Photography Contest
Pictures of the Year International 83
Deadline |
01/19/26Theme |
Several categories - PhotojournalismTerritory |
WorldwideEligibility |
Entries must be created or published for the first time between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2025.Entry Fees |
$60Prizes |
Cash PrizeHost |
POYWelcome to Pictures of the Year International
We invite you to share your work as we honor excellence in photojournalism
We are honored to announce the 83rd annual Pictures of the Year International competition
We are livestreaming the judging for this year's competition
We will livestream the judges' discussions
Go to www.poy.org for contest details and schedule
We believe that by hosting a transparent, juried competition in which an expert panel of photographers and editors share their own humanity through honest discussion of journalistic work, POY builds public trust in journalism and the people who practice it
What winners receive
$1,000 cash & Tiffany crystal trophy:
International Photographer of the Year
Single Images and Picture Stories
ENTRY TIP! The jury may judge an entry based on how well it meets the category definition
Consider your category decision carefully
Judges may not move an entry to a new category
Photographs will be credited to individual photographers
Team credits for single images and picture stories are not allowed
A single photograph may be submitted only once among the single-picture categories
A single photograph may be entered in a single image category and as part of a picture story, a portfolio, as well as one premiere category such as Community Awareness Award or Environmental Vision Award
A picture story equals 5–12 photos
Do not submit multiple versions of the same story
ENTRY TIP! Picture story entries should have a clearly defined structure
Each image should contribute unique information
In the final rounds, judges often focus on the quality of the edit
Eliminate weak and redundant images
Awards
Photographer of the Year
World Understanding Award
Community Awareness Award
Environmental Vision Award
Tiffany crystal trophy:
Sports Photographer of the Year
Visual Editor of the Year
Angus McDougall Excellence in Editing Award:
Winning organization receives a sterling silver trophy for one year, a Tiffany crystal trophy for the presiding editor, and tuition to the Missouri Photo Workshop
Individual category winners
1st — Engraved plaque
2nd, 3rd, Finalist & Award of Excellence — PDF Certificate award
We invite you to share your work as we honor excellence in photojournalism
We are honored to announce the 83rd annual Pictures of the Year International competition
We are livestreaming the judging for this year's competition
We will livestream the judges' discussions
Go to www.poy.org for contest details and schedule
We believe that by hosting a transparent, juried competition in which an expert panel of photographers and editors share their own humanity through honest discussion of journalistic work, POY builds public trust in journalism and the people who practice it
What winners receive
$1,000 cash & Tiffany crystal trophy:
International Photographer of the Year
Single Images and Picture Stories
ENTRY TIP! The jury may judge an entry based on how well it meets the category definition
Consider your category decision carefully
Judges may not move an entry to a new category
Photographs will be credited to individual photographers
Team credits for single images and picture stories are not allowed
A single photograph may be submitted only once among the single-picture categories
A single photograph may be entered in a single image category and as part of a picture story, a portfolio, as well as one premiere category such as Community Awareness Award or Environmental Vision Award
A picture story equals 5–12 photos
Do not submit multiple versions of the same story
ENTRY TIP! Picture story entries should have a clearly defined structure
Each image should contribute unique information
In the final rounds, judges often focus on the quality of the edit
Eliminate weak and redundant images
Awards
Photographer of the Year
World Understanding Award
Community Awareness Award
Environmental Vision Award
Tiffany crystal trophy:
Sports Photographer of the Year
Visual Editor of the Year
Angus McDougall Excellence in Editing Award:
Winning organization receives a sterling silver trophy for one year, a Tiffany crystal trophy for the presiding editor, and tuition to the Missouri Photo Workshop
Individual category winners
1st — Engraved plaque
2nd, 3rd, Finalist & Award of Excellence — PDF Certificate award
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© Steve McCurry
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