Beyond Words 2026: A Celebration of Language, Art, and Expression

About

Beyond Words 2026 is a literacy-centered cultural and intellectual festival organized to honor International Literacy Day, celebrated globally on 8 September, in alignment with UNESCO’s mission of “Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity”. This inter-school event will highlight the beauty and power of languages (English, Bangla, French), alongside art and music, providing students with opportunities to showcase creativity, knowledge, and critical thinking. The event will take place at International Hope School Bangladesh, Senior Section, Uttara. Event Dates • 03 October 2026: Debate – Preliminary Round • 08 October 2026: Opening Ceremony & Language/Literature Competitions • 09 October 2026: Creative, Literary, Performing Arts & Group Competitions • 10 October 2026: Debate – Quarter-finals, Semi-finals & Finals; Painting Competition • 11 October 2026: Gala & Closing Ceremony Participants and Categories Students will compete in three age-based groups except Debate: • Group A: Grades 6–7 • Group B: Grades 8–9 • Group C: Grades 10–12 Competitions and activities available include: • Word Craft Games – Fun puzzles and challenges either in English, French or Bangla. • Bangla Language & Literature Quiz – Bangla Language, Literature, grammar, literary figures, works, quotations, and general literary knowledge. • Art of Translation – Translating a given passage from French Literature into an elegant, expressive and natural Bangla passage. • Print Media Advertisement – Creative poster/advertisement showing the power of language either in English or Bangla in groups of 3. • Poem Composition & Recitation – Original poetry writing and presentation either in English or Bangla. • Painting – Visual interpretation of literacy and imagination. Materials & Guidelines: Paper: A3 Art paper will be provided. Medium: Watercolor, pastel, color pencil, or any preferred medium. Materials: Participants must bring their own colors and drawing materials. Drawing Board: Participants may bring their own drawing board if needed. • Solo Singing – Songs either in English, Bangla, or French. • Comic Strip – Making Comic Strips either in English, Bangla or French. • Extempore Speech – On-the-spot speech on given topics either in English, French or Bangla (3 minutes). • Creative Writing – Short story either in English or Bangla. • Lyric Writing & Performance – Original lyrics composed, based on an existing tune and performed either in English or Bangla. • Photography (Group B) – Topic: Stories Beyond Words: Learning for People, Planet and Prosperity. Details: 6 original photos, shot using a smartphone or camera, maximum 5MB per photo. Submission Requirements: Include a title and a short description (maximum 50 words) for each photo in the drive. Insert the drive link for your zip file of the 06 original photos, titles and short descriptions with access to the designated place in the registration form. Deadline: 03 October 2026. • Photography (Group C) – Topic: Visualizing Voices: Knowledge for a Sustainable Future. Details and submission requirements are the same as Photography (Group B). Deadline: 03 October 2026. • Panel Discussion / Literary Colloquium – In-depth exploration of complex social and literary themes. • Multilingual Drama Performance (Group Activity) – Each group performs a short play (max 10 minutes) integrating English, Bangla, and French. • Analytical Essay Writing – Critical essays on literacy, culture, or global issues either in English or Bangla. • Digital Visual Storytelling – Topic: Unwritten Worlds: Literacy as a Lens to Freedom. Create a 3 to 5 minutes original digital narrative that communicates a story, idea, emotion or message through a combination of digital imagery, animation, photography, typography, music, sound, narration and/or video. Competition Specifications: Duration: 3–5 minutes; Minimum: 3 minutes; Maximum: 5 minutes; Format: MP4 (preferred); Resolution: 1920 × 1080 px (Full HD); Aspect Ratio: 16:9; File Size: Preferably 500 MB or less; Audio: Optional but encouraged; Text/Subtitles: Allowed; Narration/Voice-over: Allowed; Originality: All visual/audio elements should be original or properly credited. The finished product MUST be played as a continuous visual narrative on a screen. Submission Requirements: Include a title. Write a description of the finished product in the designated place of the registration form. Insert the drive link for your Digital Visual Storytelling finished product with access to the designated place in the registration form. Deadline: 03 October 2026. • Music Fusion Performance (Group Activity) – Each group presents a musical performance blending multiple languages [English, Bangla, French and any other language], styles, genres and instruments. Terms and Conditions 1. The payment is non-refundable in case of any failure to participate in the event. 2. International Hope School Bangladesh reserves the right to bring any changes and modifications to the event schedule. Payment methods accepted: bKash, SSLCommerz (Card, Mobile Banking), and Pathao Pay.