Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 (TPOTY 2025)

Are you ready to claim the title of Travel Photographer of the Year 2025? This isn’t just another photo contest—it’s the most prestigious travel photography award in its 23rd year, offering massive international recognition, media coverage, and life-changing exposure. From 3 June to 13 October 2025, photographers worldwide can submit two portfolios of four images each across four thematic streams for a shot at the coveted Overall Winner title, backed by a £2,000 cash prize, a portfolio review from New York agent Frank Meo, and Radiant Photo imaging software.

Ranked among the top photography challenges to participate, TPOTY 2025 boasts an array of entry options: four-image portfolios in Adventures & Experiences, Culture, Heritage & Beliefs, Landscape, Weather & Climate, and Wildlife, Sealife & Birdlife; One Shot single-image categories; Rising Talent six-image portfolios; HD Video streams; and a free Young Travel Photographer award. Entry fees start at £12 for One Shot images, £25 for portfolios, and £15–£25 for videos, with bundle discounts and an early-bird TPOTY Pass available. This structure makes it accessible for everyone to showcase their best travel photographs.

Hosted entirely online and with total cash prizes of over £10,000, TPOTY 2025 delivers a transparent, merit-based process judged by industry leaders. Finalists’ high-resolution portfolios undergo rigorous selection in November and December, followed by a public vote for the People’s Choice and Travel Image of the Year awards. Winners earn spots in UK and international exhibitions, extensive media features, and sponsor-provided rewards—imaging software, expert reviews, and more. Whether you’re an emerging talent or a seasoned pro, TPOTY offers a unique platform to amplify your travel storytelling on a global stage.

The Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Prizes

TPOTY 2025 rewards excellence with a mix of cash, professional services, and prestigious exposure:

• Overall Winner – Travel Photographer of the Year 2025:
  • Title holder
  • £2,000 cash prize
  • Portfolio review by NY agent Frank Meo
  • Radiant Photo software
• Young Travel Photographer of the Year:
  • One overall winner (£500 + Radiant Photo software)
  • Two age-group winners (£250 each + Eye for the Light workshop or online critique)
• Portfolio Category Winners (Adventures & Experiences; Culture, Heritage & Beliefs; Landscape, Weather & Climate; Wildlife, Sealife & Birdlife):
  • £1,000 each
  • Radiant Photo software
  • Best Single Image in each category receives a Genesis Imaging giclée exhibition print
• One Shot Category Winners (Green Planet; Slow Travel; Travel in Monochrome):
  • £750 each
  • Radiant Photo software
  • Travel Portraits winner receives a Lensbaby Special Edition kit (£1,000 value) + software
• Rising Talent Award:
• Six winners:
  • £100 each
  • Radiant Photo software
  • Online training
  • TPOTY judge review
  • Eye for the Light workshop
  • Two gain extra Frank Meo reviews; mentoring programme slot for one
• HD Video Category Winners (Shooting Travel; Our World):
  • Prize details TBA
  • TPOTY promotional exposure
• Travel Image of the Year: Selected from One Shot and portfolio single-image winners by judges & public; prize details TBA.
• People’s Choice Award: Public-selected favorite
  • TPOTY books
  • Cards
  • Prints
  • Eye for the Light membership

The Categories of the Travel Photographer of the Year 2025

TPOTY 2025 offers multiple entry streams tailored to diverse travel narratives:

Portfolio Series (4 images each): Capture a cohesive story in:

• Adventures & Experiences
• Culture, Heritage & Beliefs
• Landscape, Weather & Climate
• Wildlife, Sealife & Birdlife

One Shot (1 image): Single-image challenges in:

• Green Planet
• Slow Travel
• Travel in Monochrome
• Travel Portraits

Rising Talent Award: Six-image portfolio for amateurs/semi-pros, focusing on diverse travel elements.

Young Travel Photographer: Four-image portfolio by entrants aged 18 & under, with a Journeys & Adventures theme. Free entry.

HD Video: Short films:

• One-minute “Shooting Travel”
• Two-minute “Our World”

Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Dates and Entry Fees

Entry Fees:

• Young Travel Photographer: Free
• One Shot: £12
• Four-image portfolios: £25
• Rising Talent: £25
• Shooting Travel video: £15
• Our World video: £25

Bundle Discounts: Two portfolios for £35; Four Plus Two (4 One Shot + 2 portfolios) for £55; Ten Image Combination (6–10 One Shot) for £55;

TPOTY Pass: £95 for unlimited entries until 31st July 2025.

How to Enter:

Register or log in at TPOTY’s online portal, select your category or TPOTY Pass, upload images/videos per guidelines (JPEG ≤3 MB, 2 000 px longest side, sRGB/Adobe RGB), pay the fee (if applicable), and submit.

Young Travel Photographer entries are free.

About the Jury

The TPOTY 2025 judging panel comprises 16 independent experts who volunteer their time to select winners purely on merit, ensuring the awards’ integrity and global prestige.

• Angela Nicholson – emotion & fresh perspective
• Cheryl Brophy Chan – sensory impact & scale
• Chris Coe – originality & lasting impact
• Colin Finlay – creativity & portfolio consistency
• Daria Bonera – narrative depth & ethics
• Ellie Rothnie – atmosphere & subject insight
• Frank Meo – magic & inspiration
• Jason Edwards – in-camera storytelling
• Jeremy Hoare – narrative immersion
• Keith Berr – storytelling & light mastery
• Krystal Chryssomallis – emotional truth & connection
• Linda Barberic – mood & narrative clarity
• Manfred Zollner – signature style & visual storytelling
• Mark Edward Harris – respectful depth & environmental insight
• Richard Dunwoody – creativity & spontaneity
• Simon Hill – authenticity & emotional resonance

Why Enter Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) 2025?

Winning TPOTY 2025 delivers unparalleled prestige, extensive UK and international exhibition placements, and widespread media coverage. With £10,000 cash prizes, premium software, professional portfolio reviews, and exclusive tuition at stake, entrants accelerate their careers and expand their networks. As one of the photography challenges and rewards, TPOTY highlights the best in travel storytelling, from sweeping vistas to wildlife encounters, offering a transformative platform for creative growth.

Rules and Copyright

This section about the rules and image rights of the Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.

Rules

The competition is open to amateur and professional photographers of all ages from any country.
Submissions must be made online via www.tpoty.com by the closing date of October 13th, 2025. (Note: some category specific texts mention Oct 6th, but the main press release states Oct 13th, which is used here for consistency).
Entrants can submit to multiple categories.
Images should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared. Digital manipulation is permitted but must be within ethical limits and fully declared if it alters the integrity of the image. Shortlisted finalists will be required to provide original image files (RAW or jpeg as shot).
No AI-generated images or video content will be allowed and any entered will be disqualified.
Specific rules apply to each category, including the number of images required for portfolios and duration for video entries. Entrants must read the rules for each category they enter.
Full compliance with the entry rules is required.

Copyright and Image Usage

Photographers retain full copyright of their submitted images at all times.
By entering, participants grant Travel Photographer of the Year a non-exclusive license to reproduce, publish, and exhibit submitted images strictly in connection with the TPOTY competition. This includes, but is not limited to, use in associated media coverage, exhibitions, promotional materials (including for future TPOTY competitions), TPOTY books, and on the TPOTY website and social media platforms.
TPOTY will always aim to credit the photographer whenever their images are used.
Entrants must ensure they have the necessary permissions for any recognizable individuals or property featured in their photographs.

For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.