Once again, we are excited to open the Sustainability Photographer of the Year competition on Earth Day, 22 April 2026.
*Accepting submissions until 24 May 2026 (end of day).
Join us in celebrating the environment through your lens.
This year’s theme is “The Road Ahead".
Where will your road lead? Is it a path towards a more sustainable world, your academic journey, or perhaps a quiet trail through the woods where you find inspiration and tranquillity?
Spring brings Oxfordshire’s natural environment to life in remarkable ways. We encourage you to step outdoors, embrace nature’s beauty, and capture images that are not only visually striking but also thought-provoking.
Your photo doesn’t need to be professionally taken or technically perfect — it simply needs to tell a story. One that makes others pause and reflect. This is an opportunity to connect with nature, appreciate biodiversity, and spark conversations about sustainability.
Whether it’s a fleeting moment, a hidden corner, or a subtle sign of change — if it made you think, it’s worth sharing.
Please ensure you read and understand the detailed terms and conditions below.
Check out the winners from 2025, 2024, 2023 and 2022 for inspiration.
Enter the competition
Who can enter?
Any current staff member or student from the University of Oxford with a valid University card can enter. You do not need previous experience, just a camera or phone, an observant eye and some inspiration.
Judging criteria
Entries will be assessed based on the aesthetic quality of the image, its ability to bring sustainability to life, an Oxford focus on environmental issues of global significance, and adherence to the theme. Please note that once made, all judgement decisions are final and further deliberation will not take place.
Announcing the winners
The Sustainability Photographer of the Year and the four finalists will be contacted via email by June 2026. The public announcement will take place at a later event.
How to submit
Please use this form to submit your entry. You may submit up to three photos. Please make sure you read and agree to the terms and conditions listed below.
Please contact the Environmental Sustainability team with any questions: sustainability@admin.ox.ac.uk.
Terms and conditions
- Please complete your submission form by Sunday, 24 May 2026, 11:59pm.
- You can submit up to three photographs for this competition using multiple form entries. Before submitting your application, ensure you understand and have met the terms and conditions outlined on this page.
- By submitting an application, you agree for your submission to be used by the University in publicity materials both in print and online. If we do use your image, we will credit you as the photographer wherever this is feasible. For example, the photographs may be presented at University of Oxford Environmental Sustainability events or in reports.
- All photographs must be submitted digitally as JPEGs. To allow for quality resolution, we suggest images be a minimum of 12 megapixels (18 or over preferably). If you can adjust your camera settings, please use 150 DPI or greater.
- No borders, filters, watermarks or signatures should be included.
- The pictures can have been taken at any time.
- Include your full name and the year 2026 within the image file name (e.g. ‘Sunset_Vered_Balan_2026.jpeg’). Failing to do so might prevent us from giving you credit in future uses.
- All submitted entries must be the original work of the entrant. The entrant must be the sole owner of the entire sole copyright for all images entered. It is the responsibility of the entrant to ensure compliance with this requirement.
- If you have submitted a photograph of a recognisable individual or a group, you must have obtained the person’s prior consent for the use of that photograph in accordance with the University guidance on GDPR and photography. Entrants must ensure that they have the consent of any subjects of their photograph(s) before entering the competition. Please include consent form(s) in your submission.
- By entering the competition, you will be deemed to be bound by the rules, and the University of Oxford reserves the right to exclude any entry from the competition at any time if there is reason to believe that an entrant has breached the rules.
- By entering the competition, you agree to your name, biographical information (specifically your name and college/department) and submitted image(s) being used by the University of Oxford for the following purposes: (i) publication in print materials, (ii) publication online; and (iii) promotion of the University of Oxford in any other media.
- By entering the competition, you grant the University of Oxford a non-exclusive licence to use your image(s). You retain the copyright for your image(s).
- Photographs may be removed from the competition if it is felt that it does not meet these requirements.
