Image: Scott Antclife
The National Geographic Traveller (UK) Photography Competition 2026 is now accepting entries, inviting photographers to submit their finest travel images from the past year.
Two new categories join the line-up this year: Aerial, recognising the growing impact of drone photography, and Rising Star, designed to support emerging talent aged 18 to 25.
Entrants have the chance to see their work published in National Geographic Traveller (UK) and to win exceptional travel prizes. Selected entries will also be showcased at a dedicated event later in the year. Open to residents of the UK and Ireland aged 18 and over, the competition celebrates the breadth and creativity of modern travel photography.
The categories
Urban
From glass-and-steel skyscrapers to ancient heritage sites, the Urban category celebrates cities in all their forms. A strong sense of place, a clear focal point and the thoughtful use of texture, pattern and the spaces between buildings will impress.
Wildlife
Be it remote landscapes or local environments, judges will focus on images that show the relationship between animals and their habitat. Entries should clearly communicate how the environment, behaviour and subject interact within the frame.
Landscape
One of the most established disciplines in travel photography, this category invites creative vistas and unexpected perspectives. Images should demonstrate what a modern landscape photograph can be, whether through scale, light, composition or viewpoint.
Food
The Food category challenges photographers to go beyond the plate. Judges will be looking for images that capture both produce and destination, reflecting culture, provenance and travel through food. Successful entries will convey the uniqueness of the location as clearly as the subject itself.
People
More than a portrait, this category focuses on people within a travel context. Judges will look for thought-provoking images, whether depicting individuals or crowds. Sensitivity and depth are key considerations.
Portfolio
Designed for visual storytelling, the Portfolio category invites travel narratives told through a series of up to 10 images using a range of photographic styles to build a cohesive and distinctive picture of a location, culture or journey.
Aerial
New for 2026, the Aerial category recognises the striking perspectives made possible through drone photography. From urban patterns and architecture to remote wilderness and natural formations, viewpoints from above can transform the understanding of a landscape.
Rising Star
Also new for 2026, the Rising Star award aims to identify emerging talent in travel photography. Open to photographers aged 18 to 25, this category welcomes images based around a broad travel theme, offering newcomers an opportunity to gain recognition within the industry.
GRAND PRIZE
- An 11-day holiday for two to Canada. The winning photographer will receive a self-drive trip through British Columbia courtesy of Journeyscape, including return flights from the UK to Vancouver, car hire, entry to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and accommodation across Vancouver, Sun Peaks, Revelstoke, Nelson and Osoyoos.
- One of eight subscriptions to National Geographic Traveller (UK).
- A 30-minute mentor session for all category winners with the National Geographic Traveller (UK) Art Director and Photography Editor.
Entries close at 11.59pm on 22 March 2026. Judges will be announced in due course. Full category guidelines, terms and conditions and entry details are available below.
SPONSORS INCLUDE
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TERMS & CONDITIONS
By participating in any promotion, entrants are deemed to have accepted these rules and the specific directions/terms and conditions applicable to the relevant promotion, as well as any terms and conditions pertaining to a relevant third party.
The Promoter
The Promoter is APL Media Limited, Highgate Studios, 53-79 Highgate Road, London NW5 1TL.
The Prizes
There will be one overall grand prize winner, and 7 category winners.
The winners' images will be published in National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine.
Grand Prize - 11-day trip to Canada
The Grand Prize winner, from the eight categories, will receive an 11-day self-drive holiday for two people to British Columbia, Canada with Journeyscape.
The prize includes:
- 2 nights in Vancouver, 2 nights in Sun Peaks, 2 nights in Revelstoke, 2 nights in Nelson, and 2 nights in Osoyoos.
- Mid-range accommodation on a room-only basis. The prize is based on two people sharing one room.
- Car hire and transfers (where applicable) within Canada.
- International economy-class flights from UK with 23kg checked luggage per person.
Additional nights, excursions and experiences can be added at an additional cost to the winner.
The prize excludes: travel insurance; visas; travel between the prize winner’s home and the UK departure airport; personal spending money; tips; fuel; parking charges; GPS hire; toll fees; or any food, drink or activities not mentioned in the prize description. Any additional taxes, costs and expenses incurred during the trip will be the responsibility of the prize winner.
Travel must be taken between September 2026 and June 2027, excluding the following blackout dates:
- Christmas & New Year 2026 (1st December 2026 – 3rd January 2027)
- Easter 2027 (25th March – 9th April 2027)
- Additional blackout dates may apply and are subject to promotional availability.
Journeyscape’s standard booking conditions apply.
It is the winner’s responsibility to check all visa, passport, travel insurance and health requirements are fulfilled.
The prize must be booked at least 30 days in advance of the intended date of travel.
The prize is subject to availability, non-exchangeable, non-transferable and non-refundable. The prize for this Prize Promotion will be given to the winner as set out in these terms and conditions. The winner must accept the prize in that form. There is no cash alternative. No alternative will be offered.
The prize cannot be combined with any other offer.
In the event of cancellation by the winner, for whatever reason, no alternative prize will be given.
The prize provider and Promoter retain the right to substitute the prize with another prize of similar value in the event that the original prize offered is not available.
The promoter shall not be liable in any way for any failure, liability or breach by any third party in connection with this competition accepts no responsibility for any loss, property damage or personal injury suffered by the winner relating to this competition, except in the case of death or personal injury caused by the promoter’s negligence or fraudulent misrepresentation and, so far as permitted by law, the promoter and its associated companies and agents exclude responsibility and all liabilities arising for reasons beyond its control, including any act or default of any third-party supplier.
Category winners - subscription to National Geographic Traveller (UK)
The winner of each category will receive a one-year subscription to National Geographic Traveller (UK), including UK delivery.
The prize is subject to availability, non-exchangeable, non-transferable and non-refundable. The prize for this Prize Promotion will be given to the winner as set out in these terms and conditions. The winner must accept the prize in that form. There is no cash alternative. No alternative will be offered.
The Promoter retains the right to substitute the prize with another prize of similar value in the event that the original prize offered is not available.
Entries
To enter the Photography Competition, entrants must submit their photographs using the entry form available at: https://natgeotraveller.typeform.com/photocomp2026
Only online entries will be accepted.
The competition closes at 23.59 GMT on 22 March 2026. All entries must be received before this time. Entrants may enter each category once, making for a total of eight entries.
Entrants may submit a photograph in one of the following categories: Aerial, Food, Landscapes, People, Rising Star, Urban, and Wildlife.
Entrants submitting in the Portfolio category may submit a maximum of 10 photographs.
Photographic entries must be under 10MB and .jpg format. All submissions must be the entrant’s own work, and they must own the copyright to any photographs entered.
Photographs must have been taken within two years of the date of entry and may not previously have won an award in any National Geographic photography contest. Only minor burning, dodging and/or colour correction is acceptable, as is cropping. The use of generative AI is not permitted.
Where a person is the main focus of the image, entrants must ensure they have either a model release form or the permission of the subject to enter their image into this competition. This applies only where the person featured is the main focus of the image, and not to street photography. The promoter reserves the right to request this and disqualify any entrants who can’t show proof of permission, if requested.
The winner will be notified by email within 90 days of the competition closing. The winner will be contacted using the email address provided at the time of entry. Once notified, the winner must reply within 10 days. If the selected winner is unreachable, ineligible, disqualified or fails to reply within 10 days of notification being sent by the promoter, the promoter reserves the right to choose a new winner.
The judging process
The shortlist will be compiled by the art director and the picture editors of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
The National Geographic Traveller (UK) team will send the shortlist of entries to each independent judge. The independent judges will in turn rank all entries for each of the eight categories. The art director and picture editors will then collate the judges’ votes to determine the winners.
There will be one winner from each of the eight categories and a selection of runners up. One category winner will be selected as the grand prize winner and will receive the grand prize. The grand prize winner may be selected from any category.
Winners will be notified by 28 May 2026. Decisions of the judges are final and binding.
The promoter’s decision in this competition is final and legally binding and no correspondence will be entered into.
Entrants
Entrants must reside in the UK or Ireland and be aged 18 or over.
Employees and agents of APL Media Limited (APL) or any company connected with the production or distribution of a promotion or any of their associated companies are not eligible to take part in the applicable promotion, nor are their relatives or members of their families or households.
Entrants can enter the competition only as specified in these terms and conditions.
The winner may be required to provide the promoter with proof of identity before receipt of any prize. The form of proof of identity required will be at the sole discretion of the promoter. Failure to produce sufficient evidence as to identity may result in disqualification.
No entries from agents, third parties, organised groups or entries automatically generated by computer will be accepted. No incomplete, illegible or corrupted entries will be accepted. Failure to comply with any of these terms and conditions (including instructions) will disqualify any entrant from taking part in the competition and the entry will be invalid. The promoter retains sole discretion to refuse entrants the right to enter if it feels that these terms and conditions aren’t being complied with or for any valid and justifiable reason.
The promoter reserves the right to disqualify any entrant and/or winner and/or amend these terms and conditions at any time in its absolute discretion.
Competition
No purchase is necessary for entry in the competition.
Any entry made giving another person’s (or a false) name or other dishonest information will be disqualified.
Copyright, publicity and personal data
Publicity may be given to the shortlisted and winning entries. By entering this Prize Promotion, each of the entrants agree to the use of their name and entry without compensation, for the Promoter’s promotional and marketing purposes.
Entrants also agree to allow National Geographic Partners and National Geographic Traveller (UK) to publish their photos in the magazine, on National Geographic websites worldwide and on the National Geographic Traveller (UK) social media channels. The winning entries may also be used by National Geographic Traveller (UK) and the competition sponsors in marketing material relating to the competition for up to two years. This may include the production of a limited number of physical prints of winning and/or shortlisted images, which may be distributed free of charge to a restricted audience comprising event attendees, press, clients and partners.
Such use will be non-commercial, time-limited and will not constitute a transfer of copyright, which remains at all times with the photographer. No further reproduction, sale or distribution of printed images will be made without the prior consent of the copyright holder. Winners must co-operate fully for publicity purposes if so required.
All personal data submitted by an entrant in connection with this competition is submitted voluntarily. All personal data collected from entrants will be used by the promoter for the purpose of administering the competition and by entering this competition, entrants consent to the promoter using this information to contact them in respect of the prize.
Entrants may consent to receiving National Geographic Traveller (UK) email newsletters containing the latest travel features, events, competitions and offers by ticking the relevant box on the entry form.
If, at a later stage, an entrant wishes to withdraw their consent to receive such materials, please select the ‘unsubscribe’ link, which can be found on the National Geographic Traveller (UK) newsletters. Further information about how the information gathered will be held is available from the promoter’s privacy policy.
Entrants may also consent to receiving direct marketing communications from National Geographic partners and/or the prize providers by ticking the relevant boxes on the entry form. If entrants consent to such marketing, their information will be processed in accordance with the privacy policies specified with the relevant tick box on the entry form.
Entrants are under no obligation to consent to emails or direct marketing material and this in no way affects entrants’ eligibility to still enter the competition.
By entering into this competition, entrants consent to their personal data being passed outside the EU for the purposes of processing and storing on the promoter’s servers for the purpose of administering the competition.
Miscellaneous
An entrant indemnifies the promoter, its agents, employees, representatives, associates, affiliates, parent and subsidiary companies against any and all claim, losses, costs, damages, liability and expenses arising out of the entrant’s breach of any of these terms and conditions.
By entering this competition each entrant expressly releases the promoter, its affiliates, agents, employees and directors from any claim, action or demand arising out of or in connection with the competition or their prize, if any.
The promoter reserves the right to modify these rules, suspend or discontinue the competition at any time, including without limitation where it’s deemed necessary to do so due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control or if it can’t be guaranteed that the competition can be carried out correctly for technical or legal reasons or if the promoter suspects that any person has been manipulating the administration of the competition or has acted unethically in any other way.
The determination and decision of the publishers and the promoter on all matters shall be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
The laws of England and Wales govern these terms and conditions.