2026 Audubon Photography Awards Open for Entries

NEW YORK / SANTIAGO / BOGOTA (January 15, 2026) – Audubon invites photographers and videographers of all experience levels to enter the 2026 Audubon Photography Awards. Submissions will be accepted from residents of the United States, Canada, Chile, and Colombia until Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 12 p.m. (noon) U.S. Eastern Time (12 p.m. in Colombia and 2 p.m. in Chile). Now in its 17th year, the awards showcase stunning photos and videos that celebrate the beauty and joy of birds and highlight how they connect people across geographies and ecosystems. 

Judges will award nine prizes to Chile and Colombia residents and eight prizes to U.S. and Canada residents. This year, in addition to $5,000, the Grand Prize winners will each receive a voyage to Antarctica with HX Expeditions to combine birding, conservation, and exploration on a one-of-a-kind trip. With more than 20 years of Antarctic experience, HX operates the cruise industry’s leading science and education program aboard the world’s first hybrid battery-powered expedition ships, including Audubon Voyages with ornithologists and expert naturalists.  Other prizes include the Birds Without Borders Prize, depicting birds with migratory paths that cross international boundaries, and Conservation Prize, illustrating conservation challenges that birds face or how addressing those challenges can help them thrive—both introduced last year. The Birds in Landscapes Prize, Youth Prize, Plants for Birds Prize, Female Bird Prize, and Video Prize will also be awarded. Two separate panels will judge entries anonymously and select the winners and honorable mentions for their respective regions. 

Winners will be featured in the Fall 2026 issue of Audubon magazine. The honorable mentions, Top 100, and additional select photos and videos will be featured in digital galleries promoted on Audubon's website and social channels throughout the year. For inspiration, check out the 2025 Audubon Photography Awards winners, honorable mentions, and top 100. 

The contest is open to all legal residents of Colombia, Chile, the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 13 years of age or older as of the date of the submission. All submissions must adhere to Audubon’s Guide to Ethical Bird Photography and Videography. 

Entry is free for residents of Chile and Colombia and $15 per image or video for individuals in the U.S. and Canada. No payment is required for submissions to the Youth division for entrants who are 13 to 17 years of age. 

Visit the Chile and Colombia and U.S. and Canada contest pages for official rules, details on prizes and judges, and frequently asked questions. 

### 

Press contact: Jason Howe, jason.howe@audubon.org

About Audubon  

The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.