Contents
Think you’ve got what it takes to frame nature at its finest? The International Landscape Photographer of the Year 2026, now in its thirteenth annual run, is seeking the world’s most captivating outdoor images. Whether you’re trekking misty mountains or exploring rugged coastlines, this global competition invites you to share your vision. Submissions opened on August 1, 2026 and close on October 31, 2026. Don’t miss one of today’s best photo contest opportunities to elevate your work and join a community of passionate landscape photographers.
With a total purse of $12,500 in cash awards, plus trophies and publication opportunities, the competition retains a substantial prize structure. First Prize for International Landscape Photographer of the Year comes with $5,000, a trophy, a feature in the Awards Book and a printed copy. Second and Third Prizes award $1,000 and $500 respectively. Additional honors include the International Landscape Photograph of the Year awards, five special subject prizes: Black and White, Seascape, Snow and Ice, Cloud and Night. Placement among the Top 101 also brings a PDF certificate and digital Awards Book.
Each image costs $25 to enter, with no overall limit on the number of submissions. Every fifth entry is free for photographs entered by October 24, 2026. Images must have been photographed on or after January 1, 2021 and must originate from a camera. Generative AI cannot be used to create new content, although limited AI-assisted retouching and noise reduction are permitted. With judging that spans a broad interpretation of the landscape genre and five special awards, the competition remains a notable fixture among landscape photography contests worldwide.
Deartline Review
View full review
Prizes
Below is the full breakdown of awards for outstanding entries in The International Landscape Photographer of the Year 2026 competition.
- International Landscape Photographer of the Year – First Prize:
- $5,000 cash
- Trophy
- Feature and inclusion in the Awards Book
- A printed copy of the Awards Book
- International Landscape Photographer of the Year – Second Prize:
- $1,000 cash
- Trophy
- Inclusion in the Awards Book
- A printed copy of the Awards Book
- International Landscape Photographer of the Year – Third Prize:
- $500 cash
- Trophy
- Inclusion in the Awards Book
- A printed copy of the Awards Book
- International Landscape Photograph of the Year – First Prize:
- $2,000 cash
- Trophy
- Feature and inclusion in the Awards Book
- A printed copy of the Awards Book
- International Landscape Photograph of the Year – Second Prize:
- $1,000 cash
- Trophy
- Inclusion in the Awards Book
- A printed copy of the Awards Book
- International Landscape Photograph of the Year – Third Prize:
- $500 cash
- Trophy
- Inclusion in the Awards Book
- A printed copy of the Awards Book
- Special Awards: Black and White, Seascape, Snow and Ice, Cloud and Night. Each offers:
- $500 cash
- Trophy
- Inclusion in the Awards Book
- A printed copy of the Awards Book
- Top 101 Recognition:
- Selected photographers receive a printable PDF certificate and a PDF download of the Awards Book.
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
The International Landscape Photographer of the Year 2026 does not require entrants to choose specific submission categories; all entries are judged under the broad landscape theme. The competition interprets landscape broadly enough to include natural and man-made environments, cityscapes, interiors, seascapes and aerial photography.
The judging panel also awards five special subject honors: Black and White, Seascape, Snow and Ice, Cloud and Night.
Dates and Entry Fees
Mark your calendars for the International Landscape Photographer of the Year 2026:
- Entry Opens: August 1, 2026
- “Every 5th Entry Free” Offer Ends: October 24, 2026
- Closing Date: October 31, 2026
Entry Fee: $25 per image.
There is no overall limit on the number of photographs that may be submitted. At least four different entries are required to be considered for International Landscape Photographer of the Year.
How to Enter:
To submit, click the “Entrants Login Here” button on the official website, register or sign in, then upload the photographs and complete payment. Entries must be JPEG files in AdobeRGB, 8-bit, measure between 4000 and 5000 pixels on the longest side at 300 dpi, and not exceed 12 MB.
About the Jury
The jury for the International Landscape Photographer of the Year 2026 is composed of respected photographers and photography professionals from around the world. The published panel for this edition includes:
- David Burnett – Co-Founder of Contact Press Images
- Jim M. Goldstein – Professional & Fine Art Photographer
- Kaye Davis – NZIPP Grand Master of Photography
- Tim Parkin – Landscape Photographer & Editor of On Landscape Magazine
- J. Fritz Rumpf – 2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year
- Peter Eastway – Chairman of Judges & AIPP Grand Master of Photography
Judging is blind. Each image is scored out of 100 by five judges, with the individual scores combined to produce an overall result. The highest-ranked photographs and portfolios then progress through further judging for the principal and Special Awards.
Why Enter International Landscape Photographer of the Year 2026?
The International Landscape Photographer of the Year has built its format around more than the headline cash prizes. The annual publication gives Top 101 selection a lasting outcome, with the Awards Book serving as a curated record of contemporary landscape photography. Each photograph is also assessed by the full scoring panel rather than being eliminated through an initial screening stage, and entrants can view their average score after judging.
For photographers seeking more photo competitions to participate in that combine substantial cash awards with publication and structured judging, the ILPOTY format offers several routes to recognition. Its Photographer of the Year title is particularly notable because it rewards consistency across four images, while Photograph of the Year and the five Special Awards provide additional opportunities for individual photographs.
Rules and Copyright
We reviewed the official rules of the International Landscape Photographer of the Year 2026 to summarize the key participation requirements, copyright terms and image usage conditions. Before entering, we recommend checking the complete rules published by the organizer.
Rules
The awards accept professional and amateur photographers worldwide. Entries must originate from a camera and must have been photographed on or after January 1, 2021. There are no general restrictions on post-production provided the editing is carried out by the entrant. Composites, stitching, HDR, focus stacking and sky replacement are permitted when the photographic components were created by the entrant.
Generative AI cannot be used to create new subjects or image elements. AI-assisted noise reduction and minor retouching are allowed where they do not generate new content. The organizers may request RAW files to verify authenticity. Judging is blind, so names, signatures, captions, watermarks or other identifying information must not appear on the image itself.
Copyright and Image Usage
Photographers retain full ownership of the copyright in their entries. Submitted photographs may be used by the organizer and event partners for judging and for marketing and promotion of the competition.
Winning entries, including the Top 101, may appear in public exhibitions, organizer and partner websites, magazines, printed and digital Awards Books, future publications promoting the awards and other promotional material. Winning images may also be sublicensed to press outlets for coverage connected with the competition or its exhibitions. Non-winning entries may be used solely to promote the competition for up to three years after the closing date. The organizer states that photographs it uses should carry a credit line.
—
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
