BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition 2027
The California Academy of Sciences has not announced a 2027 BigPicture competition. On 26 October 2026 its site read “2026 competition is now closed”, after the Academy announced the 2026 winners on 8 September 2026.
Organiser California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA · The organiser’s page ↗
What the organiser says now · checked
- Home page: “2026 competition is now closed”. Competition Details page: “2026 Competition is now closed”. Submission page: “The 2026 BigPicture competition is now closed.”
- None of the organiser’s pages names a 2027 edition or gives its dates, fee or rules.
Last edition · The 2026 competition, the 13th annual
Details page: “The BigPicture Photo Competition begins at 12:00 am North American Pacific Standard Time (PST) on December 1, 2025 and closes at 11:59 pm North American Pacific Standard Time (PST) on March 8, 2026.”
Fees on the Details page: “$25 for up to 10 single image submissions in any category.” and “$15 for each Photo Story submission: 1 video with up to 5 supporting images.” The rules PDF describes the Photo Story entry differently.
The Academy’s press release of 8 September 2026: “42 winning images and finalists, plus five videos, in seven categories were announced today”, from “more than 7400 images” sent from 64 countries.
What the latest rules say
From the 2026 Guidelines and Rules. The next edition’s rules may differ.
- AI: “Images or video generated by artificial intelligence are not allowed.” Also not allowed: “Use of generative fill”.
- Original files: “Original digital camera RAW files (e.g. CR2, NEF, ARW, ORF, etc.) will be requested if your image is selected for the final judging round. Original raw files must be 12 megapixels or larger.” “Digital images captured as JPEG are allowed, providing the original un-retouched JPEG is available for inspection.”
- Eligibility: “The BPPC is open to all photographers worldwide”, except the Academy’s employees, volunteers and Board Members (and their sponsors) and their immediate families and households. “Photographs from prior years are eligible, they do not need to have been shot this year.”
- Licence (rules PDF): “a non-exclusive, irrevocable license to reproduce, publish, and display winning and finalist image(s) and copies thereof in all media throughout the world in relation to BPPC in perpetuity.” The Details page words it as covering “submitted images”.
The 2026 rules let the organiser ask for your RAW or original files. Compare your RAW with the photo you plan to enter, free and in your browser.
WinPhoto adds a full verified record when the organiser publishes the 2027 rules.
Sources
- bigpicturecompetition.org/ Home: “2026 competition is now closed”; the 2026 winners and finalists; no 2027 information. Checked
- bigpicturecompetition.org/submission Submission page: “The 2026 BigPicture competition is now closed.”; link to the 2026 Guidelines and Rules. Checked
- bigpicturecompetition.org/competitiondetails Details: “2026 Competition is now closed”, “Now in its 13th year”, entry period with PST times, fees, eligibility, image rights. Checked
- drive.google.com/file/d/1qiP8G5zEUKppuWwvQGqtApszj71P0R2y/view 2026 Guidelines and Rules PDF, linked from the organiser’s Submission and Details pages. Checked
- calacademy.org/press/releases/bigpicture-natural-world-photography-competition-winners-announced Academy press release dated September 8, 2026: 13th annual; 42 winning images and finalists plus five videos. Checked
- calacademy.org/exhibits/bigpicture-natural-world-photography Academy exhibit page: the 2026 winners; no 2027 call. Checked
Looking for a contest to enter now? See the photo contests open now, each checked against the organiser’s published rules, or the other next editions.
If the organiser has published something we have not added yet, send the link to hello@winphoto.io and we’ll read it.