Institute of Acoustics Young Persons Competition 2026

The Institute of Acoustics Young Persons Competition is an annual challenge inviting young people to explore acoustics, sound, noise and vibration. The 2026 theme is Sound Unleashed, encouraging entrants to ask big questions and think creatively about how sound affects the world around us.

Entrants are asked to submit a video, preferably in MP4 format and under five minutes. The competition asks participants to consider questions such as how sound affects people and places, where technology helps, where it falls short, and how better sound design could improve lives, communities or the environment.

The competition is open to individuals or teams of up to five young people aged 13 to 25. It is a chance to bring together ideas from science, engineering, music, film, gaming and the natural world, and to share creative thinking about a field that blends science, creativity, technology and problem-solving.