Nature Photographer of the Year 2026 – Rules

Contest Dates: April 7th – June 2nd, 2026

Invitation Photo Contest

The 2026 edition of the Nature Photographer of the Year Contest is open to nature photographers worldwide, professional and non-professional, young and old.
The Young Photographers category is open to participants under the age of 18 at the time of the deadline.

Ineligible participants:

• Office staff of Nature Talks / Nature Photographer of the Year (limited to employees)
• Members of the jury

Images submitted may be taken anywhere in the world.

How to Enter and Upload Images

1. Choose one of the following categories: Standard, Portfolio, Standard + Portfolio, or Youth.
2. Click the green button to start registration.
3. Complete registration and pay the entry fee (if applicable).
4. Once payment is complete, you will gain access to your personal dashboard, where you can upload your images.

Checking Results:
All contest results are posted on your personal dashboard; check it regularly.

Competition rules

• All images must be taken in unrestricted natural environments. Pets, captive animals (except in Category 8), and cultivated plants are not permitted. Large grazers and wild animals within extensive grazing areas or safety fences are considered wild.
• Respect for the subject and the environment is mandatory. Images taken in a way that disturbs, stages, or harms the subject or environment will be disqualified.
• Category 8 – Humans and Nature allows images that show both positive and negative human interaction, including captive animals.
• AI-generated or computer-rendered photos are not allowed.
• Images may have been taken at any time; there is no restriction on the capture date.

Categories

Individual Image Categories (Adults) – “Standard” 35 euro (early bird 32 euro)

• C1: Birds
• C2: Mammals
• C3: Other Animals
• C4: Plants and Fungi
• C5: Landscapes
• C6: Underwater
• C7: Natural Art
• C8: Humans and Nature
• C9: Black & White
• C10: Animal Portraits
• C11: Nature of “De Lage Landen”

Portfolio Category:

• C13: Fred Hazelhoff Award – 6–10 images, €17.50 (early bird €16)

Youth Categorie 

• C12: Youth (ages 10–17) – free of charge

Category Rules:

• Each photo may be submitted in only one category, except for the Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award.
• Multiple photos may be submitted in a single category.
• Black & white images are allowed in all categories.

Category-Specific Notes:

• C1–C5: Showcase the beauty and significance of species and habitats; can include details, groups, portraits, action, atmosphere, rare or common subjects.
• C6: Underwater images (salt or freshwater; plants, animals, habitats).
• C7: Creative, aesthetic, or experimental images; individual photographer’s style encouraged.
• C8: Humans interacting with nature (positive and negative); captive animals permitted.
• C9: Black & White photography.
• C10: Animal portraits (all species).
• C11: Nature of the Netherlands & Belgium only.
• C12: Young photographers’ best nature images.

Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award

• For a coherent portfolio of 6–10 images linked by subject or style.
• Not awarded for a single image; recognizes consistency in style and quality.
• Named after Dutch wildlife photography pioneer Fred Hazelhoff (1925–2002).
• Winner receives €1000 cash and a trophy.

Fred Hazelhoff, 15 July 1925 – 31 January 2002, was one of the most influential Dutch wildlife photographers. He is considered the patriarch and founder of modern wildlife photography in The Netherlands. His passion was deer and other large game, but at a later age he mainly photographed landscapes. Fred Hazelhoff inspired many generations of wildlife photographers and thereby contributed to the development of wildlife photography. Fred was also an inspiration for famous contemporary photographers such as Frans Lanting. Hazelhoff studied graphic design and photography at the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague and worked as art director for a number of companies. Fred Hazelhoff’s photography was bought by museums such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and Het Prentenkabinet of the university library in Leiden. His collection is part of the Dutch Photo Museum in Rotterdam. We are pleased that we are allowed to present this award with the approval of Fred Hazelhoff’s family. Not for just one photo, but for a portfolio. In many categories it is about a single winning image, but this award is about a coherent portfolio in which the photographer shows that he or she is consistent in style and quality.

Registration, Fees, and Deadlines

• Deadline: June 2nd, 2026, 23:59 CEST
• Submission via NPOTY system only
• Fees:
  • Standard: €35 (€32 early bird) – C1–C11
  • Youth: free – C12
  • Portfolio: €17.50 (€16 early bird) – C13
• Number of images:
  • Standard: up to 20 total across C1–C11
  • Youth: up to 5
  • Portfolio: 6–10 images

Refunds: 4 € transaction fee applies if you withdraw.

Image Requirements

Preview Images (Initial Uploads):

• Must be exactly 1920 pixels on the longest side.
• JPG file size: minimum 125 KB, maximum 2 MB (2000 KB).
• Moderate sharpening is allowed.
• Resize images using software such as Lightroom or Photoshop if needed.

High-Resolution / Original Files:

• Must be available in at least 3000 pixels on the longest side.
• Original RAW files (e.g., *.NEF, *.CRW, *.CR2, *.CR3, *.PEF, *.ORF) or original JPEGs must be provided if your photo proceeds to the final round.
• Files must be suitable for large-format printing (e.g., 80 x 120 cm).
• Colour space must be Adobe RGB or sRGB.
• Do not interpolate, and apply only moderate sharpening.

Accepted Image Types

• Digital camera images or high-quality scans of transparencies/negatives
• Analogue images only as scans

File Formats

• RAW: *.NEF, *.CRW, *.CR2, *.PEF
• Original JPEG or DNG files straight out of camera

Mobile/Smartphone Images

• Minimum 3000 pixels on the longest side
• Suitable for large-format printing (80 x 120 cm)
• Colour space: Adobe RGB or sRGB

File Naming

In previous years, participants were asked to rename their files in a specific format (e.g., C2_Tiger_In_Habitat). This is no longer required. You can upload your images with their original file names. The system automatically organizes your submissions, so there’s no need to rename files manually. Please ensure that each file corresponds to the correct category when uploading.

Image Authenticity

• Jury will verify original files or negatives
• Special techniques (HDR, focus stacking, panoramas) must be declared in the “More Options” field
• Photos remain anonymous to the jury

Permitted Editing Techniques

• Moderate adjustments: contrast, saturation, sharpness, white balance, shadows/highlights, dodge & burn, noise reduction
• Lens corrections, chromatic aberration removal, sensor spots removal
• Cropping (retain ≥3000px longest side)
• Multiple exposures (in-camera), panoramas (software allowed; originals shown to jury)
• HDR and focus stacking (moderation, retain natural character)
• Black & white conversion

Not Allowed:

• Adding/removing elements (except sensor spots or minor disturbances <3%)
• Red-eye removal, frames, watermarks, personal identification
• Excessive manipulation

Software Verification:

• Specialized software checks for disallowed edits and supports jury decisions.

Prizes

• Each category: Winner €500 (cash), runner-up €250 (products), 3 highly commended – honor only
• C11: weekend in Drenthe organized via Nature Talks
• C12: youth prizes €250; runner-up €125
• Overall Winner: Selected from category winners; receives €2500 + category prize = €3000 total (cash)
• Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award: €1000

When sending the prices/products we’ll pay the shipping costs, but – for instance – any customs costs are for the participant.

Award Ceremony: November 14, 2026 – all finalists, winners, and overall winner showcased. Exhibition will travel through the Netherlands and Belgium.

Note: If you do not respond to our messages (e-mail and/or phone) within three months of the Award Show, your prize will expire.

Uploading Images

• Upload via personal dashboard
• Follow field instructions
• Declare special techniques in “More Options”
• System auto-extracts shooting data (Exif)
• Images can remain provisional until contest closes

Copyright and Usage

• Photographer retains copyright
• Photographer confirms original work and sole ownership. The photographer is personally responsible if the rights of a third party have been violated. The consequences here of will be for the photographer only, the organization of the competition is not responsible.
• Organization may use images for marketing, exhibitions, websites, social media of the Nature Photographer of the Year Contest and the Nature Talks Photo Festival (also future editions), always crediting photographer. The photographer maintains copyright of his or her image at all times and can exploit this freely; he or she will, however, not ask any compensation of the organization of the competition for the usage of the image.
• By entering the competition, the photographer agrees to the possible inclusion of his or her image in a digital show during the Nature Talks Photo Festival 2026, of course the name of the photographer will be mentioned in the show. Photographer may decline inclusion in digital show by emailing [email protected]

Jury and Decisions

• Jury decisions are final
• Legal challenges not possible
• Jury decides in unclear cases
• Entries that do not comply with all or part of the rules, whether regarding content, technical specifications, or any other aspect, will be excluded from the competition

Contact

Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

Boegbeeld 18, 1671 TB Medemblik, The Netherlands
+31 345 246009
[email protected]

Number Chamber of Commerce – 66589711
VAT number – NL856621584B01

To address any inquiry to the Competition Manager of the Nature Photographer of the Year 2026, please refer to [email protected]