Palumba.org is thrilled to announce the launch of the “Voices of Europe’s Future” Essay Competition, inviting young people across Europe to explore what Generation Z really thinks about the continent’s political present and future.
During the 2024 European Parliament elections, Palumba’s voting advice app was used more than 170,000 times across all 27 EU Member States. Young voters shared their views on some of the most pressing political issues of our time, from climate action and migration to defense and democratic governance, generating a rich and unique dataset on Generation Z’s political preferences.
Now, with the generous support of the European Cultural Foundation, we’re turning that data into dialogue. We invite young writers, students, journalists, and researchers across Europe to craft a 1,500-word article grounded in Palumba’s data visualizations, drawing out the key political trends and insights that define a generation’s relationship with European politics.
What political patterns emerge when an entire generation speaks through data? Which issues rise to the surface, and which divides become visible? We want to hear your interpretation, your analysis, and your voice.
Why participate?
The competition offers a total prize pool of €1,500:
€750 for first place, €500 for second, and €250 for third.
Winning articles will be published on Palumba.org, and selected pieces will be adapted into Instagram Reels reaching a pan-European audience.
Selection Criteria
Impact & Communication — Potential to spark discussion; share-ability; clear takeaway
Data & Analytical Insight — .You’ll find a collection of data visualizations and analysis from Palumba in this shared Google Drive folder. Your article should incorporate at least one of these plots, and you’re welcome to bring in additional sources to strengthen your argument.
European Perspective — awareness of political and cultural diversity across the EU
Youth Relevance & Engagement — Focus on Gen Z voters; connection to real-life civic participation
Clarity & Accessibility — readable for a non-expert audience; respects ~1,500-word limit
Originality & Argument — Novel insights; clear central argument; creative framing
To participate, contributors must be under the age of 30.
Key information
Submission deadline: April 10, 2026
Selected participants notified: April 20, 2026
Public announcement of winner: April 25, 2026
Apply here – Submit your essay [APPLICATIONS CLOSED]
We look forward to reading your insights and amplifying young Europeans’ perspectives through data-driven storytelling.
