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UnderwaterPhoto Contests
ExpectedUnderwater · Online

Underwater Photographer of the Year

UPY 2027 · by Underwater Photographer of the Year (Dan Bolt and Alex Mustard) (opens in a new tab)

Expected deadline

early Jan 2027

Estimated from the previous edition

  • Closes ≈ EARLY JAN 2027
  • Cats 14
Add to calendar Official site (opens in a new tab)

UK-based international underwater photography competition with thirteen-plus categories, including three for British waters, judged in person each January and announced at a London ceremony. Revived in its modern annual form in 2014, with roots in a 1965 Brighton festival.

Key dates

These dates are estimated from the previous edition — the organiser hasn't announced them yet. We'll confirm them as soon as they do.

  1. Entries open

    early Nov 2026

  2. Final deadline

    early Jan 2027

  3. Results

    Feb 2027

  4. Ceremony

    late Feb 2027

Entry fees

We haven't been able to verify the fees yet.

Prizes

Prize details not verified yet.

Categories

  • Wide Angle

    Wide-angle

  • Macro

    Macro

  • Wrecks

    Wreck

  • Behaviour

    Behaviour

  • Portrait

    Portrait

  • Coral Reefs

    Other

    Any style of image (wide, macro, behaviour, documentary) of tropical coral reefs.

  • Black & White

    Black & white

    Monochrome images of any underwater subject; toning and tinting are fine.

  • Up & Coming

    Newcomer

    Restriction: For photographers who have not yet won major awards; see the rules for the eligibility cutoff.

  • Compact

    Compact & mobile

  • Smartphone

    Other

    Images taken with any smartphone, housed or not, from anywhere.

  • British Waters Wide Angle

    Local waters

    Restriction: Taken in UK waters.

  • British Waters Macro

    Local waters

    Restriction: Taken in UK waters.

  • British Waters Living Together

    Local waters

    Images showing people and the sea interacting around the UK.

    Restriction: Taken in UK waters.

  • Save Our Seas Foundation Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year

    Conservation

    Conservation-themed images; above-water pictures are accepted too.

Who can enter

Open to
Open to all

Entrants must have taken the images themselves.

Rules at a glance

Not summarised yet — check the official rules.

Your image rights

We haven't summarised the licence terms for this edition yet.

This is our plain-language summary, not legal advice. Read the official terms before entering.

Research notes

Dates projected from UPY 2026. The official important-dates page says UPY2027 is expected to open on 1 November 2026 following the same plan as last year, with dates to be confirmed nearer the time; closing, judging and results dates are not yet announced.

Provenance

Verified · 7 sources

  1. Important dates (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15
  2. Competition rules (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15
  3. Use of AI (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15
  4. Competition categories (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15
  5. 2026 Winners (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15
  6. 2026 Sponsors and prizes (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15
  7. Meet the judges (opens in a new tab) · accessed 2026-10-15

All editions

  1. UPY 2027≈ early Jan 2027Expected
  2. UPY 2026closed Sun 4 Jan 2026Results out3 judges Results (opens in a new tab)