Source: ECCB
Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis — January 14, 2026** — The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has officially launched the 2026 edition of its Creative Youth Competition (CYC), with poetry taking centre stage this year.
The ECCB Creative Youth Competition is open to full-time secondary school and college students between the ages of 12 and 20 across the eight ECCB member countries. The initiative provides young people with an opportunity to showcase their creativity, critical thinking, and artistic talents through a variety of genres, including essay writing, poetry, songwriting, and visual art.
For the 2026 competition, participants are required to submit an original poem based on one of the following themes:
Voices of a Changing Caribbean*
Becoming Me – Exploring Identity, Growth and Self-Discovery
Through My Own Eyes*
In addition to the written submission, students must also provide a three-minute video of themselves reciting their poem.
The selected themes were developed collaboratively with secondary school teachers and students from across the ECCB member countries, ensuring relevance and resonance with today’s youth.
Entries will be judged in two age categories—12 to 15 and 16 to 20—and will be assessed based on creativity and originality; quality and execution; adherence to the selected theme and clarity; effective use of the medium and overall impression; and freedom of expression.
A total of EC$26,000 in cash prizes, tokens, and trophies will be awarded to the top three winners in each category, their respective schools, and the mentors who supported students in developing their submissions.
All entries for the 2026 ECCB Creative Youth Competition must be submitted via the CYC portal on the ECCB’s website no later than **March 31, 2026**.
Additional information about the competition is available on the ECCB’s website at **[www.eccb-centralbank.org](http://www.eccb-centralbank.org)** and on its Facebook page, **ECCB Connects**. Entry rules and requirements can be accessed at:
[https://www.eccb-centralbank.org/2025-2026-eccb-creative-youth-compeition](https://www.eccb-centralbank.org/2025-2026-eccb-creative-youth-compeition)