Deadline: March 1, 0226
Applications are open for the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) Photography Awards 2026. 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, Global Landscapes Forum is inviting photographers from across the world to tell powerful visual stories of these landscapes and the people who steward them.
They want you to show 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 your best snaps of rangelands from anywhere across the globe, capturing the people and landscapes shaping pastoral livelihoods.
Prizes
- Cash prizes of USD 500 (1st place), USD 400 (2nd place) and USD 300 (popular vote).
- A feature article on ThinkLandscape.
- A showcase at GLF Africa 2026 and other GLF and partner events throughout the year.
Eligibility
- Open to anyone aged 18 or above, whether you’re a photo enthusiast or a professional photographer.
- By submitting your photo, you agree to follow the rules, terms and conditions of these awards.
- Photos that have previously won other photographic awards will not be considered.
Selection Criteria
All entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges selected by the GLF, who will shortlist up to 35 photos from all eligible submissions received during the awards period. Finalists will be chosen based on the following criteria:
- Creativity (30%)
- Photographic quality (30%)
- Composition (30%)
- Execution of theme (10%)
The GLF will publish the finalist entries on its online platforms. The panel of judges will choose the first and second prize winners from the finalist entries, while members of the public will be invited to vote online for their favorite entry. The entry with the most votes will receive the ‘popular vote’ award. The GLF team will ensure that the first prize, second prize and popular vote winners are all selected from different participants.
Application
- To participate, upload your photo here.
- You can submit up to three photos, but each photo constitutes a single entry.
- Your submission must include the photo’s title and the contributor’s name and contact information, including email address, social media handles (if applicable) and a caption listing the subject and location.
For more information, visit GLF Photography Awards.
