The South Australian Museum has officially opened entries for the 2026 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year, Australia’s most prestigious nature photography competition.

Now in its 23rd year, the nationally renowned competition is proudly owned and operated by the South Australian Museum and continues to attract photographers from across the globe. In 2025, the competition received 1,864 images from 449 photographers spanning 18 countries.

The 2025 title was awarded to Western Australian underwater photographer Ross Gudgeon for Fractal Forest, a striking and unconventional image captured from inside a cauliflower coral in Indonesia.

Photographers are invited to submit images capturing the natural world across the ANZANG bioregion, encompassing Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea. Entries are open across ten categories: Animals in Nature, Botanical, Animal Behaviour, Macro, Landscape, Threatened Species, Monochrome, Our Impact, Portfolio and Junior.

Following feedback received during a comprehensive review of the competition, the Botanical and Animal Behaviour categories return in 2026.

Entries close on Thursday 5 February 2026. The overall winner will receive $10,000, with category winners awarded $1,500 each. The Junior category winner will take home $500.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE COMPETITION 

Make sure you visit the 2025 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Exhibition. It’s on at the South Australian Museum until 1 February 2026.

For more information and all enquiries please visit the SA Museum website

What:  Call for Junior Entries – 2025 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition. 

When:  Entries in the 2025 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year are open until Thursday 6 February 2025 at 5:00pm ACDT.

Where: Entries can only be submitted online via the entry portal at www.naturephotographeroftheyear.com.au, which is available only during the competition period.

Who:  The entrant must be under 18 years of age at the date of close of entries.

At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.

Image Source: supplied

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