Free Photo Contests 2026: Photography Competitions With Free Entry
32 photography contests with free entry, 3 of them currently open or upcoming. For every contest we document the AI policy, RAW requirement, and deadline from cited sources. Sorted by status and nearest deadline.
Last verified:
Open or upcoming right now: Wiki Loves Monuments 2026, ConservationMag Photography Awards 2026, and Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest 2026.
Free to enter does not mean casual about authenticity: 26 of these contests restrict AI images and 8 can ask for your RAW file. Check the rules before you submit. All deadlines by month · Contests that ban AI
Wiki Loves Monuments 2026
AI bannedRAW for finalists
- Deadline
- Sep 30, 2026
- Entry
- Free
View details
ConservationMag Photography Awards 2026
AI bannedRAW for finalists
- Deadline
- —
- Entry
- Free
View details
Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest 2026
AI: category-only
- Deadline
- —
- Entry
- Free
View details
Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2026 (LOBA)
AI banned
- Deadline
- Feb 28, 2026
- Entry
- Free
View details
Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award 2026
AI banned
- Deadline
- Mar 31, 2026
- Entry
- Free
View details
Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition 2026
AI bannedRAW for finalists
- Deadline
- May 1, 2026
- Entry
- Free
View details
Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2026
AI bannedRAW for finalists
- Deadline
- May 7, 2026
- Entry
- Free
View details
Global Peace Photo Award 2026
AI: ambiguous policy
- Deadline
- May 24, 2026
- Entry
- Free
View details
Hamdan International Photography Award (HIPA) 2026 - Family
AI: category-onlyRAW for finalists
- Deadline
- May 31, 2026
- Entry
- Free
View details
Bayeux-Calvados-Normandy Award for War Correspondents 2026 (33rd edition)
AI policy unspecified
- Deadline
- Jun 4, 2026
- Entry
- Free
View details
Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2026
AI banned
- Deadline
- Jun 30, 2026
- Entry
- Free
View details
Allard Prize Photography Competition 2026
AI policy unspecified
- Deadline
- Jul 1, 2026
- Entry
- Free
View details
Wiki Loves Earth 2026
AI banned
- Deadline
- Jul 31, 2026
- Entry
- Free
View details
PhotoVogue Global Open Call 2026
AI banned
- Deadline
- Sep 11, 2026
- Entry
- Free
View details
National Geographic Pictures of the Year 2026
AI banned
- Deadline
- —
- Entry
- Free
View details
Objektiv Pressefotopreis 2026
AI banned
- Deadline
- —
- Entry
- Free
View details
World Photographic Cup 2026
AI bannedRAW for shortlist
- Deadline
- —
- Entry
- Free
View details
World Press Photo Contest 2026
AI bannedRAW mandatory
- Deadline
- Closed
- Entry
- Free
View details
Nikon Photo Contest 2024-2025
AI banned
- Deadline
- Closed
- Entry
- Free
View details
Felix Schoeller Photo Award 2025
AI policy unspecified
- Deadline
- Closed
- Entry
- Free
View details
World Sports Photography Awards 2026
AI banned
- Deadline
- Closed
- Entry
- Free
View details
GDT Naturfotograf des Jahres 2026
AI bannedRAW for shortlist
- Deadline
- Closed
- Entry
- Free
View details
Deutscher Jugendfotopreis 2026
AI: category-only
- Deadline
- Closed
- Entry
- Free
View details
Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest 2026 (12th edition)
AI policy unspecified
- Deadline
- Closed
- Entry
- Free
View details
Hasselblad Masters 2026
AI banned
- Deadline
- Closed
- Entry
- Free
View details
National Geographic Traveller (UK) Photography Competition 2026
AI banned
- Deadline
- Closed
- Entry
- Free
View details
Wiki Loves Folklore 2026
AI banned
- Deadline
- Closed
- Entry
- Free
View details
SIYU Award 2026
AI allowed
- Deadline
- Closed
- Entry
- Free
View details
Wiki Loves Africa 2026
AI banned
- Deadline
- Closed
- Entry
- Free
View details
Environmental Photography Award 2026 (Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation)
AI banned
- Deadline
- Closed
- Entry
- Free
View details
Swiss Press Photo 2026
AI policy unspecified
- Deadline
- Closed
- Entry
- Free
View details
Visa pour l'Image - Perpignan 2026 (38th edition)
AI banned
- Deadline
- Closed
- Entry
- Free
View details
Frequently asked questions
- Which photo contests are free to enter in 2026?
- We currently track 32 contests with no entry fee, from major names to niche competitions. 3 are open or upcoming. The list above is sorted by status and deadline and is updated against the official rules.
- Do free photo contests allow AI images?
- Mostly not. 26 of the 32 free contests in our database ban AI-generated images or restrict them to separate categories. Each contest page states the AI policy with a source citation.
- Do free contests require RAW files?
- 8 of the listed contests require the RAW file or can request it from finalists. Keep the RAW of every submission; it is your strongest evidence of authenticity if questions come up.