Pulitzer Prize (Photography Categories) 2027
Since the 2026 cycle, the Pulitzer Prize requires original camera-recorded files for every Breaking News and Feature Photography entry, plus an attestation that no AI tools were used. The 2026 cycle closed on 26 January 2026 and the prizes were awarded in spring 2026. The 2027 cycle is expected to open in December, following last year's calendar, with a deadline in late January 2027. The combination of mandatory originals at submission time and a personal declaration brings the Pulitzer into line with World Press Photo's verification standards, a meaningful shift for a prize that historically relied on the institutional credibility of submitting news organizations. Falsely attesting carries professional consequences well beyond the prize itself.
- Deadline
- —
- Entry fee
- Entry fee per category (not surfaced in source materials)
Authenticity policy
AI policy
Beginning in the 2026 cycle, a new prompt on the entry questionnaire requires Breaking News Photography and Feature Photography entrants to attest that no AI tools were used in their entered work.
RAW files
Entries in Breaking News Photography and Feature Photography must include original, unedited (i.e. as recorded by the camera) versions of the submitted images. Screenshots of camera-recorded images are not accepted.
Editing rules
Two-part manipulation test: (1) has editing removed or reordered any aspect of the original, and (2) has editing highlighted or obscured an aspect to the extent that it alters the character of the photo. Standard cropping and basic adjustments pass; cloning out elements and aggressive burning fail. The quoted rules are the 2026 cycle's; the 2027 guidelines were not yet published when this entry was checked.
Verified on November 7, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- Does Pulitzer Prize (Photography Categories) 2027 allow AI-generated images?
- No. Pulitzer Prize (Photography Categories) 2027 does not permit AI-generated images in its competition entries.
- Are RAW files required to enter Pulitzer Prize (Photography Categories) 2027?
- Yes. Pulitzer Prize (Photography Categories) 2027 requires entrants to supply their RAW files.
- How much does it cost to enter Pulitzer Prize (Photography Categories) 2027?
- Entry fee per category (not surfaced in source materials)
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