The annual Audubon Photography Awards have officially taken flight for 2026, offering nature enthusiasts and professional photographers alike a chance to showcase the breathtaking beauty and complex lives of birds across the Western Hemisphere.
Whether you are a seasoned pro with a telephoto lens or a hobbyist capturing moments on your mobile phone, this year’s contest emphasizes that photography is a powerful tool for conservation and connection.
Key Contest Details
- Submission Window: Open now through March 4, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (noon) ET.
- Eligibility: Legal residents of the 50 U.S. states, D.C., and Canada (excluding Quebec), aged 13 or older. For the first time, residents of Chile and Colombia are also eligible for specific regional prizes.
- Entry Fee: $15 per image/video for adults (U.S./Canada). The Youth division (ages 13–17) is free to enter.
Prizes: High Stakes and Epic Voyages
The 2026 prize pool is one of the most substantial in the contest’s history, featuring a mix of cash rewards and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
- Grand Prize: $5,000 USD plus an Antarctica Expedition Cruise for two with HX Expeditions. This voyage allows the winner to explore the frozen continent alongside expert naturalists and ornithologists.
- Video Prize: $2,500 USD for the most compelling footage of bird behavior.
- Thematic Prizes ($1,500 each): Awards will be given for specialized categories including Female Bird (highlighting often-overlooked subjects), Plants for Birds, Birds in Landscapes, and Birds Without Borders.
- Youth Prize: A trip to the legendary Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine.
How to Enter
Participants can submit their work through the official Audubon portal. Make sure your files are high-resolution (at least 3,000 pixels) and that you have the “story behind the shot” ready—the judges value the conservation context as much as the composition.
