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Whether you’re a seasoned photographer, a beginner just getting started or someone who loves capturing beautiful moments, submitting your images to photo competitions is one of the best ways to gain exposure and recognition.
Entering contests isn’t just about winning – though prizes and publicity are great bonuses! – it’s also a chance to dive into your archives, rediscover your best images and refine your personal style. Many photographers say that competitions were the stepping stone that helped them build a name, grow their audience or land their first big feature.
And with so many open calls across all genres, there’s something for everyone. So, here’s a list of photography competitions with open calls that are accepting submissions from November 2026 until January 2027. It’s a small selection to spark inspiration, but there are countless others out there.
Environmental Photography Award
For more information, visit the Environmental Photography Award website (Image credit: Soumya Ranjan Bhattacharyya / Environmental Photography Award)
Deadline: November 01
Open to: Photographers of all levels
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Fee: Free
Focus: Environmental photography that raises awareness of environmental protection and explores the relationship between humans and nature
Categories: Polar Regions, Forests, Ocean, Changemakers, Human vs Nature
Prizes: €8,000 in total grants; winners and shortlisted photographers will feature in the award’s exhibition and book
Exposure One – Nature Photography Contest
For more info, visit the Exposure One Awards website (Image credit: Exposure One Awards)
Deadline: Early Bird: November 11, Regular: December 8
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Open to: Photographers of all levels
Fee: from $15 for a single image and $30 for a series, depending on entry level, with early-bird and regular discounts
Focus: Black-and-white nature photography
Categories: Abstract, Aerial, Animals, Earth’s Textures, Humans & Nature, Land, Light & Shadow, Minimalism, Ocean, Pattern & Form, Underwater, Wild Portraits and Other
Prizes: $2,500 in cash prizes, trophy, international press exposure
IAPB World Sight Day Photo Competition
For more information, visit the IAPB World Sight Day Photo Competition website (Image credit: Amateur Winner 2025 – Darren James for The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ)
Deadline: November 18
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Fee: Free
Focus: Eye health and the role vision plays in everyday life, as part of IAPB’s #LoveYourEyes campaign
Categories: Love Your Eyes, Love Your Child’s Eyes, Love Your Eyes at Work, Love Health for All, Making the World See the Value of Vision (new for 2026)
Prize: $1,000 cash prize each for the professional stream winner and the amateur stream winner
World Sports Photography Awards
For more information, visit the World Sports Photography Awards website (Image credit: Mwangi Kirubi / World Sports Photography Awards)
Deadline: November 23
Fee: Free
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Eligibility: Up to 10 images taken between December 2025 – November 2026
24 categories: American Football, Athletics, Baseball, Basketball, Combat Sports, Cricket, Cycling, Equestrian, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Motor Sports, Nautical, Other, Racquet Sports, Rugby, Skate, Special, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Urban & Extreme, Venues, Views & Crowds, Winter Sports
Prizes: Prizes are provided by sponsors of the World Sports Photography Awards, details TBA
For more information, visit the World Photo website (Image credit: Sony World Photography Awards)
Deadline: November 27 (Student), January 5 (Youth + Single Images), January 12 (Series)
Fee: Free
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Competitions: Series (previously Professional competition), Single Image (previously Open competition), Student, Youth
Categories: up to 10 different categories depending on competition
Prizes: Cash prizes up to $25,000, top-tier Sony equipment, and global exhibition opportunities
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
For more information, visit the Natural History Museum’s website (Image credit: Audun Rikardsen / Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
Deadline: December 03
Fee: adult entrants may submit up to 25 images (£35 fee), ages 18–26: free entry (25 images), ages 17 and under: free entry (10 images)
Categories: 13 single-image categories; new category: Positive Action, three multiple-image categories and three Young WPY age groups
Prizes: Cash awards of up to £15,000 for the adult Grand Title winner and £2,00 for the Young WPY winner, plus trophies, certificates, publications in the WPY Portfolio book, invitations or trips to the London awards ceremony and opportunities for professional recognition
For more info, visit the GCCA website (Image credit: Aung Chan Thar)
Deadline: December 04
Fee: Free to enter
Open: Photographers of all levels
Categories: Urban and Infrastructure, Concrete in Daily Life, Concrete Beauty and Design
Prizes: Overall winner will receive a top prize of $10,000, with other prizes of $5,000 and $2,500
For more information, visit the Tideway website (Image credit: The Tideway Prize)
Deadline: December 31
Open to: UK photographers of all levels, with three age categories: Open, Youth (16-24), and School Student (ages 11-15)
Fee: Free
Theme: “Standing by the Thames” – photographs capturing the River Thames, including its people, wildlife, recreation, work, industry, architecture, infrastructure, and everyday life
Prizes: Open winner: £2,000 in photography vouchers; Youth winner: £1,000 in photography vouchers and a half-day photography masterclass with Matthew Joseph, and more
For more information, visit the Oppo Photography Awards website (Image credit: OPPO)
Deadline: December 31
Open to: Photographers and videographers of all levels, shooting with Oppo, OnePlus or RealMe devices
Fee: Free
Theme: “Super Every Moment”
Categories: Me, Journey, Video, Zoom, Live, Snap
Prizes: $76,500 prize pool across 38 awards
For more info, visit the LCE POTY website (Image credit: Sophia Spurgin)
Deadline: January 20
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Fee: Free to enter
Categories: 13 categories, from wildlife, to action and travel. The LCE POTY also features dedicated category for photography students to showcase their developing style.
Prizes: £10,000 prize fund
For even more inspiration, browse the best photography awards and contests.