Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest 2025 (With up to $2,500 in Prize)

Get latest opportunities in your email

---

Join Our Telegram Channel

About Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

The Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest 2025 is an international photography competition celebrating creativity and storytelling through images.

• Sponsor Organisation: Smithsonian Institution

Benefits of Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

Eight prizes will be awarded, as follows:

Grand Prize: $2,500.

Category Winners: The winners of each of the six categories will receive $500.

Readers' Choice: The winner of the online Readers’ Choice award will receive $500.

One cash prize per person; winners may receive additional non-cash prizes. Winners must sign a release and license, as well as a declaration of eligibility, and will be responsible for paying any fees or taxes associated with the prize. All prizes are awarded “as is” and non-transferable.  In case applicable law prohibits the Smithsonian from awarding a photographer the cash prize and/or any non-cash prize, the Smithsonian may award the prize in name only.

Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Requirements

• The Grand Prize, Readers’ Choice prize, Wildlife, Travel, People, The American Experience at 250, Artistic Images and Drone/Aerial category prizes are open to photographers who are 18 years old or older.
• Individuals affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, including employees, emeriti, Regents, trustees, interns, volunteers, fellows, research associates and their immediate families (children, parents, siblings and spouses) and others living in their households are not eligible for any prize. 
• To be eligible for any category, a photograph must have been shot by the entrant since January 1, 2023. This date applies to all images in a composite.
• The contestant certifies that he/she is the sole creator and copyright owner of the submitted photograph.

Application Date and Process

• Click on the link to the application website to apply.

Application Deadline

15 December, 2025

Scholarship Application Portal

View details of Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

Apply for Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest