UN Tourism Bahamas Sustainable Island Challenge 2026

Deadline: February 10, 2026

Description of the Opportunity

Applications are now open for the UN Tourism Bahamas Sustainable Island Challenge 2026. UN Tourism and The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation are joining forces in this startup challenge to source the most sustainable, innovative and disruptive business models to provide answers and smart solutions to the complex challenges the Bahamas is facing as a Small Island Developing Island State (SID). The UN Tourism Bahamas Sustainable Island Challenge is calling on startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators to deliver bold, transformative solutions that support national and global sustainability goals.

This Challenge seeks to engage entrepreneurs and stakeholders from the Bahamas who can contribute to the sustainable management of coastal areas and marine life, enhance the well-being of local communities, and develop green technologies to benefit both Bahamians and visitors. Through this call, they aim to identify and support those who play a pivotal role in strengthening the resilience of the islands’ tourism ecosystem, including connectivity, infrastructure and transportation.

Benefits

• Selected finalists will be invited to pitch their solutions in the Bahamas at the UN Tourism Tech Adventures, and benefit from the UN Tourism Innovation Network, including potential access to finance, pilot projects, and global visibility;
• Mentorships by UN Tourism and its Partners;
• Tailored support for your project;
• Become a member of the UN Tourism Innovation Network;
• Scholarship opportunities for the UN Tourism Online Academy.

Eligibility

The purpose of the challenge is to capture particularly the attention of entrepreneurs from across the tourism value chain to facilitate innovative and smart solutions related to the complex challenges the tourism sector of the Bahamas.

Startups, Scaleups, MSMEs, and innovative projects are invited to participate if meeting the following criteria:

• Are innovative/disruptive in nature and provide value-added and sustainable solutions for the tourism sector of the Bahamas;
• Harnessing the impact of new technologies, especially within the context of blue and green economies;
• Offer alternative and complementary business models to harness the economic impact of tourism in island destinations;
• Be scalable: to have potential for international growth and potential to be applied in island destinations;
• Have a minimum viable product or an idea that is ready to be developed and funded;
• Emphasize the promotion of digitalization, innovation in environmental preservation and impact on local communities;
• All ways of innovation are welcome: new methods, processes, governance models, social impact initiatives, and technologies.

For more information, please visit UN Tourism Bahamas Sustainable Island Challenge

Apply here