The Global Network of Water Museums is pleased to announce the Winners and Special Mentions of the 7th Edition of The Water We Want, the International Youth Contest and Award.
The Water We Want (TWWW) aims at exploring our water heritage (natural and cultural, tangible and intangible) from the perspective of young people, inviting students between the ages of 6 and 25 to be the storytellers of our liquid futures.
This year, the Global Network received more than one hundred works among drawings and other media, including videos, photographs, poems, sounscapes and water songs. Water museum members across India, China, Canada, USA, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Slovenia, Romania, Croatia and Portugal took part in the contest.
All the works shortlisted by the museums feature in the online digital exhibition available at
https://thewaterwewant.watermuseums.net/contest/exhibition-year-2026/
In light of the urgent challenges posed by pollution, waste, and climate change, it is crucial that we collectively raise awareness about and safeguard the invaluable diversity of freshwater ecosystems. The Water We Want initiative serves as an empowering platform for young people to share their aspirations, concerns, and captivating local water narratives. We invite you to visit our website to explore the exceptional creativity showcased in all the submitted works, including the outstanding winners and special mentions.
The Water We Want is organised by the Global Network of Water Museums, a flagship initiative of UNESCO-IHP (Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme) to explore our rich and multifaceted water heritage from the perspective of young people and promote a new water culture on a global scale.
The 7th Edition was supported by International Centre for Water Civilisations, Italy.
DRAWINGS: 6-9 years old
WINNER
Identifier: #403 MEXICO
Iurhekua Interactive Water Museum
The whisper of the rivers
Iurhekua Interactive Water Museum, Mexico. Educare, Uruapan. Sofia Macias Ortiz.
SPECIAL MENTION
Identifier: #436 CHINA
National Water Museum of China
Come Quick, Little Rain!
National Water Museum of China, China. Hangzhou Qiantang Experimental Primary School, Caihong Campus, Hangzhou. Tan Shiyue.
DRAWINGS: 10-12 years old
WINNER
Identifier: #450 ECUADOR
Yaku Parque Museo del Agua
Quito's Last Drop
Yaku Parque Museo del Agua, Quito. Amaru Learning, Quito. Valentina López.
SPECIAL MENTION
Identifier: #394 CHINA
Baiheliang Underwater Museum, Chongqing
Thirsting for Sweet Rain
Chongqing Baiheliang Underwater Museum, China. Chongqing Fuling Chengqu No.6 Primary School (Wujiang Campus). Hu Guoran.
SPECIAL MENTION
Identifier: #406 USA
Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center
The Last Drop
Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, USA. Duarte, California, Royal Oaks Steam Academy. Sylar Segovia.
SPECIAL MENTION
Identifier: #452 COLOMBIA
Parque de la Biodiversidad COP16, Cali
Our blue gold, fresh water and the base of life
Parque de la Biodiversidad COP16, Cali. Evaristo García Educational Institution, Cali. Mariana Zúñiga Zamorano.
SPECIAL MENTION
Identifier: #437 CHINA
National Water Museum of China
Porter of water
National Water Museum of China, China. Lishui Youth Palace, Lishui. YU ziai.
DRAWINGS: 13-18 years old
WINNER
Identifier: #420 PORTUGAL
Lisbon Water Museum
The Collective Desire
Lisbon Water Museum, Portugal. Escola Secundária da Amadora. Leonor Torres (17 Y).
SPECIAL MENTION
Identifier: #441 ROMANIA
“Leonida Truta” Water Museum
Symbiosis
“Leonida Truță” Water Museum, Cluj-Napoca, Romania .Liceul Teoretic “Ana Ipătescu”, Gherla. Mărginean Alexia-Florina.
SPECIAL MENTION
Identifier: #389 CROATIA
Aquatika – Freshwater Aquarium Karlovac, Croatia
A drop of life
Aquatika, Croatia. Dubovac Elementary School, Karlovac. Zoea Benković.
ALL OTHER MEDIA: 10-12 years old
WINNER
Identifier: #104 INDIA
Living Waters Museum
The Lifeline
Living Waters Museum. aProCh – Riverside Education Foundation, Ahmedabad. Anaahat Kaur. Meethi Sheth. Harleen Chaudhari. Maryam Memon. Samayra Lavsi. Ishani Shah. Tanush Dutt. Veerrudra Singh Gohil. Tamanna. Jeesha.
SPECIAL MENTION
Identifier: #100 ITALY
Autonomous Province of Trento
The spirit of water droplets
Autonomous Province of Trento, Italy. IC Arco - SP Massone. Classe 5.
SPECIAL MENTION
Identifier: #140 ITALY
Water Museum of Venice
Phytoremediaton basin
Water Museum of Venice, Italy. ICS 1 Piove di Sacco, middle school “G. Pascoli” Arzergrande, PD. Class: 1^A – 1^B.
ALL OTHER MEDIA: 13-18 years old
WINNER
Identifier: #133 MEXICO
Iurhekua Interactive Water Museum
The Water He Used To See
Iurhekua Interactive Water Museum, Mexico. Crescendo School of Musical Education, Uruapan. Héctor Francisco Fabían Morales.
SPECIAL MENTION
Identifier: #103 INDIA
Living Waters Museum
As the River Flows…
Living Waters Museum. St Johns Diocesan Girls High School, Kolkata. Tannishtha Kundu.
SPECIAL MENTION
Identifier: #137 PORTUGAL
Lisbon Water Museum
Daily Waste
Lisbon Water Museum, Portugal. Agrupamento Escolas José Régio (Portalegre). Inês Florentino, Larissa Sales, Rodrigo Cruz, Luis Covas, Luís Carreiras.
ALL OTHER MEDIA: 19-25 years old
WINNER
Identifier: #131 CHINA
Baiheliang Underwater Museum, Chongqing
Youth Guardians of Water Heritage
Chongqing Baiheliang Underwater Museum, China. Chongqing Jiaotong University.Tong Yixin.
SPECIAL MENTION
Identifier: #143 CHINA
National Water Museum of China
Water The Ripple Promise
National Water Museum of China, China. Zhejiang Yuying College of Vocational Technology. Kexin Han.
The online digital exhibition 2026 is available here
Photo above: "The whisper of the rivers", Iurhekua Interactive Water Museum, Mexico. Educare, Uruapan. Sofia Macias Ortiz. (Winner of the Drawing category for 6–9 years old)