IOA Young Person's Competition 2026: A Parent Guide

IOA Young Person's Competition 2026: A Parent Guide

The IOA Young Person's Competition 2026 is a student competition from the Institute of Acoustics. It asks young people to explore sound, noise and vibration through a short video. The 2026 theme is Sound Unleashed, which gives students a wide creative space: music, film, gaming, public spaces, transport noise, wildlife, wellbeing, engineering, technology and everyday sound environments can all become possible angles.

For parents, this competition is interesting because it sits between science communication and creative media. A student does not need to be an advanced physicist. They do need curiosity, a clear idea, and the ability to explain why sound matters in the real world.

View it on CompeteMap: IOA Young Person's Competition 2026. Check the official page before entering: Institute of Acoustics competition page.

---

Quick Facts

---

What Is This Competition Really Asking?

The competition is not asking students to make a generic video about "what sound is". It asks them to explore why sound matters. The official page points to the way sound shapes live music, stadiums, films, games, public spaces and everyday wellbeing, while unwanted sound becomes noise that can affect sleep, concentration and health.

That means a good entry should have a point of view. For example:

• How can better sound design improve learning spaces?
• Why does noise pollution affect wellbeing?
• How does sound shape the emotional effect of a film or game?
• How can acoustics make public announcements clearer?
• What can sound tell us about wildlife or the natural environment?
• Where does technology help with sound, and where does it fall short?

The best video will probably feel like a mini science communication project: clear, focused, visual and grounded in real life.

---

Who Should Consider Entering?

This competition is suitable for students who:

• enjoy physics, engineering, sound, music or media
• like making videos or explaining ideas visually
• are interested in environmental noise or wellbeing
• want a STEM project that is more creative than a written essay
• can work independently or in a small team
• are curious about careers in acoustics, audio, design, engineering or environmental science

It is also useful for students who are not drawn to traditional Olympiad-style science competitions. The output is a video, so communication and creativity matter alongside scientific understanding.

---

How Difficult Is It?

The barrier to entry is moderate. The topic is accessible, but a strong entry needs planning. Students need to avoid two weak extremes:

• a video that is visually nice but scientifically thin
• a technical explanation that is accurate but boring

The strongest entries should combine:

• a clear question
• simple but accurate science
• real-world examples
• careful sound or visual design
• a concise structure
• a conclusion that shows why the topic matters

Because the video is short, students must choose carefully. A focused two-minute explanation can be stronger than a five-minute video that tries to cover everything.

---

How to Prepare

1. Choose a Narrow Topic

"Sound in the world" is too broad. A better topic is specific:

• "How classroom noise affects concentration"
• "Why railway announcements are hard to hear"
• "How sound effects make games feel immersive"
• "How traffic noise changes urban wellbeing"
• "What makes a room good for music?"

2. Learn the Basic Science

Students should understand enough to explain their topic accurately. Depending on the idea, this might include:

• frequency and pitch
• amplitude and loudness
• reverberation
• absorption and reflection
• noise exposure
• vibration
• sound design
• environmental noise

The video does not need university-level physics, but it should avoid vague claims.

3. Build a Storyboard

A simple structure works well:

1. Hook: show the sound problem or question.
2. Explanation: introduce the science.
3. Example: demonstrate the idea.
4. Impact: explain why it matters.
5. Conclusion: leave the viewer with one clear takeaway.

4. Use Sound Intentionally

This is a sound competition. Students should think carefully about their own audio:

• Is speech clear?
• Are background sounds controlled?
• Are examples of sound easy to hear?
• Does music help or distract?
• Is the final video comfortable to listen to?

Bad audio can weaken even a strong idea.

---

Key Takeaways

• IOA Young Person's Competition 2026 is a strong STEM-plus-creativity opportunity for students aged 13-25 who are interested in sound, noise, music, engineering, film, games, wellbeing or the environment.
• The 2026 theme is Sound Unleashed, and entries should be submitted as a video, preferably MP4 and under five minutes.
• Students can enter individually or in teams of up to five, which makes it suitable for both independent projects and small school club teams.
• The official IOA page states that winning entries receive GBP 1,000 per winning entry; the deadline is listed as 31 July 2026 in the official terms.
• Strong entries should combine science, real-world relevance and clear storytelling rather than simply making a decorative video about sound.

---

Final Thoughts

This is a very good competition for students who like science but also want to create. A thoughtful IOA entry can show curiosity, communication skill and practical awareness of how sound shapes daily life. For STEM portfolios, that combination is quietly powerful.