Capture the world, one frame at a time. Welcome to Deartline’s indispensable section to travel photography contests, awards, and challenges. This is your portal if you live to explore, discover, and share the essence of places, cultures, and journeys through your lens. We gather opportunities that celebrate the art of storytelling on the road, recognizing images that transport viewers and reveal the diverse beauty and experiences our planet offers. Whether you’re documenting epic expeditions or intimate local discoveries, find the perfect travel photo competitions and journey photo challenges here to get your work seen and celebrated.
Next travel photo contest
Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 (TPOTY 2025)
List of travel photography competitions
Find your next adventure in recognition! Our constantly updated calendar lists premier travel photography contests, awards, and challenges from around the globe. Organized by deadline, you’ll discover opportunities for every type of photographic journey. We feature both dedicated travel photography competitions and relevant travel categories within broader international awards, ensuring a wide range of possibilities for your best work.
Know of a travel photography contest or journey photo award not featured here? Send it to us.
October 2025
November 2025
December 2025
February 2026
What Defines Travel Photography for Contests?
So, what are judges looking for in “travel photography” beyond pretty postcards? It’s the art of conveying an authentic sense of a place, its atmosphere, its people, and the experience of the journey itself. It’s about crafting a visual narrative that transports the viewer and offers a unique perspective, not just a record of having been somewhere.
Travel photography for competitions often encompasses a rich tapestry of subjects:
Evocative Places:
This includes stunning landscapes discovered on your travels, from majestic mountains to serene coastlines, and the vibrant pulse of city life with its unique architecture and street scenes. The key is how these places contribute to the story of your journey or the character of the destination.
Insightful Encounters with People:
Compelling portraits of locals (captured with respect and, where appropriate, consent) can offer profound insights into a culture and the human experience within a specific environment.
The Journey Itself:
Sometimes the story is in the travel – the mode of transport, the challenges of the road, the fleeting moments of discovery and connection experienced while moving from one place to another.
Cultural Nuances & Local Life:
Documenting traditions, festivals, daily routines, or even the local cuisine can paint a rich picture of a destination, provided it’s done with sensitivity and depth.
Why Enter Travel Photography Awards?
Sharing your travel stories through photography awards can open up a world of opportunities:
- Share Your Unique Worldview: Travel photo contests offer a platform to present your personal interpretation of places and cultures, moving beyond clichés to share authentic insights and discoveries.
- Gain Global Exposure & Recognition: Winning or being featured in international travel photography competitions can put your work in front of a massive audience, including travel enthusiasts, industry professionals, tourism boards, and picture editors from around the world.
- Build an Impressive Travel Portfolio: Award-winning images are powerful assets, demonstrating your ability to not only travel but to return with compelling, high-quality visual stories that capture the essence of a destination.
- Unlock Professional & Financial Opportunities: Success can lead to exciting assignments from travel magazines, collaborations with tourism brands, invitations to speak or lead workshops, and the chance to sell prints. Many travel photography grants and awards also offer substantial cash prizes or equipment to fund your next photographic expedition.
- Fuel Your Wanderlust & Creative Drive: Participating in travel photo challenges can inspire new trip ideas, push you to explore different photographic approaches on the road, and keep your passion for visual storytelling alive.
Crafting Impactful Entries for Travel Photography Competitions
What makes a travel photo (or series) truly stand out to judges?
- Storytelling is Paramount: Does your image, or collection of images, tell a compelling story about the place, the people, or your experience? Go beyond the picturesque and aim for narrative depth. A great travel photo often leaves the viewer with a feeling or a question.
- Evoke a “Sense of Place”: Your photograph should transport the viewer. Does it capture the unique atmosphere, character, light, and spirit of the destination? Avoid generic shots that could have been taken anywhere.
- Authenticity & Originality Trump Clichés: Judges see countless photos of famous landmarks. If you shoot them, find a fresh angle, unique light, or an un-photographed moment. Prioritize genuine interactions and authentic scenes over staged or overly familiar imagery.
- Technical Excellence on the Move: Demonstrate your ability to capture well-exposed, sharp, and thoughtfully composed images even in the often unpredictable and challenging conditions of travel (variable light, limited time, unfamiliar environments).
- Emotional Connection: Whether it’s joy, wonder, contemplation, or empathy, images that connect with the viewer on an emotional level have a far greater impact in travel photography awards.
Start Your Journey Today
Your travels provide a canvas for incredible stories and breathtaking visuals. Travel photography contests, awards, and challenges are the perfect platforms to share these experiences, gain recognition, and inspire others.
Use Deartline to discover the latest opportunities. Apply these insights to curate your most impactful images, weave compelling narratives, and let your journeys resonate with a global audience.
Explore our photo contests calendar and mark your next destination for photographic success!