The Epson International Pano Awards 2026
The Epson International Pano Awards thepanoawards.com ↗
Read the fine print first — The Epson International Pano Awards 2026 has 4 hard disqualifiers and demanding rights terms.
What this contest takes
Standard terms — you keep copyright and full control; the licence is limited to promoting the contest.
- Photographer retains copyright. Shortlisted/awarded images may be used by the Pano Awards for competition promotion only.
- Duration: Competition promotion cycle.
- You keep your copyright
- Credited when used
What disqualifies you
AI-generated or AI-rendered content is disqualified — and RAW files can be demanded to prove it.
- Copyright ownership Entrant must be the photographer and copyright holder of each entry. “You retain copyright in each entry; entries must be your own work.”
- Ai generation Computer-generated images and elements are banned outright, including generative and instructional AI — the hardest AI line in the landscape segment. “Computer generated images and elements are not permitted, including generative and instructional AI.”
- Image format Entries must be panoramic format — minimum 2:1 aspect ratio (or vertical equivalent). “Images must have an aspect ratio of at least 2:1 to qualify as panoramic.”
The full editorial read continues with past-winner pattern, fee-to-prize value, rights translated, and three comparable competitions. Studio reads the rest.
Categories
Aerial
Single
New aerial/drone panoramic category introduced for the 2026 cycle.
Open — Nature / Landscape
Single
Panoramic nature and landscape work, professional/open class.
Open — Built Environment / Architecture
Single
Panoramic urban, architectural and built-environment work, professional/open class.
Amateur — Nature / Landscape
Single
Panoramic nature and landscape work, amateur class (lower fee).
F Format requirements 1 spec
pano_standard
- File types: jpg
- Color profile: sRGB
- No watermarks
E Eligibility 3 rules
-
Entrant must be the photographer and copyright holder of each entry.
hard
“You retain copyright in each entry; entries must be your own work.”
-
Computer-generated images and elements are banned outright, including generative and instructional AI — the hardest AI line in the landscape segment.
hard
“Computer generated images and elements are not permitted, including generative and instructional AI.”
-
Entries must be panoramic format — minimum 2:1 aspect ratio (or vertical equivalent).
hard
“Images must have an aspect ratio of at least 2:1 to qualify as panoramic.”
Jury context
International panel weighted toward working landscape and architectural photographers. The world's largest panoramic competition (running since 2010) — technical stitching quality, light, and scale drama carry weight; over-processed HDR is a documented jury fatigue point in recent cycles.
Priorities: panoramic composition light quality technical execution originality of vantage
Tone: sweeping scale stitched precision natural light drama aerial perspective
Avoid: over processed hdr oversaturated visible stitching errors
Prizes
Cash and Epson hardware prize pool across Open, Amateur and special categories; overall Photographer of the Year titles.
- Epson hardware prizes across categories
Publication
R Rights & licensing what you grant the organizer
- What you grant
- Photographer retains copyright. Shortlisted/awarded images may be used by the Pano Awards for competition promotion only.
- Duration
- Competition promotion cycle.
- Exclusivity
- none
- Attribution
- Required
- Copyright retained by photographer
- Yes
Free bonus on signup: the 2026 Photo Contest Yearbook PDF — 22 contests classified, deadlines, fees, AI policies decoded.
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Before you enter — quick answers
- Is The Epson International Pano Awards 2026 free to enter?
- The Epson International Pano Awards 2026 is not free: 22 USD. Check the organizer's page for per-category pricing.
- Are AI-generated images allowed in The Epson International Pano Awards 2026?
- No. The Epson International Pano Awards 2026 does not permit AI-generated images — entries must be photographs, and AI image generators are prohibited.
- When is the The Epson International Pano Awards 2026 deadline?
- The Epson International Pano Awards 2026 closes on Jul 13, 2026 (in 10 days).
- How do I know if my photo is eligible for The Epson International Pano Awards 2026?
- Read your photograph against The Epson International Pano Awards 2026's published rules — the editing line, the AI clause, and the file requirements — free and without an account with WinPhoto's eligibility check. It tells you whether your image is eligible before you pay the entry fee.