GLF Photography Awards 2026
GLF Photography Awards 2026 is now open for entries!
To celebrate the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, GLF Photography Awards 2026 invites photographers from across the world to tell powerful visual stories of the landscapes and the people who steward them.
Short description
The GLF Photography Awards 2026 is an international photography competition organised by the Global Landscapes Forum that highlights powerful visual storytelling around rangelands, landscapes and the people who depend on and care for them.
The awards aim to spotlight the critical role that rangelands play in food systems, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience, while amplifying voices from communities often underrepresented in global environmental conversations.
Rangelands cover 54% of the Earth’s land surface and sustain billions of people, cultures and livelihoods worldwide. Yet they remain underrepresented, misunderstood and undervalued.
To celebrate the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, we’re inviting photographers from across the world to tell powerful visual stories of these landscapes and the people who steward them.
We want you to show us what rangelands and pastoralism are all about – and why it’s so important that we preserve these cultures and livelihoods.
Remember, though: rangelands aren’t just grasslands. They’re simply ecosystems grazed by livestock or wildlife, and they can also take the form of savannas, woodlands, shrublands, deserts or even tundra.
So, get your cameras ready and send us your best snaps of rangelands from anywhere across the globe, capturing the people and landscapes shaping pastoral livelihoods.
Through compelling photography, the competition encourages audiences to see rangelands not as marginal spaces, but as living landscapes central to sustainable development.
Submissions are expected to capture authentic moments that reflect human–nature relationships, land stewardship, traditional knowledge and the everyday realities of life in rangeland regions.
By combining artistic excellence with social and environmental relevance, the awards seek images that inform, inspire and provoke dialogue among policymakers, practitioners and the wider public.
Selected photographs are showcased through Global Landscapes Forum platforms, including exhibitions, online features and public voting campaigns, significantly increasing the visibility of winning and shortlisted photographers. The competition culminates in a high-profile presentation at GLF Africa 2026, where the images contribute to broader discussions on land restoration, climate action and sustainable livelihoods.
The GLF Photography Awards 2026 positions photography as a powerful medium for change, connecting visual storytelling with global environmental impact.
Who may enter?
Open to photographers from around the world, the GLF Photography Awards 2026 welcomes both professionals and passionate amateurs who use photography as a tool for storytelling and advocacy.
Prize:
Winners receive cash prizes of USD 500 for first place, USD 400 for second place and USD 300 for the popular vote, along with a featured article on ThinkLandscape and a showcase at GLF Africa 2026 and other GLF and partner events throughout the year.
Entry fees:
There is no entry fee to participate!
