Get ready: the EEA Photo Competition 2026 is about to return. Starting from 18 May, the competition “Resilient by Nature” will officially open, inviting participants to photograph resilient nature and the ways in which people restore nature and strengthen the systems we all depend on. Through photography, the competition aims to bring out the hidden stories of nature, moments of change, and the actions that help the planet and societies adapt and find a new balance.
To participate, you need to submit a maximum of 5 shots in one or more categories—namely Harmony, Disruption and Renewal—between 18 May and 10 August 2026. The photos can be close-ups, aerial views or eye-level shots.
The competition is open to citizens of the 27 EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Türkiye; and, under the stabilisation and association agreements: North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The best photographs in each category will be selected by a pre-selection committee composed of communication and environment experts designated by the EEA, while an independent jury of environmental communication experts will determine the winners of all prizes, except for the Public Choice Award. For the Public Choice Award, the selected finalist photos will be open to public voting from 14 to 27 September 2026.
All winners will be announced on 9 October 2026.