Photo contests closing in December 2026
Every contest in our verified records with a deadline in December 2026, soonest first, with its time zone, entry fee, AI rule, whether originals or RAW files can be requested and what the licence covers.
All our verified contests, open now or opening later, as a calendar file, a spreadsheet and a PDF: Photo Contest Planner 2027, free, by email.
5 deadlines
| Contest | Closes | Entry fee | AI rule | Originals or RAW | Licence covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2027Natural History Museum, Londonnhm.ac.uk ↗ · checked | 11:30 GMTLondon time (UTC+0) |
35 GBP for up to 25 images |
Strict ban on AI-generated images |
RAW files can be requestedOriginals Check |
Winning or selected work only |
| Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition 2026Underwater Photography Guide / Bluewater Photouwphotographyguide.com ↗ · checked | 23:59 PSTLos Angeles time (UTC-8) |
10 USD per image |
Bans AI-generated images and compositesUnderwater Digital Art, Underwater Fashion: Bans AI-generated images; editing tools allowed |
RAW files can be requestedOriginals Check |
Winning or selected work only |
| Annual Photography Awards 2026Annual Photography Awards (legal entity not named on the official site)annualphotoawards.com ↗ · checked | UTC, our reading |
30 USD per image |
No AI rule in the published terms |
Not in its rules |
Every entry |
| Bird Photographer of the Year 2027 (BPOTY 12)Bird Photographer of the Year Limitedbirdpoty.com ↗ · checked | 23:59 GMTLondon time (UTC+0) |
35 GBP for up to 25 images |
Strict ban on AI-generated images |
RAW files can be requestedOriginals Check |
Every entry |
| RPS International Photography Exhibition 168 (open call)The Royal Photographic Society (RPS)rps.org ↗ · checked | 23:59 GMTLondon time (UTC+0) |
Free |
Bans AI-generated images; editing tools allowed |
Original files can be requestedOriginals Check |
Every entry |
Each row comes from our record of the contest, checked against the organiser’s published rules on the date shown. A contest whose competitions close on different days has a row for each of them. Closing dates are given in the time zone on record, with the organiser’s closing time where its rules state one.