Every thing You Have to Know About National Historic Ships UK Photography Competition 2026

National Historic Ships UK Photography Competition 2026 marks 20 years of celebrating maritime pictures at it’s best – right here’s this 12 months’s theme and every thing you could know

The all the time widespread National Historic Ships UK Photography Competition 2026 is again for a 17th 12 months. 

The occasion celebrates the boatbuilding in UK and past, and the artwork of capturing stunning maritime scenes. For the 20th anniversary of the organisation, this 12 months’s theme is ‘Time’.

It’s time to get out your digicam, just like the Nikon Coolpix L330 Compact Digital Camera available on Amazon, and begin capturing the exceptional waters and boats round us. Here is a little more concerning the National Historic Ships UK Photography Competition 2026 and find out how to become involved.

National Historic Ships UK Photography Competition 2026

Entries for the class of ‘Time’ ought to replicate the wide range of historic craft, large and small, afloat and ashore, in UK waters and past. Photographers are welcome to interpret the theme in any method they select, however listed here are some concepts: 

Families and pals spending time collectively having fun with our maritime heritage, a sailor conserving watch, completely different generations of vessels or folks pictured collectively, summertime on a basic crusing vessel, somebody taking the time to do an excellent job repairing their boat, the consequences of time on the material of a historic vessel, a basic motor boat dashing by means of the waves, boats pictured in several seasons, altering gentle all through the day, a race in opposition to time, the time of your life, a nonetheless second in time, day time, evening time, any time!

For the ‘Classic Boat Award’, sponsored by Classic Boat journal, ship in your finest conventional crusing photos – these don’t must be of historic vessels, so long as they concentrate on conventional crusing in some type.

As a part of NHS-UK’s Anniversary celebrations, a earlier class favorite returns – ‘Faces of the Sea’. The judges are searching for photos of individuals participating with maritime heritage, or the very important workforce which operates, maintains and conserves our fantastic historic vessels.

Cash prizes of £250-£500 and distinctive handmade trophies to be received, in addition to the prospect to be featured within the 2027 NHS-UK Calendar and Historic Dockyard Chatham exhibition. 

The successful images may even be featured in Classic Boat journal.

More pictures classes

The different classes are ‘Newcomer of the Year’, for brand spanking new entrants to the Competition, and ‘People’s Choice’, the one class voted for the general public. The judges will choose one picture from all of classes because the Overall Winner, receiving the accolade of NHS-UK Photographer of the Year and scooping the highest prize.

There are an enormous variety of National History Ships UK events occurring this 12 months. Some of the various maritime actions embrace a number of summer time festivals round our coasts, harbours and canals. In a rustic threaded with navigable waterways, the place one is rarely greater than 70 miles from the coast, there are various alternatives to discover this 12 months’s theme and take a successful {photograph}!

Competition Dates: 1st May – 31st August 2026

Enter the National Historic Ships UK Photography Competition

Sponsors

Beckett Rankine, Trinity Buoy Wharf, Classic Boat, Dennett Boat Builders, Fat Beehive, Shipshape and Bristol Fashion, The Maritime Heritage Trust, Park Lane Press, Adlard Coles Nautical Publishing.

Judges

Tim Beckett – Director, Beckett Rankine

James Crisp – 2025 Photo Competition Winner

Niki Gorick – ‘Dock Life’ Photographer

Tom Moreton – Founder, Fat Beehive

Claudia Myatt – Marine illustrator

Maddie Phillips – Shipkeeper, Cutty Sark

Carl Richardson – Editor, Classic Boat 

Simon Stephens – Curator, National Maritime Museum

Christian Topf – Creative Designer

Classic Boat Awards

Like the National Historic Ships UK pictures competitors, celebrating the very best and most stunning has been on the coronary heart of the Classic Boat Awards. From selecting the highest restored crusing vessels, to trendy classics, the classic boat awards winners and all nominees replicate a few of the most stunning craftsmanship within the boating world.