Wiki Loves Folklore 2026 opens a global window from February 1 to March 31, 2026, inviting photographers and media creators to document living traditions and upload them directly to Wikimedia Commons. The concept is simple but powerful: images, videos, and audio recordings focused on folklore, festivals, crafts, rituals, clothing, food culture, oral traditions, and community heritage can compete for international recognition while becoming part of one of the world’s largest open knowledge platforms.
This edition includes global photography awards up to $500, additional multimedia prizes, regional recognitions, and community distinctions. There is no entry fee, which places it among the free photography competitions worth considering for photographers who are comfortable publishing under free licenses. The contest operates entirely online through Wikimedia Commons, and results are expected to be announced on July 15, 2026.
For Deartline readers comparing opportunities, Wiki Loves Folklore 2026 also stands alongside other best photography challenges to participate in, particularly for those interested in visually documenting traditions, communities, and cultural practices. Its structure aligns naturally with a culture photography contest approach, where strong context, captions, and storytelling matter as much as composition.
Contents
Prizes
Wiki Loves Folklore 2026 offers international, regional, and community awards. All prizes are distributed as major brand gift cards or vouchers.
Campaign Prizes
- Global Photography Excellence
- 1st prize: $500.
- 2nd prize: $400.
- 3rd prize: $300.
- Top 10 Noteworthy Contribution Awards: $50 each.
- Multimedia
- Best Video: $300.
- 2nd Video Prize: $200.
- 3rd Video Prize: $150.
- Best Audio: $200.
- 2nd Audio Prize: $150.
- 3rd Audio Prize: $150.
Community Prizes
- Distinguished Heritage Documenter
- 1st prize: $500.
- 2nd prize: $300.
- 3rd prize: $200.
- Volunteer Organiser Excellence Award
- 1st prize: $200.
- 2nd prize: $150.
- 3rd prize: $100.
- Wiki Loves Folklore Postcards to top 100 Uploaders
- Certificates and postcards to Local Organizers.
Regional prizes
- Regional Winner (per listed region): $125.
- Regional Runner up (per listed region): $75.
Other Free Contests
Categories or Themes
The central theme is folklore and living cultural heritage. Eligible content includes traditional festivals, dances, music, crafts, games, rituals, food culture, clothing, mythology, folk religion, oral traditions, and other expressions of community identity. The scope is intentionally broad, provided the subject clearly relates to folk culture and falls within Wikimedia Commons guidelines.
Although photography is at the heart of the competition, Wiki Loves Folklore 2026 also accepts video and audio submissions that document folklore. For photographers working in long term projects or storytelling formats, the structure can overlap with a documentary photography approach, where narrative clarity and contextual information are essential.
Dates and Entry Fees
The competition follows a clearly defined timeline, from upload period to jury review and final announcement.
| Upload period | February 1, 2026 to March 31, 2026 |
| Review and jury process | April 2026 to June 2026 |
| Results announcement | July 15, 2026 (expected) |
Entry fee: Free.
How to Enter:
Entries must be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons during the contest period. The recommended method is to use the dedicated Wiki Loves Folklore upload link, which activates the UploadWizard with the contest overlay and automatically places submissions in the appropriate campaign category.
Each file should include a clear description, relevant contextual details such as location and date, and accurate categorization. If using an alternative upload method, contributors must manually add the template {{Wiki Loves Folklore 2026}} so the file is recognized as part of the competition. Participants also need to enable email in their Wikimedia Commons preferences to allow organizers to contact potential winners.
About the Jury
Submissions are evaluated by an international jury panel. The judging process considers factors such as narrative impact, technical quality, originality, clarity of focus, and the usefulness of the media for Wikimedia projects. Jury members and local organizers are not eligible to receive prizes, even if they contribute content.
Why Enter Wiki Loves Folklore 2026?
Wiki Loves Folklore 2026 stands out because participation results in more than a ranking. Accepted work becomes part of Wikimedia Commons under a free license, which allows reuse across Wikipedia and other Wikimedia Foundation projects. For photographers documenting ceremonies, crafts, or everyday traditions, this creates long term visibility tied to open knowledge rather than a temporary exhibition.
The competition also offers layered recognition, including global, regional, and thematic awards, which increases the range of possible outcomes beyond a single top prize. With no entry fee, it fits comfortably alongside other photography challenges to join online and can be included among free photography contests that prioritize contribution and documentation over commercial return.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Wiki Loves Folklore 2026 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
- Contributors must hold the copyright to the submitted media.
- Uploads must take place between February 1 and March 31, 2026.
- Historical photographs are eligible if the uploader owns the copyright, but they must still be uploaded during the contest period.
- Media must be released under a free license or into the public domain. A commonly used option is Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0.
- Entries must be tagged correctly as part of the campaign, either automatically through the dedicated upload wizard or manually using the required template.
- AI generated media is not accepted.
- Watermarks, timestamps, embedded credits, or edits that associate the media directly with the uploader are not allowed.
- Re uploads of files already present on Wikimedia Commons are not permitted.
- Participants must enable email in their Wikimedia Commons preferences to be contacted if selected.
- Video files are expected in .ogg, .ogv, or .webm formats.
Copyright and Image Usage
- All submitted media is hosted on Wikimedia Commons under free licenses, allowing reuse according to license terms, including proper attribution where required.
- The competition prioritizes files that are useful for Wikimedia projects, which is why clear descriptions and accurate categorization are essential.
- Prizes are issued as gift cards or vouchers, and no cash alternative is offered.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
