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. • 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 – Original photos shot by using a Smart phone or Camera. 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. • 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 – Telling the story of a chosen theme through a finished digital multimedia product. • Music Fusion Performance (Group Activity) – Music Fusion Performance (Group Activity). 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.