UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition 2026
by UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea with DivePhotoGuide (opens in a new tab)
Entries closed
Results are out
- Closed 13 APR
- Fee Free
- UW cat. 3 of 4
You're viewing a past edition. See UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition 2027 →
Key dates
Final deadline
Results
Deadline extended — originally Mon 6 Apr 2026.
Entry fees
Free to enter
Prizes
Prize details not verified yet.
Which category to enter
This is a general contest. Underwater work belongs in these categories:
Connecting Oceans
OpenNew for 2026.
Big and Small Underwater Faces
PortraitPortraits of marine animals of any size.
Underwater Seascapes
Wide-angle
Other categories (1)
Above Water Seascapes
Who can enter
- Open to
- Open to all
Free and open to the public. Images that placed in contests announced before 1 March 2026 could not be entered, though a single image from a portfolio that did not place on its own was allowed.
Rules at a glance
- Editing
- Moderate editing allowedGlobal adjustments such as exposure, contrast, cropping and noise reduction are fine. Adding, removing or moving animals, people, plants or other objects is not, and entries that look over-processed can be disqualified.
- Composites
- Not allowed
- Previously awarded images
- Not allowed
- Wildlife ethics
- Images showing stressed animals or environmental damage may be disqualified. Winners and participants sign a 14-point charter on ethics in photography.
Your image rights
Standard licenceYou keep copyright. The organisers may publish entries to feature the winners and to promote future World Oceans Day events and the UN ocean affairs division's work; winning images may also go out with press releases.
- Licence
- Contest promotion only
- Duration
- Not specified
- Commercial use by organiser
- No
How "Standard licence" is decided
- Read carefully: the entrant grants an exclusive licence or transfers rights, or the organiser may use entries commercially (sell, license, use in paid products).
- Photographer-friendly: use is limited to promoting the contest, there is no commercial use by the organiser, and credit is promised.
- Standard: everything in between — typically a broad non-exclusive licence for marketing without commercial resale.
This is our plain-language summary, not legal advice. Read the official terms before entering: official rules & terms (opens in a new tab).
Judges
- Ipah Uid Lynn
- William Tan · Underwater photographer
- Jane Morgan · Underwater photographer
- Dave Alexander
Research notes
The 13th edition. DivePhotoGuide announced it on 6 March 2026, but no separate opening date was found, so opens is omitted. The deadline was given as 11:59pm Eastern (written as "EST"), recorded here in New York time (EDT in April). No prizes are described beyond the placings and the exhibition and UN event exposure. Judges come from DivePhotoGuide's results coverage; one secondary source credits Dave Alexander to a different publication, so no role is given. The rights summary comes from the standing rules on DivePhotoGuide's competition page, which may not be the exact 2026 wording.
Provenance
Verified · 5 sources
- DivePhotoGuide - 13th Annual Photo Competition for UN World Oceans Day (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15
- DivePhotoGuide - deadline extension (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15
- DivePhotoGuide - 2026 winners announcement (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15
- DivePhotoGuide - competition page and rules (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15
- UN World Oceans Day - Photo Competition (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15
All editions
- UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition 2027≈ mid Apr 2027Expected
- UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition 2026closed Mon 13 Apr 2026Results out4 judges Results (opens in a new tab)