Audubon Photography Awards 2026
Audubon's annual awards are the most prominent bird-focused photography competition in North America, with a Grand Prize of US$5,000 plus a voyage to Antarctica via HX Expeditions. The 2026 rules ban AI-generated images and videos outright while permitting normal processing of the original file — a clear, narrow boundary that avoids the ambiguity seen at larger mixed-genre contests. Entries are limited to residents of the US, Canada, Chile, and Colombia. The free Youth division covers ages 13–17.
- Deadline
- March 4, 2026
- Entry fee
- US$15 per image or video; free for Youth division (ages 13–17)
- Results
- September 21, 2026
Authenticity policy
AI policy
AI-generated images are not eligible, and AI-generated videos are not eligible. However, normal processing of the original file is acceptable.
RAW files
Not specified
Editing rules
Judges score on Technical Quality (33%), Originality (33%), and Artistic Merit (34%). 'Normal processing of the original file' is permitted; AI-generated content is not.
Verified on June 8, 2026