Whether you are a seasoned photographer, a newbie simply getting began or just somebody who loves capturing stunning moments, submitting your work to pictures competitions is likely one of the greatest methods to realize publicity and recognition.
Entering competitions is not nearly profitable – although prizes and publicity are nice bonuses! It’s additionally an opportunity to dive into your archives, rediscover your greatest photos and refine your private type. Even if you happen to do not make the shortlist, the expertise itself is rewarding and might push your pictures to the following stage.
In reality, many photographers say competitions have been the stepping stone that helped them construct a reputation, develop their viewers or land their first large characteristic. And with so many open calls throughout all genres – from astrophotography and macro, to wildlife, journey, meals, portrait, or conceptual pictures – there’s one thing for everybody.
The better part is that the majority competitions supply a number of classes, so that you’re prone to discover a excellent match in your work. To enable you to get began, I’ve put collectively an inventory of pictures competitions with open calls which are accepting submissions from February till May 2026. It’s a small choice to spark inspiration, however there are numerous others on the market…
Australian Geographic Nature POTY
Deadline: February 5
Open to: Photographers of all ranges
Fee: AU$38 for the primary picture and AU$22 for every subsequent picture, or for Junior Photography, AU$10 for the primary picture and AU$5 for every subsequent picture
Categories: Animals in Nature, Botanical, Animal Behaviour, Macro, Landscape, Threatened Species, Monochrome, Our Impact, Portfolio, and Junior
Prizes: The general winner receives AU$10,000; class winners obtain AU$1,500; whereas the Junior takes residence AU$500, and extra
For extra data, go to the South Australian Museum website.
World Food Photography Awards
Deadline: February 8
Open to: Photographers of all ranges
Fee: £35 per grownup entrant (as much as 6 photos), additional entries could also be submitted at a further payment of £7 per entry, Portfolio submission charges fluctuate, entry to the Young (beneath 18) classes is freed from cost
Categories: UK or UNHCR Food as Home, M&S Food Rising Star, Louis Jadot Wine Photographer of the Year, Champagne Taittinger Wedding Food Phorographer, MPB Award for Innovation, Food Influencer, Champagne Taittinger Food for Celebration, Hotel Art Group Food Stylist Award, The James Beard Foundation Photography Award, unearthed Food for Sale, Bring Home the Harvest, World of Drinks, and extra
Prizes: Overall Winner receives £5,000 money prize and a show of their work on the Mall Galleries and Fortnum & Mason, particular class prizes fluctuate, however can embrace money, tools vouchers, {and professional} alternatives like a £1,000 money prize for the Louis Jadot Wine Photographer of the Year or an MPB voucher for the Award for Innovation, Student winners might also obtain RPS membership and a one-on-one mentorship name
For extra data, go to the World Food Photography Awards website.
Fine Art Photography Awards
Deadline: February 15
Open to: Photographers of all ranges
Fee: Early: single picture $20, sequence $25, Final: single picture $25, sequence $30
Categories: Abstract, Architecture, Conceptual, Experimental, Fashion, Fine Art, Landscape, Nature, Night Photography, Nudes, Open Theme, Panoramic, People, Photojournalism, Photomanipulation, Portrait, Seascape, Street Photography, Travel, Wildlife / Animal
Prizes: Professional class: Grand Prize Winner $3,000 + Professional Fine Art Photographer of the Year title, Amateur class: Grand Prize Winner $2,000 + Amateur Fine Art Photographer of the Year title
For extra data, go to the Fine Art Photography Awards Website.
Hasselblad Masters 2026
Deadline: February 28
Open to: Photographers of all ranges
(photos could be shot on any digicam, digital or movie)
Fee: Free
Categories: Landscape, Portrait, Street, Architecture, Art, Project // 21 (for photographers aged 21 and beneath), and Wildlife
Find more information here or visit the Hasselblad Awards website.
GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Deadline: March 1
Open to: Photographers of all ranges resident in Europe and GDT members worldwide
Fee: €35, free entry in class K9 – Youth (as much as 17 years)
Categories: K1: Birds, K2: Mammals, K3: Other Animals, K4: Plants & Fungi, K5: Landscapes, K6: Underwater World, K7: Humans & Nature, K8: Nature’s Studio (experimental/ inventive), K9: Young Photographers (as much as 17 years), K10: Rewildling Europe Award (deal with Europe’s wilder landscapes), K11: Fritz Polking Prize / Junior Prize – story or porfolio (8-10 photos)
Prizes: Total prize fund: €45,000+ (money and materials prizes, European Wildlife Photographer of the Year: €3,000 + particular safari in Kenya, Fritz Polking Prize: €2,000 + trophy, Fritz Polking Junior Prize: €1,500 + €500 voucher + troph, Rewildling Europe Award: Winner €1,000, runners-up €500, Youth K9: €500 winners, €400 runners-up, all winners invited to the awards ceremony, exhibition and competition
For extra data, go to the GDT website.
ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 18
Deadline: March 2
Open to: Photographers of all ranges (Adult and Young Competition)
Fee: £10 payment per entrant for the Adult competitors, entry to the Young competitors and particular prizes is free
Adult Categories: Aurorae, Galaxies, Our Moon, Our Sun, People and Space, Planets, Comets and Asteroids, Skyscapes, Stars and Nebulae
Young Categories: no separate classes, entrants must be 15 or beneath
Special Prizes:
The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer: For newcomers over 16 years previous who haven’t entered the competitors earlier than. Any astronomical topic could also be depicted
The Annie Maunder Open Category: Rewards revolutionary approaches to astronomy artwork
Prizes: The general winner will obtain £10,000. Winners of all different classes and the photographer named winner within the ZWO Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year competitors will obtain £1,500. There are additionally prizes for runners-up (£500) and extremely counseled (£250) entries. The particular prize winners will obtain £750. All the profitable entrants will obtain a one-year subscription to BBC Sky at Night Magazine
For extra data, go to the Royal Museum Greenwich website.
Belfast Photo Festival
Deadline: March 2
Open to: Photographers, artists, curators, archives, and collectives from wherever on the earth
Fee: For single Project/Body of Work/Photo-book: Early hen £22 / Standard £26
Focus: “The theme for the 2026 Open Submission has been left open to interpretation, therefore removing any restrictions in regards to theme, concept or approach of a photographer or artist’s work”
Exposure: Vast worldwide press protection from publications and media shops around the globe. Winners, finalists and entrants have been featured in main publications equivalent to, The Guardian, TIME Lightbox, Foam, The Financial Times, British Journal of Photography, The Telegraph, amongst many different nationwide and worldwide shops. This sort of press publicity can result in viral, world recognition of your work
For extra data, go to the Belfast Photo Festival website.
National Geographic Traveller Competition
Deadline: March 22
Open to: Photographers of all ranges residing within the UK or Ireland
Fee: Free
Categories: Urban, Wildlife, Landscape, Food, People, Portfolio, Aerial (New), Rising Star (new, rising expertise aged 18-25, broad journey theme)
Prizes: Grand Prize: 11-day self-drive journey for 2 to British Columbia, Canada, 30-minute mentoring session with Nat Geo Traveller (UK) Art Director & Photography Editor, subscription to National Geographic Traveller, Category Winners (8): One-year subscription to National Geographic Traveller, mentor session with Art Director & Photography Editor, publication of profitable picture within the journal
For extra data, go to the National Geographic website.
iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS)
Deadline: March 31
Open to: iPhone and iPad photographers of all levels
Fee: From $7.50 per image
Categories: Abstract, Animals, Architecture, Children, Citylife/Cityscape, Landscape, Lifestyle, Nature, People, Portrait, Series (3 images), Other
Prizes: All entries compete for the prestigious IPPA Photographer of the Year Award title, top 3 winners, category winners receive Gold Bar, top three winners will be published on IPPAWARDS online gallery, further prices to be confirmed
For more information, visit the IPPAWARDS website.
MonoVisions Photography Awards
Deadline: May 17
Open to: Photographers of all ranges
Fee: Early: single picture $20, sequence $25, Final: single picture $25, sequence $30
Focus: Black and white pictures
Categories: Abstract, Architecture, Conceptual, Fine Art, Landscapes, Nature and Wildlife, Nude, People, Photojournalism, Portrait, Street Photography, Travel
Prizes: Black and White Series of the Year will obtain $3,000, Black and White Photo of the Year will obtain $2,000
For extra data, go to the MonoVision Awards website.
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