This year, we’re excited to bring a new twist to State of the Map US! In partnership with Esri we’re launching the State of the Map US Narrative Map Competition, a worldwide call for geospatial storytelling that puts open data front and center.
How do you use OpenStreetMap to understand and improve your world? Tell your story however it makes sense to you, whether that’s a flyer, digital zine, website, or ArcGIS StoryMap! There are four themes to guide your storytelling: Mapping for Mobility, Open Data for Healthier Ecosystems, Open Data for Resiliency, and Mapping for Your Community. The competition website has many more details about eligibility, resources to help you get started, and other useful information. Celebrate the diverse applications for crowdsourced and open geographic data with us!
A Few Important Details
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To participate in the Narrative Map Competition, you are not required to attend State of the Map US 2026. However, you may opt in to attend in person via the competition registration form and present your entry during the SOTMUS Poster Session. If you do wish to join the conference in person, you may register for SOTMUS at a discounted speaker rate. All submitted entries will be displayed at the conference.
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You can use any digital medium to tell a story with OpenStreetMap data. This can include creating a webpage, a flyer on Canva, or a slide deck using your preferred office suite. If you’d like to create an ArcGIS StoryMap, competition registrants can use Esri services for free through the duration of the competition.
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We want to see how you use OpenStreetMap data to make sense of your community, its built environment, resilience, or natural resources. When you use OSM, be sure to attribute the data properly!
Timeline
April 1, 2026: Registration opens
May 15, 2026: Registration closes
June 1, 2026: Deadline for submissions
June 12, 2026: Winners announced at State of the Map US
Visit the official competition website to learn more and register by May 15!
Esri is an Organizational Member of OpenStreetMap US at the Strategic Level, and a sponsor of State of the Map US 2026 at the Diamond Tier.
