Ocean Photographer of the Year 2027
Ocean Photographer of the Year, run by London's Oceanographic Magazine and presented with Blancpain, is the leading global award for marine, coastal and ocean-environment photography, with 118 images recognised each year across nine categories and exhibitions in the UK and the San Francisco Bay Area. The 2026 edition accepted entries from 1 April to 30 June 2026 at £10 per category and revealed its winners on 9 September 2026. The 2027 edition is expected to open in April, following last year's calendar. The terms prohibit AI-generated imagery outright and the entry rules ban any manipulation of the natural world, though no RAW or original-file check is mentioned.
- Deadline
- —
- Entry fee
- 2026 rates: £10 per category entered; nominations in the Female Fifty Fathoms Award are free
Authenticity policy
AI policy
All submissions must be photographs. AI-generated imagery is strictly prohibited.
RAW files
Not specified
Editing rules
Quoted from the competition terms as they stand for the 2026 edition; the 2027 rules are not yet published. The terms ban AI-generated imagery outright, while the entry rules allow post-processing and state that manipulation of the natural world is not acceptable, with every entrant confirming that all images were taken naturally without interference with wildlife. Up to ten images per category as JPEG, PNG or TIFF under 5 MB; the Ocean Portfolio Award requires exactly ten. Finalists may be asked for higher-resolution files, but RAW files and Content Credentials are not mentioned.
Verified on November 7, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- Does Ocean Photographer of the Year 2027 allow AI-generated images?
- No. Ocean Photographer of the Year 2027 does not permit AI-generated images in its competition entries.
- How much does it cost to enter Ocean Photographer of the Year 2027?
- 2026 rates: £10 per category entered; nominations in the Female Fifty Fathoms Award are free
Do you run a photo contest? See how organizers verify entries
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