Does NPPA Best of Photojournalism 2027 allow AI-generated images?

No. NPPA Best of Photojournalism 2027 does not permit AI-generated images in its competition entries.

Are RAW files required to enter NPPA Best of Photojournalism 2027?

Finalists may be asked to supply their RAW files for verification.

How much does it cost to enter NPPA Best of Photojournalism 2027?

2026 rates: free for NPPA members in good standing; US$90 for non-members

Opens soonNational Press Photographers Association

NPPA Best of Photojournalism 2027

The NPPA Best of Photojournalism contest treats authenticity as a professional-ethics matter, not just a technical guideline: every entrant certifies compliance with the NPPA Code of Ethics, AI generative tools are prohibited in any role, and content is 'locked at the moment it is recorded', the clearest statement of the indexical view of photographic truth in any contest rulebook. The 2026 contest took entries from 22 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, and its winners are published with ProPublica's 'Before a Breath: America's Stillbirth Crisis' named Sony Best of Show. The 2027 edition is expected to open in December, following last year's calendar; in 2026 entry was free for members and US$90 for non-members.

AI bannedRAW for finalists

Deadline: —
Entry fee: 2026 rates: free for NPPA members in good standing; US$90 for non-members

Official site Read full rules

Authenticity policy

AI policy

The use of AI generative tools to create, add, remove, expand or alter images or videos in any way is expressly prohibited. The content of a photograph or video clip – what is seen and what is not seen, what is heard and what is not heard – is locked at the moment it is recorded.
Source: https://bop.nppa.org/2026/technical-guidelines/

RAW files

Entrants must be prepared to provide file(s) as recorded by the camera for images that proceed to the final stages of the contest when requested.
Source: https://bop.nppa.org/2026/technical-guidelines/

Editing rules

Quoted from the 2026 technical guidelines; the 2027 guidelines are not yet published. All entrants certify compliance with the NPPA Code of Ethics. No multiple exposures, panoramas or stitched photos, whether produced in-camera or in software, are accepted. Entrants must be able to hand over the files as recorded by the camera for images that reach the final stages, and the judges can demand them whenever they suspect manipulation. The 'locked at the moment it is recorded' framing is an unusually direct statement of the indexical view of photographic truth. Content Credentials are not mentioned.

Verified on November 7, 2026

Frequently asked questions

Does NPPA Best of Photojournalism 2027 allow AI-generated images?: No. NPPA Best of Photojournalism 2027 does not permit AI-generated images in its competition entries.
Are RAW files required to enter NPPA Best of Photojournalism 2027?: Finalists may be asked to supply their RAW files for verification.
How much does it cost to enter NPPA Best of Photojournalism 2027?: 2026 rates: free for NPPA members in good standing; US$90 for non-members

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