Pulitzer Prize (Photography Categories) 2026
Beginning with the 2026 cycle, the Pulitzer Prize requires original camera-recorded files for every Breaking News and Feature Photography entry, plus a sworn attestation that no AI tools were used. The combination of mandatory originals at submission time and a personal declaration brings the Pulitzer into alignment 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
- January 27, 2026
- 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.
Verified on June 8, 2026