Amateur photographers of all ages can submit up to three insect photographs for cash prizes of up to £750
Application deadline: October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. UK time.
The Royal Entomological Society has opened the Insect Week Photography Competition 2026, inviting amateur photographers of all ages and nationalities to submit images celebrating the diversity, behaviour and natural environments of insects.
The international competition is free to enter and accepts photographs taken anywhere in the world. Participants can submit up to three images, with separate age categories for photographers aged 18 and over and those under 18.
Who can enter the insect photography competition?
The competition is open exclusively to amateur photographers. Applicants must confirm that photography is not their main profession and that they do not receive income from photography beyond competition prizes and social media royalties.
Young photographers aged 17 or under may participate with permission from a parent or guardian. Participants of all ages may submit photographs taken with either a dedicated camera or a smart device, including a mobile phone or tablet.
Each entrant may submit a maximum of three photographs. The applicant must be the original photographer and hold the copyright to every image entered.
Photography themes for 2026
Adult participants can enter photographs addressing three principal themes:
- Insect behaviour
- Insect portraits
- Insects in their environment
Submitted photographs must feature a real insect or group of insects in a naturally occurring situation. Entries may depict any stage of an insect’s life cycle, including eggs, larvae, pupae, nymphs and adults.
Photographs focusing primarily on spiders, snails, woodlice or other non-insect invertebrates are not eligible. Images may include these animals only when the main subject of the composition is an insect.
Cash prizes and publication opportunities
The first-place winner in the 18 and over category will receive £750, while the second-place winner will receive £500.
In the under-18 category, the first prize is £450 and the second prize is £250. Additional shortlisted entries may receive specially commended, highly commended or commended distinctions from the Royal Entomological Society.
Winning and commended photographs will be presented in an online gallery on the Insect Week website. The four winning images will also be published in Antenna, the bulletin of the Royal Entomological Society, during 2027.
The results are expected to be announced before Insect Week 2027.
Image requirements and ethical guidelines
Photographs must be uploaded as JPG, JPEG or PNG files and must not exceed 10 MB. Images cannot contain watermarks, borders, signatures or added text.
Black-and-white photography is accepted. Digital adjustments that preserve the integrity of the original photograph are permitted, but entrants cannot add or remove animals, plants, people, objects or parts of the landscape.
AI-generated and significantly AI-enhanced images are not eligible. Every entry must depict a real-world insect.
Photographers must also ensure that their presence and working methods do not harm or significantly disturb the insects or their habitats. Entries created through irresponsible or unethical practices may be rejected.
Submitted images must not have previously won a prize, commendation or award in another photography competition. Once entered, the photographs cannot be submitted to another competition until the Insect Week results have been announced.
Photographers can review the complete conditions and submit their images through the official Insect Week competition page.
Discover more international competitions and opportunities for photographers in Lemon Art Magazine’s open calls section.
Deadline: October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. UK time.
