UPU - 55th International Letter Writing Competition

Letter Writing Competition 

Why Human Connection Matters.
 Write a letter to a friend about why human connection matters in a digital world.

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) once again invites young writers from around the world to take part in its International Letter-Writing Competition, uniting participants from 192 member countries. Each country will select one national winner to advance to the final stage, where they will compete for prestigious international awards presented by the UPU.

Designed to promote literacy and the timeless art of letter writing, the annual competition encourages children and young people to think creatively, express their ideas confidently, and strengthen their language skills.

Maldives Post Limited is proud to organize the 2026 national competition, seeking to discover and celebrate the most outstanding young writer in the Maldives. The national winner’s entry will be submitted to the UPU to represent the Maldives at the 55th International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People.

This year, the UPU is partnering with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to inspire young writers worldwide to reflect on why human connection matters in an increasingly digital world and to share these reflections in a letter to a friend.

 Maldives Post Limited will select 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winners from the entries and award MVR 2,000 for the 1^st place, MVR 1,000 for the 2^nd place and MVR 500 for the 3^rd place.

Competition Details:

• Age group: 9-15 years (as of 22^nd February 2026)
• Theme: Why Human Connection Matters. Write a letter to a friend about why human connection matters in a digital world.
• The letter may include illustrations from the candidate.
• Rules:
• Must be in the form of a letter and contain all essential elements of a letter.
• Entries must strictly adhere to the theme.
• The letter must be written in English Language. 
• The letter must not exceed 800 words.
• Judging Criteria:

To validate your candidature, along with your composition, please include a cover letter with the following information:

• Full name
• Email address
• Postal address
• Age and date of birth 
• Number of words in your letter (maximum 800)
• Consent for the use of photos submitted to UPU

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your talent and make your voice heard!

Deadline: 5^th April 2026 before 3pm (GMT+5)

Send your entries to: [email protected]

For additional details, please refer to the participant guide document or reach us at [email protected]. We look forward to your creative and inspiring letters!