2027 Global Teacher Prize Applications Open as Digital and Refugee Educators Become Eligible

          2027 Global Teacher Prize

Applications and nominations for the 2027 Global Teacher Prize are officially open, giving outstanding educators around the world an opportunity to compete for the prestigious US$1 million award.

The opening of the new award cycle marks an important change in the history of the Global Teacher Prize, with eligibility now expanded to recognise more forms of teaching beyond the traditional classroom environment.

For the first time under the updated framework, the competition has broadened its eligibility to include digital educators who teach learners online, leaders and founders of structured education programmes, and teachers working in refugee and other non-formal education settings.

The development reflects the changing nature of education, where teaching and learning increasingly take place through online platforms, community programmes and alternative learning spaces.

The 2027 Global Teacher Prize is organised as the award enters its next chapter, with the Varkey Foundation seeking to recognise exceptional educators whose work is transforming the lives of learners and communities around the world. The official opening announcement was published on July 27, 2026.

What is the Global Teacher Prize?

The Global Teacher Prize is one of the world’s best-known education awards. It carries a US$1 million prize and is intended to recognise an exceptional educator who has made an outstanding contribution to the teaching profession.

The prize was established to highlight the important role teachers play in society and to bring global attention to educators whose work has had a significant impact on learners, schools and communities.

Since its launch, the initiative has attracted applications and nominations from educators across many countries and has also inspired the development of national teacher recognition programmes in different parts of the world.

The Global Teacher Prize is not only about recognising academic performance. Candidates are expected to demonstrate innovation, measurable impact, leadership and contributions that can help improve education beyond their immediate teaching environment.

More educators are now eligible for the 2027 prize

One of the biggest developments in the 2027 Global Teacher Prize is the expansion of eligibility.

Traditionally, public recognition of teaching excellence has often focused on educators working in conventional schools and classrooms. However, the organisers say education has changed significantly, with learners increasingly accessing knowledge through digital platforms, community initiatives and non-formal programmes.

Under the updated criteria, eligible candidates can include classroom teachers, Early Years educators working under recognised curricula, teachers in refugee and other non-formal education settings, and digital educators who reach students through video and other published teaching formats with ongoing cohorts.

The eligibility framework also extends to founders or leaders of structured education programmes whose work involves designing, directing and scaling learning programmes that reach children and young people aged between four and eighteen.

This expansion could create new opportunities for educators whose influence extends beyond the walls of a conventional school.

Digital educators can now compete

The recognition of digital educators is particularly significant at a time when online learning has become an important part of education.

Teachers now use video platforms, virtual classrooms and other digital tools to reach learners who may be geographically distant from them.

The updated Global Teacher Prize framework acknowledges that effective teaching can take place through carefully designed online learning environments as well as physical classrooms.

For digital educators, evidence of impact may include structured platform data and other forms of independent evidence showing how their work has supported learning.

The organisers have also adjusted the recognition criteria to reflect the environments in which digital educators work. This means recognition of their work can come from relevant platforms, institutions and learning communities rather than only traditional schools.

Teachers in refugee and non-formal settings included

The expanded eligibility also brings greater recognition to educators working in challenging environments.

Teachers supporting learners in refugee settings and other non-formal education programmes can now be explicitly considered under the Global Teacher Prize framework.

Such educators often work with learners facing displacement, poverty, interrupted schooling and limited access to conventional education facilities.

By including these settings, the 2027 prize acknowledges that exceptional teaching can happen in many environments and that the impact of an educator should not be judged solely by the type of institution in which they work.

The change could also help bring international attention to education programmes that serve vulnerable and underserved communities.

How teachers will be assessed

The Global Teacher Prize uses a rigorous selection process to identify exceptional educators.

Among the areas considered are the candidate’s ability to use effective and innovative teaching practices, demonstrate measurable learning outcomes and create an impact beyond their immediate classroom or learner group.

Judges also consider whether an educator’s methods can be replicated or scaled, as well as the teacher’s contribution to improving the wider teaching profession through activities such as mentorship, sharing good practices and supporting other educators.

The updated criteria also place importance on helping learners develop as responsible global citizens and on equipping them with skills to constructively navigate disagreements, promote peace and engage with people from different backgrounds.

After the application process closes, submissions are assessed by online judges, who select the Top 50 finalists. A prize committee then selects the Top 10 finalists, before the Global Teacher Prize Academy chooses the eventual winner through a secure voting process.

Important warning for applicants using AI

Teachers preparing applications should pay close attention to the competition’s rules regarding originality.

The official eligibility and criteria page states that applications will be checked for AI-generated content and that instances of such content can result in disqualification. Applicants should therefore ensure that their submissions are based on their own authentic experiences, achievements and original work.

This makes it especially important for applicants to prepare genuine evidence of their work rather than submitting generic or artificially generated responses.

How to nominate an outstanding teacher

Members of the public, colleagues, learners, parents and education stakeholders who know an exceptional educator can submit a nomination.

According to the organisers, the nomination process takes only a few minutes and is free.

A nomination can provide an opportunity to bring an outstanding teacher’s work to the attention of the international education community.

Teachers can also submit their own applications if they meet the eligibility requirements.

Applicants should be prepared to provide clear evidence of their contribution, innovation and measurable impact on learners or the wider education sector.

What is the deadline for the 2027 Global Teacher Prize?

The 2027 Global Teacher Prize applications and nominations are currently open.

However, the official July 27, 2026 announcement did not state a specific closing date or exact deadline time. The organisers only indicated that applications and nominations would close soon.

Therefore, teachers and nominators should avoid relying on an assumed deadline and should check the official Global Teacher Prize platform for the latest submission timeline.

This is particularly important because previous award cycles had clearly specified deadlines and exact closing times. For example, applications and nominations for the 2026 prize closed on September 30, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. GMT. That deadline should not automatically be treated as the deadline for the 2027 competition.

Why the 2027 Global Teacher Prize matters

The expanded eligibility for the 2027 Global Teacher Prize reflects a broader understanding of what teaching looks like today.

An educator can now influence learners through a physical classroom, an online platform, a refugee learning programme or a community-based education initiative.

For teachers in Kenya and other countries, the new rules could create opportunities for more education professionals to showcase their work on a global stage.

Educators involved in digital learning, community education, refugee support, talent development and innovative teaching programmes may now have a clearer pathway to international recognition.

The US$1 million award remains a major incentive, but the Global Teacher Prize also offers something beyond financial recognition: international visibility for innovative teaching practices that can inspire education systems around the world.

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Teachers and nominators who believe they know an exceptional educator should therefore take advantage of the current application window while monitoring the official platform for the confirmed 2027 closing date and time.

2027 Global Teacher Prize