the best published research on early childhood. Work must focus on children from birth to age eight, and it is open to individuals, teams and organisations from any country.

What you get:

US$100,000 per winner, with one winner in each of the two categories
A trophy, a certificate and international recognition from the Khalifa Award for Education and HundrED
Flights, hotel and entry visa covered for the winner to attend the award ceremony in Abu Dhabi
A feature in the Spotlight report HundrED publishes on the call

What you'll do:

Choose one category: Best Programs, Curricula, Teaching Methodologies and Practices, or Best Research and Studies
Write an application of up to 10 single-spaced pages in English, plus an abstract of no more than 300 words and an optional appendix of up to 3 pages
Show rigorous evidence: programmes need an evaluation of implementation or outcomes, and research must already be published in some form
Programme applicants also create an innovation page on HundrED and then complete the application on the Khalifa Award site

Key dates:

Applications close December 31, 2026
Screening and review January to March 2027
Winners announced April 2027
Award ceremony in Abu Dhabi, May 2027

More information:

HundrED Spotlight on Early Learning Impact: https://hundred.org/en/collections/spotlight-on-early-learning-impact
General instructions to candidates: https://el.khaward.ae/general-instructions-to-candidates/
Guide Book 2026 to 2027 (PDF): https://el.khaward.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/EL-Guide-Book-2026-2027edits.pdf

Who can apply

Open to individuals, teams, institutions and organisations from any country
No age limit for applicants
Work must focus on children from birth to age eight
Applications must be in English; Arabic applications are not considered
One application per person or organisation per year, in one category only
Work must not have been prepared as part of a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree requirement
The same or similar work must not have won another award in the same field within the past two years
Teams and organisations must nominate an authorised representative; a team's prize is split equally among members

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 7 of 11 key facts

Confirmed Our best read Not stated

Good to know

+US$100,000 to one winner in each of two categories, plus travel, hotel and visa for the ceremony in Abu Dhabi
+Open to individuals, teams and organisations in any country, with no age limit
+Run by the Khalifa Award for Education, founded in 2007, and promoted by HundrED

Worth checking yourself

!Closes 31 December 2026
!A high bar: programmes need a rigorous evaluation of their impact, and research must already be published; degree work is excluded
!Work must focus on children from birth to age eight, and applications must be in English
!The award's older FAQ page still says US$50,000 and last year's dates; the current guide book says US$100,000

Sources checked

OPopportunitiesforyouth.orgOfficialHUhundred.orgOfficialHUhundred.orgOfficialELel.khaward.aeApplyELel.khaward.aeApplyELel.khaward.aeApplyELel.khaward.aeApplyELel.khaward.aeApplyELel.khaward.aeApplyELel.khaward.aeApplyELel.khaward.aeApplyKIkiafel.khaward.aeOfficialKHkhaward.aeOfficial

LOT finds and checks opportunities from public sources. Always confirm details on the organiser’s own page before applying.