Pictures of the Year International (POYi) 83
POYi is the oldest sustained photojournalism competition in the United States, run out of the Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri. Its rules combine an absolute prohibition on AI-generated or manipulated imagery with a requirement that entries depict candid, unstaged news moments. Original RAW or JPG files can be requested at the jury's discretion. The clarity of the prohibition (no AI, no staging, no content added or removed) makes POYi a useful benchmark for photojournalism workflow expectations.
- Deadline
- January 6, 2026
- Entry fee
- US$50 early; US$60 after 6 January
The 2026 edition has ended
Entries closed on January 6, 2026. The information on this page describes this edition and stays available as a reference for the rules and the results.
Still open for entries
- Visa pour l'Image - Perpignan 2026 (38th edition)
- PhotoVogue Global Open Call 2026
- Wiki Loves Monuments 2026
Authenticity policy
AI policy
POY does not accept AI-generated or manipulated images in any category. Do not add or remove content from your images.
RAW files
POY may request the original RAW or JPG image files, plus any images that the jury request.
Editing rules
Entries should be accurate representations of a news scene or candid moment. Photographs cannot be set up or staged. Only portraits may be posed. Color images should replicate what the human eye experiences.
Verified on June 8, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- Can I still enter Pictures of the Year International (POYi) 83?
- No. Entries for the 2026 edition closed on January 6, 2026. Check the official site for the next edition, or look at contests that are currently open.
- Does Pictures of the Year International (POYi) 83 allow AI-generated images?
- No. Pictures of the Year International (POYi) 83 does not permit AI-generated images in its competition entries.
- Are RAW files required to enter Pictures of the Year International (POYi) 83?
- Finalists may be asked to supply their RAW files for verification.
- When is the Pictures of the Year International (POYi) 83 entry deadline?
- Entries for Pictures of the Year International (POYi) 83 close on January 6, 2026.
- How much does it cost to enter Pictures of the Year International (POYi) 83?
- US$50 early; US$60 after 6 January
Do you run a photo contest? See how organizers verify entries
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