Threads of identity: How fashion reflects who we are

On a Kabul street, the city moves in a palette of black: women wear abayas (robe-like garments) and face veils, their footsteps quick and eyes lowered. But step through a wedding hall’s mirrored doors and the scene flips – skirts bloom like flowers after rain, emerald and fuchsia flash under chandeliers, and the room hums with the soft clink of bracelets.

18-year-old Hadiya from the Afghanistan Newsroom explores the private world of fashion in today’s Afghanistan

The Harbinger Prize 2026

Key dates and procedure:
Competition announcement: 27 April 2026 ✅
Prompts and selection criteria announcement: 4 May 2026 ✅
Submission opens: 1 September 2026
Submission deadline: 30 November 2026
Shortlist announcement: 20 December 2026
Interviews: 11–25 January 2027
Winners announcement: 14 February 2027

Learn more

Harbingers’ Weekly Brief

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I tried a digital detox for two weeks, and this is what I learned

Hollywood’s remake obsession is killing original cinema

Why opposition to the UN slavery vote reveals a double standard

Editor’s pick

climate crisis

Environmentalism is not an afterthought – the cost is already here

Nearly two in three children worldwide, around 1.5 billion, are exposed to heatwaves that are becoming more frequent, longer-lasting or more severe. The heatwave in Europe these past weeks is only the latest reminder of what that looks like in real time.

Harbingers’ Editorial Board examine why dealing with the climate crisis must happen now

science

Christina Koch: The first woman beyond Earth orbit

In April, Christina Koch (pronounced “Cook”), a mission specialist on NASA’s Artemis II mission, made history as the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit and fly around the Moon.

17-year-old Viola Papp explains Koch’s historic achievements and her impact on young people

sri lankan newsroom

Meet the famous tuskers of Sri Lanka

Tuskers, male or bull elephants with tusks, play a vital role in wildlife tourism in Sri Lanka, appearing on the logo of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

16-year-old Hesandi Ravisinghe shares the stories of famous wild elephants in her homeland

Film & Book Club

film & book club

A system of exploitation in which, knowingly or not, we all participate – Parasite analysis

In a quiet neighbourhood of Seoul, two families live entirely different lives. One resides in a luxurious hilltop mansion surrounded by sunlight and space. The other struggles in a cramped semi-basement apartment where the window reveals little more than street-level feet passing by.

Igor Rybkowski and Mateusz Sarna, both 16, on Bong Joon Ho’s film considered the best one made in the 21st century

film & book club

Oscars 2026. Four acting races, four strong opinions – and four correct predictions

Should an Oscar honour a single role in isolation, or also reflect a wider story about an actor’s career, public image, and cultural moment? The results of the 2026 Oscar night did not fully settle that question

Klara Hammudeh, Alicja Melaniuk, Karolina Orfinger and Antoni Popczyński, all 17, discuss the Oscars for acting

Rating:

film & book club

Pattinson steals the show as Zendaya’s character is underdeveloped. The Drama review

The Drama is the ultimate cross-over of opposites: satire or thriller? The nerve-racking shots and storylines are flawlessly mixed with obscene humor and jokes.

17-year-old Sonia Rybus reviews Kristoffer Borgli’s star-studded premiere

Crude corruption: How insider trading is looting global oil markets

US regulators are investigating a series of unusually timed oil trades worth hundreds of millions of dollars, executed just minutes before major government announcements regarding the war with Iran.

17-year-old Anika Butala reports on potentially dodgy deals worth millions tied to the US–Iran war

society

Are TikTok cooking recipes legit? I gave it a go

While waiting for my girlfriend Aurora to finish cooking for us for probably the millionth time, I asked myself a question: why don’t I cook for once? It’s true that I’ve never tried to cook a whole meal, and boiling sausages and noodles doesn’t count. Also, I will be leaving for uni in just a few months… isn’t this the perfect time to start practicing cooking?

18-year-old Sofiia Didenko attempts to cook two popular online recipes

music

How Katseye exemplifies the exploitation of female artists

Worldwide stardom, brand deals with big-name companies and a Grammy nomination – and performance – under their belt; at the start of 2026, it seemed like American girl group Katseye had nowhere to go but up.

18-year-old Ryleigh Lemsic discusses the US girl group’s recent scandal and what it means for women in the music business

afghanistan newsroom

The impact of climate change on Afghanistan

Earlier this month, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) declared: “Afghanistan is among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, facing increasing droughts, floods, and water shortages despite contributing very little to global greenhouse gas emissions.”

18-year-old Maryam from the Afghanistan Newsroom explains how droughts, floods and rising temperatures are damaging her homeland

opinion

Does it matter that we know who Banksy is? Nope.

Banksy is one of the most famous – and mysterious – artists in the world. A street artist who emerged in the 1990s, Banksy is believed to be from Bristol, England, but has never publicly revealed his (or her) identity, choosing instead to remain anonymous while creating politically charged graffiti and installations in public spaces.

18-year-old Katie Chen reflects on the media’s obsession with uncovering Banksy’s identity

Featured author

Siri Atluri Contributor California, Unites States

Born in 2006 and raised in Michigan, United States, Siri (yes, like the iPhone!) now resides in the Sacramento area of California. She began writing for The Octagon in 2022 and will serve as their Director of Technology and Feature Editor for the 2023–2024 school year.

Siri’s interests in reporting include human and social rights issues, culture, media, and profiles. Her main writing passions however lie in creative writing, where she enjoys poetry and creative non-fiction, many times centering on themes of South-Asian identity.

She currently serves as an editor for The Glass Knife literary magazine and speaks English and Telugu. In her free time, Siri enjoys jewelry-making, cooking, movies, and watching way too many Youtube videos.

edición español

Entre polarización y un mínimo de diferencia, Colombia vota a Abelardo de la Espriella

La carrera a la Casa de Nariño se caracterizó por reflejar a un país polarizado. El candidato, líder y fundador del movimiento Defensores de la Patria, partido político de la ultraderecha Abelardo de la Espriella ganó la segunda ronda de votaciones de las elecciones presidenciales en Colombia este domingo 21 de junio.

Isabel Henao, de 17 años, reporta desde Barranquilla, las elecciones presidenciales colombianas.

sports

2026 FIFA World Cup: Shock, awe and delight in the group stage

The knockout stage started on Sunday 28 June – now, there are no more second chances. If a match is still tied after 90 minutes, the teams play an extra 30 minutes. If it is still tied, a penalty shootout determines who comes out victorious.

16-year-old Jennifer Yung-Coak recounts the most memorable moments of the tournament so far

human rights

How Amnesty Hungary is educating Gen Z about human rights

Founded in 1991, Amnesty International Hungary is the Hungarian chapter of the global human rights movement, working through advocacy, campaigns and education to defend human rights and promote equality.

17-year-old Viola Papp interviews activism coordinator Anna Horvath about Amnesty’s work

Rating:

music

Justin Bieber was standing on business at Coachella 2026

Feeling like one less lonely girl after watching Justin Bieber at Coachella? Same. Justin Bieber headlining the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival means that Bieber Fever is officially back. Performing over two weekends, the Canadian artist partied like it’s 3012 with an electric crowd of millennials and Gen Z, creating a pop-culture moment that is forever engraved in our brains.

16-year-old Jennifer Yung-Coak gives a heartfelt review of Justin Bieber’s touching performance at Coachella 2026

nepali newsroom

The experience of a Gen Z Leader: An interview with Rakshya Bam

Rakshya Bam is one of the young leaders who led the Gen Z uprising in Kathmandu last September. She had several opportunities to join politics or enter parliament, but chose to stay outside and question the government.

Binita Nepali, 16, Laxman B.K., 13, and Ramita Chadara, 14, from the Nepali Newsroom interview one of the leading activists in the protests in Nepal

sports

Harbingers’ writers share their thoughts on the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The four-year countdown has finally reached zero. On 11 June, the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off its opening match – Mexico vs South Africa – in Mexico City. For the first time in history, the tournament is co-hosted by three nations, the United States, Canada and Mexico, with matches played across 16 cities.

16-year-old Jennifer Yung-Coak explains how the world’s biggest sports party brings people together and creates unforgettable memories

education

The high cost of higher ed in Southeast Asia

With graduation season rolling in for many countries in Southeast Asia, many students will be faced with the same old question: “What university are you going to?” Some may have an answer prepared, others may be undecided. But a number of students face a different dilemma: “Will I even go to college at all?”

18-year-old Ryleigh Lemsic explores the financial barriers to tertiary education in the Philippines

armenian newsroom

We need to stop keeping animals in concrete boxes

Nowadays, we have a weird way of ‘connecting’ with nature. We buy a ticket, walk through a gate and see an animal walking back and forth in a tiny, uncomfortable cage. With 2030’s conservation deadlines looming, we need to stop asking if we can keep animals in cages and start asking why we still do.

16-year-old Mane Hakobyan from the Armenian Newsroom argues that traditional zoos must be replaced by animal sanctuaries

Rating:

AI & tech

Are you an apocalyptist or an optimist?

Have you ever felt grateful that AI (artificial intelligence) just saved you from spending hours on your maths homework? Or have you ever felt like AI is going to take over and destroy our world? If you have felt either, or likely both, The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist is the reality check you didn’t know you needed.

16-year-old Jennifer Yung-Coak reviews a new documentary about the role and the future of AI

international affairs

Micronations: A unique political and social phenomenon

Seven miles off the coast of England lies a rusting metal platform the size of a football field called Sealand. It contains infrastructure, hosts internet services, runs on renewable energy and even has a jail.

17-year-old Mutaz Sameh explores the world of hobby politics through the world’s micronations

armenian newsroom

Travel doesn’t bond you, it tests you

Travel is often imagined as the ultimate bonding experience involving sunsets, shared meals, laughter, deep late talks, inside jokes and memories that last a lifetime. But there might be an ugly side to it that people don’t talk about as often.

16-year-old Carla from the Armenian Newsroom on what travel reveals about friendships

economics

Finance 101: Basics of the stock market

As the leader of the Finance Society at my school in the UK, I have experience teaching these subjects to a class of more than 40 beginner students aged 13 to 18. Through that experience, I understand that finance can be much less intimidating to learn when explained in simple terms.

17-year-old Lukas Abromavicius launches a series explaining key financial terms for young readers

opinion

Congratulations, you’ve ‘maxxed’ everything – except the point

A mirror, a phone and a ring light. A young man turns his face slowly to the left, then to the right, studying the angle of his jaw and the subtle upward curvature of his nose. He has been doing this for 20 minutes. He will do it again tomorrow.

16-year-old Jennie Yao dives into the motivations of those who ‘maxx’ to avoid nihilism

opinion

The cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is an attack on free media

The final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ran on 21 May. CBS, the network behind the show, announced in July 2025 that, although it was the most watched late-night show, it was getting cancelled for “purely financial reasons”. It is clear to me that this is not the case and that the decision was politically motivated.

17-year-old Lola Kadas on CBS’s decision to end the show after 33 years

nepali newsroom

Nepalis at home and abroad suffer due to Iran war

US and Israel’s war against Iran may appear to be a distant conflict, but its consequences have quietly made their way into the kitchens of ordinary Nepali families. People throughout the country are feeling the effects of rising prices, a shortage of gas cylinders and more expensive food. The conflict is altering the way Nepalis cook, eat and live.

Samuna, 15, and Rakshya, 14, from the Nepali Newsroom report on the impact of the Iran war on Nepali households

opinion

Met Gala 2026: The best dressed and controversies

As a girl with absolutely no interest in sports, the Met Gala is my Super Bowl. The 2026 Met Gala did more than flood social media feeds with extravagant gowns and celebrity headlines. It raised a record-breaking $42m for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, surpassing last year’s $31m, also a record.

17-year-old Ava Miltenberg breaks down the most inspiring interpretations of this year’s theme, Costume Art

opinion

What if quitting is not a failure? How Alysa Liu redefined success

When American figure skater Alysa Liu stepped on to the podium to claim Olympic gold this February, it seemed at first to be a familiar story: years of sacrifice, finally rewarded.

17-year-old Stephanie Kwok argues that success should not require sacrificing well-being

science

Future missions to the Moon: The Artemis programme explained

On 1 April, NASA’s Orion spacecraft launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It carried four astronauts on the Artemis II mission to loop around the far side of the Moon and return to Earth ten days later. Undoubtedly, many families sat down in front of the TV to watch this historical moment.

18-year-old Sofiia Didenko explains the next steps in NASA’s plans and the possible future of space travel

health & wellness

Uncurving my story: A life in braces and X-rays

Many people hear the word “scoliosis” in passing, maybe as a joke about someone’s posture, or a casual comment forgotten as quickly as it’s spoken. They think it’s just about standing up straighter – but they don’t realise that it’s so much more.

17-year-old Luvella Man explains what happened after she was diagnosed with scoliosis – a twisted spine – in 2020

international affairs

UN slavery resolution: What was declared and what is being demanded

On 25 March, in a landmark resolution, the United Nations general assembly declared the transatlantic slave trade “the gravest crime against humanity”.

18-year-old Ruqaiyya Jhandawala explains the United Nations’ historic resolution condemning the slave trade

afghanistan newsroom

Tensions rise between Afghanistan and Pakistan

In recent months, relations between the two countries have worsened due to cross-border attacks, political disagreements, economic struggles and the effects of international sanctions. These tensions are especially visible in areas near the border – where ordinary people are facing growing fear and uncertainty.

15-year-old Elaha from the Afghanistan Newsroom explains why worsening relations between the two countries are a cause for concern

armenian newsroom

When ‘I talked to AI’ replaces ‘I talked to a friend'

The first time I realised AI was replacing real friendship, I was standing outside a bathroom stall, listening to my friend talk to someone who wasn’t there.

13-year-old Vivienne Movsisyan argues that AI is replacing real friendship and human connection

culture

From facial expressions to body language: How actors bring characters to life

How do actors convince audiences – on screen or stage – that their characters are believable? The audience would not believe in the storyline or the actions of a character if the actors did not play their roles realistically and authentically. A good character is not just down to the script, the actors bring it to life because they feel and express it naturally.

16-year-old Anastasia Kulikova explores the acting techniques that actors use to build authentic and realistic characters

society

Tanzania teaches children to obey, not to dream – this has to change

I’ve grown up in a society where children are treated like they are invisible, particularly when it comes to sharing their opinions, feelings and ideas. Speaking up, whether at home or in school, is often seen as disrespectful. Those who dare to speak tend to be silenced through harsh punishments and shaming.

16-year-old Lidya Gasper argues that a strong society should listen to its youngest members, not dismiss them or beat them into submission

The Harbinger Prize 2026

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