2026 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition

Bold makes the world better. And, as Esri President Jack Dangermond said, “Better is what we all want. For ourselves, for our organizations, for our communities.”

Bold is the urban planner who refuses to believe “that’s just the way cities are.” It’s the disaster response team that refuses to leave anyone behind. It’s the leader who acts with clarity—and insight—instead of impulse.

How are you bold in pursuit of better?

Esri invites storytellers age 18 and up to answer that question. Submit a story created with ArcGIS StoryMaps that addresses one of the following categories.

• Seeing What Others Missed: Where mapping revealed an unexpected pattern or insight
• Refusing the Status Quo: Where maps helped challenge “the way it’s always been done”
• Designing a Better Future: Using geography to anticipate, test, or prepare for what’s next 
• Acting with Clarity in Complexity: Where maps helped leaders make deliberate, informed decisions amid uncertainty