GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2027
The GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the DACH region's flagship wildlife competition, open to photographers residing in Europe and to GDT members worldwide, with prizes worth more than EUR 45,000 across ten categories plus the Fritz Pölking Prize and the Rewilding Europe Award. The 2026 round closed on 1 March 2026 and the winners were announced in Lünen on 23 October 2026, with Imre Potyó from Hungary taking the overall title with Hidden Worlds. The 2027 edition is expected to open in January, following last year's calendar; the GDT had not published its 2027 rules by November 2026. The current rules list AI-generated photos among the forbidden editing steps, and the jury checks RAW files after pre-selection.
- Deadline
- —
- Entry fee
- EUR 35 standard entry in 2026 (2027 fee not yet published); free for the K9 Young Photographers category
Authenticity policy
AI policy
NICHT ERLAUBT sind im Rahmen der digitalen Bildbearbeitung: • Hinzufügen oder Entfernen von Bildelementen (z.B. Tiere, Pflanzen, Menschen, Zivilisationselemente oder Teile von diesen), digitale Collagen • KI-generierte Fotos • Nachbearbeitungsmethoden, inhaltsbasierte Füllungen, Erweiterungen, etc., die dem Foto durch KI-Algorithmen oder durch manuelle Eingriffe neue Bildinhalte hinzufügen
RAW files
Die Jury überprüft die Authentizität von Digitalbildern nach der ersten Vorauswahl anhand der Original-Bilddateien.
Editing rules
Section 7 of the 2026 rules (the German version is legally binding) lists what is not allowed in digital editing: adding or removing image elements, digital collages, AI-generated photos, and post-processing such as content-aware fill or expansion that adds new image content through AI algorithms or manual intervention. HDR, stitched panoramas and focus stacking are allowed; multiple exposures only in category 8. After the first pre-selection the jury checks authenticity against the original files: RAW files of any format are accepted, DNG only if it is the camera's native format, and original JPGs only in justified exceptional cases at the competition management's discretion. RAW and high-resolution files were requested from 13 April 2026 with a 30 April deadline. 1,240 photographers entered the 2026 cycle, submitting more than 26,000 images.
Verified on November 7, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- Does GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2027 allow AI-generated images?
- No. GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2027 does not permit AI-generated images in its competition entries.
- Are RAW files required to enter GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2027?
- Shortlisted entrants must supply their RAW files.
- How much does it cost to enter GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2027?
- EUR 35 standard entry in 2026 (2027 fee not yet published); free for the K9 Young Photographers category
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