In judgingRoyal Observatory Greenwich

ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026

Hosted by the Royal Observatory Greenwich and sponsored by ZWO, Astronomy Photographer of the Year is the world's largest astrophotography competition. The 2026 cycle has closed and is now in judging, with winners announced in September. The top prize is GBP 10,000. The contest's rules explicitly exclude AI-generated or artificial data from even its most experimental category (Annie Maunder Open), making it one of the strictest published authenticity standards in specialty photography.

AI banned
Deadline
—
Entry fee
Specific 2026 entry fee not surfaced in publicly indexed sources; top prize GBP 10,000
Results
September 15, 2026
Official siteRead full rules

Authenticity policy

AI policy

Any astronomical data of your own or from public datasets, with the exclusion of AI-generated or artificial data.

RAW files

Not specified

Editing rules

The Annie Maunder Open Category, the contest's most permissive category for data-driven astrophotography, still excludes AI-generated or artificial data; the regular photography categories therefore also exclude generative AI as a stricter case. Entries to the 2026 cycle are closed; winners are announced in September 2026 at a ceremony at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.

Verified on June 12, 2026

Frequently asked questions

Does ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 allow AI-generated images?
No. ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 does not permit AI-generated images in its competition entries.
How much does it cost to enter ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026?
Specific 2026 entry fee not surfaced in publicly indexed sources; top prize GBP 10,000
When are the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 results announced?
ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 announces its results on September 15, 2026.

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