AUGUST 16, 2026 — The local government of the French Collectivity of Saint-Martin has officially launched a public contest to create its first official institutional flag, reports Le Pélican.
Overseen by the territory’s Cultural Affairs Directorate and project agency Carteum, the “My Saint-Martin Flag” initiative opened submissions on August 11, following the presentation of results from a public consultation process that gathered feedback from 425 residents and members of the diaspora.
The citizen consultation, which included seven neighbourhood workshops and an online survey, revealed specific community preferences regarding symbols and colours for the prospective flag. Turquoise blue emerged as the most favoured colour at 82 per cent, followed by tropical green at 68 per cent, gold yellow at 62 per cent, and orange-red at 57 per cent.
Respondents expressed a desire to avoid royal blue, neon shades, aggressive red, dominant black or white, and the French tricolour combination.
In terms of symbolism, 61 per cent of respondents supported depicting the sea and beaches to represent island identity and history, while 39 per cent favoured the flamboyant tree for resilience and abundance. Fewer participants favoured the pelican at 16 per cent, a choice debated due to its association with other Caribbean islands, and salt at 12 per cent.
Organizers noted that while these consultation results provide guidance, contestants are not strictly bound by them and may justify alternative choices in their submissions.
According to the project website, submissions for the contest are open until September 30, 2026, at noon local time, and may be delivered online or in person to the Cultural Affairs Directorate at Galisbay. The competition is accessible to both professional designers and amateurs, including minors with parental permission, provided applicants have lived in Saint-Martin for at least ten years, maintain a lasting link with the territory, or belong to the Saint-Martin diaspora.
Contest guidelines strictly prohibit the use of artificial intelligence, restrict applicants to a single entry, and require the submission of sketches, a statement of intent, and proof of identity.
Entries will undergo a multi-stage evaluation process beginning with a jury review based on an 80-point scale, selecting ten top finalists who score at least 60 points. The seven-seat jury includes institutional representatives, cultural figures, graphic artists, neighbourhood council members, and a seat dedicated to a public consultative vote.
Following the jury’s initial assessment, a public vote accessible to residents and the diaspora will contribute up to 20 additional points to derive three top proposals.
The finalists will then participate in mandatory interviews to verify the authenticity of their creative process, after which the territorial council of Saint-Martin is scheduled to officially adopt the winning design ahead of its planned installation on December 7, 2026.
