<p>An annual global essay competition run by the Berggruen Institute that seeks original, cross-cultural thinking on fundamental philosophical questions shaping the contemporary world. The 2026 edition invites responses to the theme "A New Axial Age?" and, for the first time, accepts creative fiction alongside analytical essays.</p><ul><li>Open to the public worldwide; no age restriction and no institutional affiliation required</li><li>Submissions accepted in English (up to 10,000 words) or Chinese (up to 15,000 characters)</li><li>Submissions open 17 March 2026; deadline 23:59 Pacific Time on 17 August 2026</li><li>One essay per entrant per year; co-authorship permitted; PDF format only</li><li>Prize of USD 50,000 awarded in each language category, split evenly if multiple winners; winners celebrated at an annual ceremony and their essays published by the Berggruen Institute (BI Press) or Noema Magazine</li><li>No entry fee; strict AI-disclosure rules apply — generative AI may not be used to create content, only for proofreading, translation, or as research material about AI itself</li></ul><p>Submit via the registration and submission portal on the Berggruen Institute competition page.</p>