National Wildlife Federation 55th Annual Photo Contest 2026
The National Wildlife Federation's annual photo contest, in its 55th edition for 2026, is one of the most-entered wildlife competitions in the United States. Entries close 1 May; the Grand Prize is USD 5,000. The 2026 cycle drew significant industry attention when its initial grand-prize image was disqualified as a composite after public scrutiny, raising the runner-up to top honours and prompting the NWF to revise its review process.
- Deadline
- May 1, 2026
- Entry fee
- USD 15 (10 photos) / USD 20 (15 photos) / USD 25 (20 photos + magazine subscription)
Authenticity policy
AI policy
Entries are required to be single, camera-made digital images, not composites or AI-generated creations.
RAW files
Not specified
Editing rules
The 2026 cycle was high-profile for enforcement: an aurora-and-owl image was elevated to grand-prize status then disqualified after investigation found it to be a composite, with the runner-up promoted in its place. The NWF has stated publicly that it will update its review process for future cycles. Composites and AI-generated creations are explicitly excluded.
Verified on June 12, 2026