25 Categories, 50+ World Class Judges, Top 30 Images from each category Judged Live on Youtube 8-31 July 2026. Open to professional, amateur and student photographers from Australia and around the world.
With over 2,500 entries from 21 countries, 2025 was our biggest competition ever, and 2026 is going to be even better! Key features of the Australian Photographic Prize are the diverse range of categories to enter, high quality of online feedback and livestream judging for the top 30 entries in each category where entrants can see their images scored and discussed by a panel of leading photographic experts.
2026 Categories: Architecture Creative Photographic Artist Aerial Creative Landscape Natural Landscape Birds Nature Underwater Wildlife Documentary Sport Travel Classic Portrait Creative Portrait Family Maternity Newborn Pet and Animal Commercial In-Camera Artistry Phone Macro Classic Wedding Creative Wedding Founded in 2022, the Australian Photographic Prize was created with a bold vision: to establish a world-class competition that celebrates excellence in photography while fostering growth, connection and inspiration. We quickly became Australia’s pre-eminent photography competition, attracting thousands of entries annually from photographers across Australia and around the globe. So why do we do this? Education.
Community. Celebration.
We believe good competitions can play a vital part in a photographer's growth. Great competitions like the Australian Photographic Prize elevate standards. They create opportunities for work to be seen. They bring people together. The Australian Photographic Prize exists to: Educate through constructive feedback, transparent judging and the sharing of world-class work. Build Community by connecting photographers at every stage of their journey, from emerging creatives to seasoned professionals. Celebrate Amazing Photography by recognizing and showcasing outstanding imagery that inspires us all.
At its heart, this competition is about photographers. It’s about raising the bar, encouraging one another, and celebrating the art, craft and passion that make photography such a powerful medium.