Deadline: April 30, 2026
Applications are open for the World Awards for African Imagery 2026. The World Awards for African Imagery 2026 celebrate the continent’s beauty, biodiversity, culture, and evolving urban identity. Through visual storytelling, photographers are encouraged to highlight Africa’s richness in both natural and social dimensions.
The competition provides a global platform for photographers to showcase their work and gain recognition for images that reflect Africa’s diversity and dynamism.
Competition Themes
Photographs are submitted across four key themes:
- Africa’s Landscapes – Capturing the continent’s natural environments, including:
- Savannas, forests, and deserts
- Rivers, lakes, and coastlines
- Rural and pastoral settings
- African Wildlife – Celebrating biodiversity by photographing animals in natural habitats only (no zoos or enclosed environments).
- Culture & Life – Depicting the richness of African traditions and everyday life:
- Community portraits and festivals
- Crafts and social scenes
- Rituals, ceremonies, and lifestyle activities
- Urban Africa & Modernity – Exploring urbanization, architecture, and modern city life:
- Transportation, infrastructure, and cityscapes
- The intersection of tradition and modern progress
- Dynamic social and cultural urban interactions
Prizes
- Gold Award: 1 winner per category
- Silver Awards: 3 winners per category
- Bronze Awards: 4 winners per category
- Award of Excellence: 40 recipients
- Finalists: 150 entries
All recipients receive official digital certificates, with optional printed certificates and medals.
Eligibility
- Open to all photographers worldwide, regardless of professional background
- Work must be original and fully owned by the entrant
- Images cannot include logos, watermarks, or borders
- Participants must retain original EXIF data
- Both digital and film photography are accepted
- Selected entrants may be required to provide original RAW or unaltered JPEG files
Application
For more information, visit World Awards for African Imagery.
