The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has launched its call for entries for the 2026 Environmental Photography Award, giving photographers worldwide the chance to showcase urgent environmental stories through their art.
Registrations opened on September 2nd for the competition, which celebrates photographers working to advance conservation and raise environmental awareness. The award features five categories: Ocean, Forests, Polar Regions, Changemakers, and Humanity vs Nature.
Established in 2011 as part of the Foundation’s Green Shift Initiative, the award welcomes both professional and amateur photographers. Participation is free, with submissions accepted until November 2nd 2025.
Prize details
Winners in each category will receive €1,000, while the overall Grand Prize winner will earn an additional €5,000 plus a trip to Monaco to collect their award. Two additional awards are also available: The Public Award and Student’s Choice Award, each worth €500, with the Public Award winner also receiving the opportunity to visit SEK International University’s research station in the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador.
The official selection of 36 photographs will be announced mid-April 2026, followed by a summer exhibition in Monaco before the show tours internationally. Publisher Skira Paris will produce a coffee table book featuring all selected images.
The jury panel
Leading the 2026 jury is Dutch photographer Jasper Doest, a senior fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers and WWF ambassador. Doest previously won the Foundation’s 2023 Grand Prize and holds four World Press Photo Awards alongside National Geographic’s prestigious Photographer’s Photographer Award.
The international panel includes marine science specialist Angel Fitor from Spain, Nature Picture Library’s Tom Gilks from the UK, National Geographic Explorer Sharon Guynup from the USA, Arctic cinematographer Florian Ledoux from France, big cat specialist Steve Winter from the USA, and natural history filmmaker Christian Ziegler from Germany. Conservation photographer Sergio Pitamitz also returns as Contest Chairman.
Foundation’s environmental mission
“Photographers have a unique ability to translate the urgency of today’s environmental challenges into a universal language that touches hearts and inspires action,” explains Olivier Wenden, the Foundation’s Vice-Chairman and CEO. “With this Award, we aim to amplify their voices and ensure their stories resonate far beyond the conservation community.”
Photographers can submit their entries at www.fpa2photoaward.org until 2nd November 2025
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Main photo provided.
See more about last year’s Environmental Photography Award in our reel below…
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