Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) 2027

AI policy

AI generated images: Images which have been generated wholly or partially using artificial intelligence (AI) software are ineligible for Travel Photographer of the Year and will be disqualified. Processing AI to adjust rather than change an image is permissible. Entrants will be asked to declare that generative AI has not been used to produce their entry/entries when entering the awards.

RAW files

Shortlisted entries and final judging: Shortlisted entrants will be required to submit the original image file (RAW or jpeg as shot) and the highest resolution file version of their entered image prior to final judging. Failure to do so will result in disqualification at the judges’ discretion.

Editing rules

Entrants must declare at entry that generative AI was not used. Sensible AI use such as denoising is permitted, but any AI that generates something not in the original image, including object removal or replacement, is not. Digital manipulation to optimise an image and cropping are allowed, but key elements of the composition may not be added or removed, composites are excluded and images with stripped metadata are not accepted. Shortlisted entrants must supply the RAW or as-shot JPEG, and where only a JPEG exists the judges may ask for the previous and next frame in the sequence. The quotes are from the 2026 rules, the current rules page.