20 Online Photography Contests for 2026 & Beyond! 📸 🙌 | List of Photography Contests for All Styles

Looking to level up your photography game in 2026? If so, we’ve scoured the web to find some of the best online photography contests, from free-to-enter opportunities to prestigious competitions with entry fees, bigger prize pools, and serious exposure.

And let’s be real: there’s nothing better than wandering through stunning landscapes or capturing rare wildlife moments, except maybe doing it in comfort and style. That’s why we’re also proud to mention our Wildtree camera straps - crafted for adventurers who refuse to compromise on durability or style.

So snag your favorite lens, slip on a trusted strap, and get ready to shoot your shot in 20 incredible contests. Whether you’re a newcomer eager to enter your first competition or a seasoned pro looking for fresh recognition, these photography contests online offer a wide mix of subjects, formats, and prize structures, and we’ve rounded up the key details right here.

* Please note that while some of these have already closed submissions for 2026, they are annual photography contests - so start prepping for next year!

1. Smithsonian Magazine Annual Photo Contest

The folks at Smithsonian are all about celebrating our wondrous planet, from striking wildlife scenes to travel images, portraits, and creative work. The contest’s current categories include Wildlife, Travel, People, Artistic Images, Drone/Aerial, and The American Experience at 250, making this a strong fit whether you shoot sweeping landscapes, everyday human moments, or visually inventive work.

Smithsonian Magazine Annual Photo Contest Information:

• Website: SmithsonianMag.com/photocontest
• Deadline: The most recent official contest ran from September 15, 2025, through December 1, 2025, with finalists appearing in March 2026 and winners announced in spring 2026.
• Entry Fee: Free
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open to photographers 18 and older worldwide
• Prizes: The Grand Prize is $2,500, and each of the six category winners plus the Readers’ Choice winner receives $500.

2. Audubon Photography Awards

If you have a soft spot for birds, this contest still deserves a spot on your radar. Audubon’s awards are dedicated entirely to bird photography and video, with prizes that recognize everything from dramatic avian action and habitat-rich scenes to conservation-minded storytelling.

Audubon Photography Awards Information: 

• Website: Audubon.org/photography/awards
• Deadline: For the 2026 contest, entries were accepted from January 15 through March 4, 2026.
• Entry Fee: $15 per photo or video for adults; free for youth entrants
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open to ages 13+. The official U.S./Canada rules cover residents of the 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and Canada (excluding Quebec), and Audubon also announced 2026 participation for Chile and Colombia.
• Prizes: The Grand Prize includes $5,000 plus a voyage to Antarctica with HX Expeditions, with additional prizes for youth, video, and specialty categories.

3. National Wildlife Photo Contest

The National Wildlife Federation’s contest is a longtime favorite for photographers who want their work connected to conservation. It welcomes a broad range of subjects, from birds, mammals, and baby animals to landscapes, mobile photography, people in nature, and themed portfolios, so it works well whether you shoot epic wildlife encounters or quieter outdoor moments closer to home.

National Wildlife Photo Contest Information: 

• Website: https://photocontest.nwf.org/
• Deadline: For the 2026 contest, entries were accepted through March 22, 2026.
• Entry Fee: Paid entry packages apply, and entry fees support the National Wildlife Federation’s conservation work.
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open worldwide to photographers 13 and older; entrants ages 13 to 17 compete in the youth category.
• Prizes: The Grand Prize is $5,000. The portfolio winner receives $750, and first- and second-place winners across the remaining categories receive cash awards, with winners also featured online, in press materials, and in print and/or digital publication.

4. Natures Best Photography International Awards

Few accolades scream “nature photography royalty” quite like Nature’s Best. They partner with major institutions (sometimes even the Smithsonian) to exhibit top images of wildlife, landscapes, and conservation stories. If you dream of sharing your shots with museum-goers, this is the perfect launch pad.

Nature’s Best Photography International Awards Information: 

• Website: NaturesBestPhotography.org
• Deadline: The latest posted International Awards guidelines we found were for the 2025 cycle, which ran from January 8 through March 28, 2025. For the next round, readers should check the official site for the newest entry window.
• Entry Fee: $30 USD for adults; free for youth
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open globally to photographers of all experience levels, with youth entry available for photographers 18 and under.
• Prizes: The contest offers a $5,000 Grand Prize, $1,000 Youth Photographer of the Year, and $1,000 for each category winner, along with publication in the Awards edition and online presentations.

5. BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition

Hosted by the California Academy of Sciences, this contest is all about highlighting the grandeur and fragility of life on Earth. Categories range from aquatic life to artful nature shots - so bring on those glowing jellyfish scenes or moody forest vistas.

BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition Information:

• Website: BigPictureCompetition.org
• Deadline: For the 2026 competition, entries ran from December 1, 2025, through March 8, 2026.
• Entry Fee: $25 for up to 10 single-image submissions, and $15 for each Photo Story submission.
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open worldwide to photographers of all experience levels.
• Prizes: The Grand Prize is $5,000, the seven category winners receive $1,000 each, and winning work is featured in the annual exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences. The competition lists $12,300 in total cash prizes for 2026.

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6. Share the Experience Photo Contest

This is the official photo contest of America’s federal lands, from national parks to wildlife refuges. Got epic shots of sunrise over the Grand Canyon or a peaceful moment on BLM land? Send them in! It’s a wonderful way to pay tribute to the places we love exploring.

Share the Experience Photo Contest Info: 

• Website: ShareTheExperience.org
• Deadline: The most recent contest ran from June 17 through December 31, 2025, and the site says winners will be announced in spring/summer 2026.
• Entry Fee: Free.
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open to amateur photographers only who are legal residents of the 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., age 13+.
• Prizes: The 2025 photography contest lists $18,000 in cash and other prizes, including a $10,000 grand prize. The grand prize winner may also have their image featured on the Annual Federal Recreational Lands Pass.

7. Sony World Photography Awards

One of the biggest and most prestigious photography competitions in the world, the Sony World Photography Awards remains a standout for photographers at nearly every level. Whether you’re entering a single image, a full series, or a youth or student category, the draw here is the same: major international exposure, inclusion in the London exhibition, and a chance to have your work published in the official awards book.

Sony World Photography Awards Info: 

• Website: WorldPhoto.org
• Deadline: Deadlines vary by division. For the most recent cycle, the Student competition closed on November 28, 2025, the Open and Youth competitions closed on January 6, 2026, and the Professional competition closed on January 13, 2026.
• Entry Fee: Free.
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open worldwide, with separate divisions for Open, Professional, Youth, and Student entrants.
• Prizes: The Professional Photographer of the Year receives $25,000, while the Open Photographer of the Year receives $5,000. Winners and shortlisted photographers also receive benefits that can include Sony digital imaging gear, book inclusion, exhibition exposure in London, and global press coverage.

8. Nikon Photo Contest

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With roots going back to 1969, Nikon’s long-running contest still deserves a place on this list, though it’s now officially branded as the Nikon Film and Photo Contest. It’s broad in scope, open to photographers and filmmakers around the world, and built around creative storytelling rather than any one narrow genre.

Nikon Photo Contest Info: 

• Website: Nikon-PhotoContest.com
• Deadline: The latest verified cycle, Nikon Film and Photo Contest 2024-2025, opened on October 30, 2024 and originally listed a February 17, 2025 deadline, which was later extended on the official site to March 16, 2025. Winners were announced in October 2025.
• Entry Fee: Free.
• Eligibility: Open worldwide to professional and amateur photographers/filmmakers of any age.
• Prizes: Nikon awards a mix of cash and gear. In the 2024-2025 cycle, each Grand Prize winner received 500,000 Japanese yen plus Nikon equipment, with additional Excellence Awards, Special Encouragement Awards, and General Public Awards across the photo and film categories.

9. International Photography Awards

The IPA is a cornerstone of the Lucie Foundation, which hosts the glittering Lucie Awards. Win here and you might find yourself in NYC, rubbing shoulders with gallery owners and major press. Plus, they cover nearly every genre you can imagine, from nature to fine art to advertising.

International Photography Awards Info: 

• Website: PhotoAwards.com
• Deadline: The 2026 competition is open now, with an Early Bird Deadline of January 31, 2026, a Regular Deadline of April 30, 2026, and a Final Deadline of June 30, 2026.
• Entry Fee: Paid. For the 2026 regular competition, fees start at $30 for non-professional single images and $40 for professional single images, with higher pricing for series submissions.
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open worldwide to living photographers age 18+, with separate tracks for professional, non-professional, and student entrants.
• Prizes: The top professional award, International Photographer of the Year, includes $10,000 and the IPA Trophy. The top non-professional award, Discovery of the Year, includes $5,000. Professional category winners receive $1,000, and non-professional category winners receive $500, along with gala recognition and exhibition/book opportunities.

10. CEWE Photo Award

Dubbed “the world’s largest photo competition,” CEWE embraces a broad theme - “Our world is beautiful.” With categories like Landscapes, Architecture, and Food, you’ll have plenty of latitude to submit your best images. They also donate to charity for every submission.

CEWE Photo Award Info:

• Website: CEWEPhotoAward.com
• Deadline: The most recent verified cycle, CEWE Photo Award 2025, began on May 6, 2024 and ran for 12 months. Entries are now closed, and the official CEWE pages are currently focused on the 2025 winners, so readers should check the site for the next competition announcement.
• Entry Fee: Free.
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open worldwide to amateur and professional photographers alike. The 2025 edition also included a Young Talent Award for photographers ages 16 to 25.
• Prizes: CEWE lists over €250,000 in prizes. First place includes a trip worth €10,000, a photo equipment voucher worth €5,000, and a CEWE photo products voucher worth €2,500. CEWE also donates €0.10 per submitted photo to SOS Children’s Villages.

11. Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Organized by the Natural History Museum in London, WPY is the granddaddy of wildlife photo contests. If you’ve captured breathtaking wildlife photography - a polar bear perched on pack ice or a jungle cat on the prowl - this competition has the prestige to match your shot.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year Info: 

• Website: NHM.ac.uk/WPY
• Deadline: For the most recent verified cycle, both the adult and young competitions closed on December 4, 2025, with finalists contacted in January 2026 and results issued in March 2026.
• Entry Fee: The adult competition is £35, while the young competition is free to enter. The museum also waived the adult entry fee for entrants ages 18–26 in the latest cycle.
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open worldwide to photographers of all experience levels. The adult competition is for photographers 18 and over, and the young competition is for photographers 17 and under.
• Prizes: The adult grand title winner receives £10,000, a trophy, and a personalized certificate. The Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year receives £1,500, a trophy, a certificate, and a masterclass, while winning images are featured in the exhibition before it continues on its global tour.

12. Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

A little humor can go a long way in conservation. This delightfully fun contest collects the world’s funniest wildlife moments - think cross-eyed owls or hippos seemingly cracking a joke. It’s all about raising awareness for animal welfare while giving us a good chuckle.

Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards Info: 

• Website: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
• Deadline: The most recent verified entry deadline was June 30, 2025. Since the 2025 winners have already been announced, readers should check the official site for the next entry opening.
• Entry Fee: Free.
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open worldwide to wildlife photography novices, amateurs, and professionals of any age, with a Junior category for ages 16 and under and a Young Photographer category for entrants 25 and under.
• Prizes: Recent prize packages have included a week-long safari in Kenya for two, a handmade trophy, a Think Tank backpack, Nikon gear, and a certificate. Finalists and category winners also benefit from major viral exposure and wide international press coverage.

13. Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY)

Ready to show off your globe-trotting captures? TPOTY is dedicated to the spirit of travel photography, with categories spanning cultural stories, landscapes, wildlife, and street photography abroad. Win, and you’ll be featured in top-tier exhibitions and possibly a sumptuous photobook.

Travel Photographer of the Year Info: 

• Website: TPOTY.com
• Deadline: For the most recent verified cycle, entries for TPOTY 2025 opened on June 3, 2025 and closed on October 13, 2025. Readers should check the official site for the next competition window.
• Entry Fee: Fees vary by category. For 2025, Young Travel Photographer of the Year was free, One Shot entries were £12, four-image portfolios were £25, and discounted bundles and a £95 TPOTY Pass were also offered.
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open globally to photographers of all skill levels. The young division is for photographers 18 and under, while eligibility for the main Travel Photographer of the Year title is automatic for entrants 19 and over who submit two or more portfolios.
• Prizes: TPOTY 2025 promoted cash prizes, six trips to Sri Lanka, imaging software, and more. The overall winner receives a 7-day trip to Sri Lanka, a £1,000 cash prize, a portfolio review, and Radiant Photo software.

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14. Banff Mountain Photo Essay Competition

Got a story to tell about towering peaks, mountain cultures, or high-altitude adventures? This contest, part of the famed Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival, wants photo essays (3–5 images) that spin a captivating narrative about the mountain world.

Banff Mountain Photo Essay Competition Info: 

• Website: BanffCentre.ca/Film-Fest/Competitions/Photo-Essay
• Deadline: The most recent verified deadline was May 5, 2025. The official page says to stay tuned for details on the 2026 competition.
• Entry Fee: Free.
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open globally to amateur and professional photographers. Entries must be submitted as photo essays of three to five images.
• Prizes: The Grand Prize is $3,000 CAD. The winner is announced in August, with the award presented during the Banff festival in November.

15. LensCulture Portrait Awards

Portraits aren’t just about faces -they’re about stories. LensCulture celebrates human expression in all forms: studio shoots, street captures, conceptual art, and everything in between. You’ll have a chance to be discovered by a jury of renowned editors and curators.

LensCulture Portrait Awards Photography Contests: 

• Website: LensCulture.com/awards
• Deadline: For the 2026 competition, the deadline was February 18, 2026.
• Entry Fee: A free single-image option is available. Additional images are $10 each, 5 single images cost $35, and a series entry costs $45. Students can receive a 30% discount.
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open globally to everyone, including emerging photographers, professionals, students, self-taught artists, and creatives of all ages.
• Prizes: The contest offers $10,000 in total cash awards, split across series and single-image winners. Winners, jurors’ picks, and finalists also receive benefits that can include a London exhibition, permanent online gallery placement, international press exposure, and visibility with editors, publishers, curators, and gallery professionals.

16. World Press Photo Contest

If your work leans more documentary than dreamy, the World Press Photo Contest is one of the biggest names in the field. Rather than focusing on hobbyist or general art photography, this competition celebrates the year’s strongest photojournalism and documentary photography, with entries judged across Singles, Stories, and Long-Term Projects in six global regions.

World Press Photo Contest Info: 

• Website: WorldPressPhoto.org
• Deadline: For the latest verified cycle, entries opened on December 1, 2025 and closed in mid-January 2026. The main 2026 contest page lists January 18, 2026 at 13:00 CET, while the entry rules page lists January 17, 2026 at 13:00 CET, so “mid-January” is the safest evergreen wording for the blog.
• Entry Fee: Free.
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open worldwide to professional photographers working in photojournalism and/or documentary photography. This one is not a general amateur contest.
• Prizes: Each winner receives €1,000, inclusion in the annual traveling exhibition, publication in the yearbook and online collection, promotion on World Press Photo platforms, an invitation to the winners’ event in Amsterdam, a physical award, and a Fujifilm X Half camera. The World Press Photo of the Year winner also receives an additional €10,000, and the photo of the year winner plus two finalists receive FUJIFILM GFX cameras and lenses.

17. Bird Photographer of the Year (BPOTY)

Feather fanatics, rejoice! This is the contest if your memory cards are full of hawks in flight, hummingbirds sipping nectar, and every other spectacular avian moment. It even supports conservation efforts with a share of proceeds.

Bird Photographer of the Year Info:

• Website: BirdPOTY.com
• Deadline: For the most recent verified cycle, entries closed on December 14, 2025, with winners scheduled to be announced in September 2026.
• Entry Fee: The adult competition currently charges £35 for 25 entries, rising to £40 for 25 entries from December 7, 2025 onward; youth entry is free.
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open worldwide. The adult competition is for photographers 18+, and the youth competition is for photographers 17 and under.
• Prizes: The Grand Prize is £3,000, and category Gold winners receive £500, which means the latest overall winner’s total top prize came to £3,500. Silver winners receive £250, Bronze winners receive a £100 camera equipment voucher, and the competition also produces an annual hardback collection book featuring top images.

18. Underwater Photographer of the Year (UPY)

Dive into this specialized realm if you love capturing marine life, coral reefs, eerie wrecks, or the swirling ballet of fish schools. UPY’s judging panel is jam-packed with legendary ocean photographers, making it a dream stage for aquatic artistry.

Underwater Photographer of the Year Info: 

• Website: UnderwaterPhotographerOfTheYear.com
• Deadline: For the 2026 competition, entries opened on November 1, 2025 and closed on January 4, 2026. The official site also says UPY2027 is expected to open on November 1, 2026, with dates to be confirmed closer to launch.
• Entry Fee: Entry fees for 2026 were £20 for up to 3 images, £35 for up to 10 images, or £45 for up to 20 images. Some special categories were free to enter, including the Marine Conservation category, British Waters Living Together, and the Mobile Phone category for 2026.
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open worldwide. All nationalities can enter, and the main categories are for images taken underwater, with certain special categories carrying their own rules.
• Prizes: UPY is still more about prestige, gear, trips, vouchers, and industry recognition than one giant cash jackpot. The 2026 competition offered 58 prizes, including category-specific awards, title awards, and a broader prize pool, while winning work is also promoted through media coverage, exhibitions, and the London awards event.

19. Monochrome Photography Awards

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If the stark drama of black-and-white photography sets your heart aflutter, Monochrome Awards is your jam. Whether it’s moody landscapes or high-contrast portraits, they celebrate the artistry of light and shadow.

Monochrome Photography Awards Info: 

• Website: MonochromeAwards.com
• Deadline: For the 2026 edition, the Early Deadline is July 5, 2026, the Final Deadline is November 15, 2026, and winners will be announced on January 3, 2027.
• Entry Fee: For 2026, early-fee pricing starts at $22 per professional single entry and $17 per amateur single entry. Final-deadline pricing rises to $27 for professionals and $22 for amateurs.
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open worldwide to professional and amateur photographers using black-and-white photography, with entrants required to be over 18.
• Prizes: The professional overall winner receives $2,000 and the title Monochrome Photographer of the Year 2026, while the amateur overall winner receives $1,000 and the title Monochrome Discovery of the Year 2026. Winning work is also showcased in the online winners gallery and the annual awards book.

20. Mobile Photography Awards (MPA)

Prove you don’t need fancy gear to snap a masterpiece. MPA focuses on smartphone photography across categories like street, landscape, portrait, wildlife, and abstract. It’s perfect if your best pictures are spontaneous iPhone captures out on the trail.

Mobile Photography Awards Info: 

• Website: MobilePhotoAwards.com
• Deadline: For the latest verified cycle, entries closed on December 29, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time, with winners announced on or before March 17, 2026.
• Entry Fee: Fees currently listed are $15 for 1 image, $30 for 3, $50 for 6, $100 for 15, and $149 for 25. The Photo Essay category is entered separately.
• Online Photography Contest Eligibility: Open worldwide to photographers of all ages, and entries must be shot and/or edited on a mobile phone or tablet. The rules say no desktop software is permitted.
• Prizes: The site currently promotes over $10,000 in prizes, including a $3,000 Grand Prize, plus additional awards for category winners and a separate Photo Essay prize.

Final Thoughts on Online Photography Contests in 2025

Photography contests in 2026 and beyond do more than offer a shot at cash, gear, and recognition - they push us to explore new places, sharpen our creative eye, and keep growing behind the camera. At Wildtree, we’d encourage you to pick the contests that genuinely match your style, then grab your camera or phone and start creating.

Who knows? Your next image could take home a top prize, earn a feature in a gallery or annual book, or simply inspire someone else to head outside and see the world a little differently.

Good luck, and happy shooting!