About the competition
The European Environment Agency (EEA) has launched its 2026 photo competition, Resilient by Nature, inviting photographers to capture the many ways nature sustains life, responds to pressures and recovers in a changing world. The competition is free to enter and aims to raise awareness of biodiversity, sustainability and ecosystem recovery through visual storytelling.
Eligibility
The competition is open to anyone aged 18 or older who is a citizen of an EEA member and cooperating countries. All photographs must be taken within eligible countries.
Participants may submit up to five original photographs across one or more competition categories. Entrants must own full copyright to all submitted images and comply with the competition’s rules on editing and image manipulation. Photographs should be submitted digitally in high resolution, accompanied by a title and, optionally, a short description in English.
Categories
The competition includes three thematic categories:
Harmony – images showing the dynamics of nature: cooperation, patterns, and structures that keep ecosystems functioning.
Disruption – images illustrating moments when natural systems are under stress (extreme weather events, pollution, human impacts).
Renewal – images highlighting restoration, adaptation and nature-based solutions.
The EEA encourages creative and impactful photography, including documentary, landscape and close-up nature imagery. Entries should communicate environmental resilience and inspire reflection on Europe’s changing natural environment.
Timeline
The competition opened on 18 May 2026 and closes on 10 August 2026 at 23:59 CEST. A shortlist of finalists will be announced on 14 September 2026, followed by an online public vote from 14–27 September 2026. Winners will be announced on 9 October 2026.
Judging and Prizes
The judging process takes place in two stages. First, an EEA pre-selection committee will shortlist approximately 30–50 finalist images. An independent jury of environmental communication experts from across Europe will then select the final winners, one in each category plus a Youth Prize and a Public Choice Award.
Judging criteria include thematic relevance, creativity, technical ability and persuasiveness. In addition to the jury awards, a Public Choice Award will be decided through online voting.
Prizes include:
€1,000 for each category winner
€500 Public Choice Award
€500 Youth Prize for photographers aged 18–24
Winning and shortlisted photographs may also be featured in EEA publications, exhibitions and communication campaigns, providing international visibility for participating photographers.
Eligibility
The competition is open to anyone aged 18 or older who is a citizen of an EEA member and cooperating countries. All photographs must be taken within eligible countries.
Participants may submit up to five original photographs across one or more competition categories. Entrants must own full copyright to all submitted images and comply with the competition’s rules on editing and image manipulation. Photographs should be submitted digitally in high resolution, accompanied by a title and, optionally, a short description in English.
Categories
The competition includes three thematic categories:
Harmony – images showing the dynamics of nature: cooperation, patterns, and structures that keep ecosystems functioning.
Disruption – images illustrating moments when natural systems are under stress (extreme weather events, pollution, human impacts).
Renewal – images highlighting restoration, adaptation and nature-based solutions.
The EEA encourages creative and impactful photography, including documentary, landscape and close-up nature imagery. Entries should communicate environmental resilience and inspire reflection on Europe’s changing natural environment.
Timeline
The competition opened on 18 May 2026 and closes on 10 August 2026 at 23:59 CEST. A shortlist of finalists will be announced on 14 September 2026, followed by an online public vote from 14–27 September 2026. Winners will be announced on 9 October 2026.
Judging and Prizes
The judging process takes place in two stages. First, an EEA pre-selection committee will shortlist approximately 30–50 finalist images. An independent jury of environmental communication experts from across Europe will then select the final winners, one in each category plus a Youth Prize and a Public Choice Award.
Judging criteria include thematic relevance, creativity, technical ability and persuasiveness. In addition to the jury awards, a Public Choice Award will be decided through online voting.
Prizes include:
€1,000 for each category winner
€500 Public Choice Award
€500 Youth Prize for photographers aged 18–24
Winning and shortlisted photographs may also be featured in EEA publications, exhibitions and communication campaigns, providing international visibility for participating photographers.
Prize
Cash Prize
€1,000 for each category winner, €500 Public Choice Award, €500 Youth Prize for photographers aged 18–24
Deadline
August 10, 2026
2 months from now
Eligibility
Bachelor, Master, PhD
Open worldwide unless noted.
