Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) 2026 is open for entries. There are lots of cash prizes, and imaging software and more to be won.
Discover the new Portfolio and One Shot categories, Young TPOTY and Rising Talent below.
OVERALL WINNER – Travel Photographer of the Year 2026
This is the big one! The overall winner and Travel Photographer of the Year 2026 will be the photographer who submits the best two portfolios across the portfolio categories.
This prestigious award gets extensive media exposure for you and your photography. Entry is automatic and free. To qualify simply enter at least two portfolios and we’ll do the rest. LEARN MORE
Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2026
Awards will be given in the 14 and Under and 15-18 age groups, and one overall winner will be chosen.
This year’s theme is Discovering the World. All travel is an adventure, an experience, whether it is an exciting holiday or just a local day out. Great images are just as likely to come from familiar surroundings or close to home, as from long distance travel. Show us a collection of four travel images, in colour or black and white, which you are most proud of! LEARN MORE
Travel Image of the Year
With so many great images entered every year, we want to recognise the best. So this year, in addition to the People’s Choice vote, we’re asking you to join forces with the judges and choose the best single image from the winners of the four One Shot categories and the four Best Single images in the Portfolio categories. It’s free and we value your opinion. LEARN MORE
PORTFOLIO CATEGORIES
Adventures & Journeys
Every journey carries a story: of challenge, discovery, uncertainty, and transformation. The road, the journey itself – whether physical or personal – is often where the most meaningful moments unfold. From quiet persistence to high-adrenaline pursuits, adventure exists on many levels. LEARN MORE
Cultures, Traditions & Celebrations
Travel reveals the world through its people – their beliefs, rituals, and ways of life. Across continents and communities, cultures are expressed through tradition: in celebration and ceremony, and in daily life. Some are vivid and exuberant, alive with colour and movement. Others are quieter, rooted in reflection, identity, and human connection. Together, they form a powerful and diverse portrait of humanity. LEARN MORE
Landscapes – Natural & Urban
Light defines the landscape. Whether shaped by nature or built by human hands, landscapes are constantly changing – transformed by light, weather, and perspective. A familiar scene can become extraordinary for a fleeting moment, revealing depth, drama, or subtle beauty that exists only for those ready to see it. LEARN MORE
Wildlife, Sealife, Birdlife
The natural world is vast, complex, and under constant pressure. From the smallest insect to the largest mammal, from the depths of the ocean to the open sky, life on Earth exists in extraordinary diversity. Every species is shaped by its environment – adapted, resilient, and interconnected. LEARN MORE
RISING TALENT AWARD
Rising Talent
Do you want to make a career in photography? Would you like a helping hand to do this and to build that career? This year TPOTY is helping aspiring photographers to develop their talent and make the next step into full time photography. Rising Talent is looking for you. LEARN MORE
ONE SHOT CATEGORIES
In Nature
In a world driven by urgency, pressure, and constant distraction, reconnecting with nature is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity. This category invites you to slow down, look deeper, and rediscover the raw, restorative power of the natural world. LEARN MORE
People of the World
Beyond landmarks and landscapes, it is human connection that defines and inspires travel – the faces, stories, and quiet moments that reveal how others live, think, and feel. Every person carries a unique presence; every face holds depth, history, and identity. LEARN MORE
Street
Street photography is the art of noticing what others miss. It brings the raw, unfiltered world into focus – capturing fleeting moments, layered stories, and the energy of everyday life as it unfolds. Reality doesn’t wait – and neither should you. At its strongest, it is both documentary and interpretation. LEARN MORE
YOUR VOTE – PEOPLE’S CHOICE
The People’s Choice award.
Our judges will choose a selection of images from the 2026 finalists, and these will be displayed on our website in December for public vote. The winner receives a selection of books, cards and prints from TPOTY plus membership of Eye for the Light.
Have you discovered Eye for the Light yet? It’s our FREE online creative photography, adventure and travel magazine with over 140 features to enjoy. You can also listen to any of our 35+ ‘Newton & Coe’ podcasts and a new series of ‘&Coe’ podcasts where we chat to photographers from all around the world about their lives and photography. DISCOVER MORE
HEADER IMAGE: Marek Biegalski, Poland
Our sponsors and partners
It would not be possible to run Travel Photographer of the Year without the support of our sponsors and partners, and we are hugely grateful for their involvement each year. Click the logo to learn more about each of Travel Photographer of the Year’s sponsor and partners.
