ArcGIS StoryMaps continues to be one of the most powerful and accessible platforms for sharing meaningful place-based stories. With more than three million stories already published, the creativity and influence of the global storytelling community never cease to amaze us on the StoryMaps team.

Each year, the ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition celebrates outstanding storytelling and highlights the many ways people use maps and data to inform, inspire, and drive change. The 2025 competition — now accepting entries until December 12 — is shaping up to be just as exciting.

If competing has crossed your mind, take this as your sign: go for it. And keep reading to get a full overview of how the competition works, the resources available to support you, and perhaps the most important part, what the judges will be paying close attention to.

How the Competition Works

Anyone aged 18 or older is welcome to submit one original story or collection (as long as it has not been entered in previous ArcGIS StoryMaps competitions). Every entry must incorporate maps or data from the ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World and must focus on a specific place.

Participants may enter as individuals or as collaborative teams, and each submission must fall into one of three categories:

• People
• Environment
• Infrastructure

You can explore details about each category along with thematic resources and inspiration on the official 2025 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition hub site. Students enrolled in two- or four-year institutions may also choose to have their entries evaluated separately under the student track within their selected category.

Submission Rules

Before you rush to submit your work, double-check that your entry meets the essential requirements:

• Your story must be built using ArcGIS StoryMaps, not a public free ArcGIS account.
• You must use maps or data from the Living Atlas, whether that’s through basemaps or analytical datasets integrated into your work.
• Your story; including all its maps, layers, and embedded apps must be published publicly. Ensure no login prompts appear. Test across different browsers and devices.
• You may only submit one entry, whether you’re participating as an individual or on behalf of an organization.
• If entering the student track, all authors on the project must also be students.

Carefully review the full rules to avoid disqualification, small missteps can cost you your entry.

How Winners Are Selected and What They Receive

The StoryMaps team will evaluate all valid submissions and select up to 10 finalists and 5 student finalists in each category. From that pool, a panel of guest judges will determine:

• One category winner
• One student category winner

Additionally, three special awards will be presented:

• Community Choice Award — decided by public voting
• Storytelling With Maps Innovation Award — selected by the StoryMaps team for exceptional integration of Esri GIS tools
• Living Atlas Innovation Award — recognizing outstanding use of Living Atlas content and advanced mapping/analysis

Winners will receive:

• An official Esri certificate
• A feature on the Esri website and interview
• Recognition at the 2026 Esri User Conference
• A voucher for an Esri Technical Certification Exam (one per individual; two per team)
• Category winners also receive a printed copy of Telling Stories with Maps (one per person; three per team)

What Judges Want to See

The judges will evaluate stories based on three broad criteria:

1. Overall design, originality, and impact
2. Innovative application of GIS and ArcGIS StoryMaps
3. How well the story aligns with the selected theme

While each judge has their own interpretation, past competitions have revealed a few reliable patterns.

1. Overall Design, Impact, and Originality

Your story should be clear and engaging.

Let your creativity lead.
Choose a unique angle, format, or voice that makes your narrative unforgettable. For example, a 2024 student winner told their story through the eyes of a sea turtle — an unusual but compelling approach that made their message resonate.

Design matters.
Strong visuals help your narrative land more effectively. Many past winners created custom themes or used cohesive illustrations and color palettes to enhance readability and atmosphere.
One standout example: the Tucson Equity Priority Index, which paired a thoughtful custom theme with simple illustrations to communicate complex data in an accessible way.

2. Innovative Use of GIS and ArcGIS StoryMaps

This category focuses on how well geospatial tools are woven into the narrative.

Know the builder.
ArcGIS StoryMaps evolves constantly, offering more creative tools every month. Strong submissions show not only technical understanding but purposeful decision-making.
For instance, the 2024 Storytelling with Maps Innovation Award winner used primarily sidecar blocks but used them masterfully, blending 2D/3D maps, media actions, audio, and choreography into a seamless experience.

Use GIS thoughtfully.
Embedded apps like Dashboards or Experience Builder can add depth but they can also distract if placed too early or without context. Some of the best stories save these deep-dive elements for the end, where readers can explore them after absorbing the main narrative.

3. Alignment with the Competition Theme

Your entry should clearly communicate what you want readers to understand or do and it must be grounded in solid research, data analysis, and accurate visualization.

Follow the rules and respect copyright.
Always confirm that you have permission to use any content you didn’t create. Copyright violations (yes, even GIFs) can lead to disqualification.

Above All… Enjoy the Process

If you’d like more guidance, the competition homepage is filled with helpful resources, including:

• Galleries of past winners
• Category-specific tools and examples
• Links to the competition hub site

Be bold, be imaginative, and most importantly — have fun creating. We’re excited to see your story in the submission queue. Submit Now.