2026 BirdLife Australia Photography Awards announced

2026 BirdLife Australia Photography Awards announced

Save the date

Calling all bird photographers! The BirdLife Australia Photography Awards are back in 2026 – and entries open Tuesday 7 April. 

You have until 13 July to enter, but if you enter before 24 April you’ll be eligible for an early bird discount.

The competition is open to photographers of all skill levels – from seasoned professionals to backyard enthusiasts. It’s all about sharing your passion for birds and telling their stories through your unique lens, and entries help us celebrate Australia’s birds and champion their conservation. 

Categories and special theme

This year, we’re back with another special theme: Australia’s native finches.

Australia is home to 18 resident native finches, including grass-finches, parrot-finches and mannikins. They’re some of our smallest and most striking birds, renowned for their vibrant plumage, distinctive calls and lively, highly social behaviour.

This category is a celebration of these iconic birds, highlighting their beauty and why they need our protection.

Photos entered in this category must contain one or more Australian native finch species. Introduced finches aren’t eligible for this year’s Special Theme, so please enter any photos of these species in other relevant categories.

You can also enter the following competition categories:

• Backyard Birds
• Bird Behaviour
• Bird Portrait
• Birds in Flight
• Birds in the Landscape
• Youth
• Human Impact
• Portfolio Prize

Find out more information about each category, including a full list of eligible species here.

Sponsors and prizes

The 2026 BirdLife Australia Photography Awards are proudly sponsored by Nikon Australia and Lake Cowal Foundation. Thanks to their generous support, each category winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize.

This year, we’re also excited to present the overall competition winner with the BirdLife Australia Photographer of the Year Award. By entering any competition category, you’ll go in the running to win the Grand Prize – a Nikon Z 8 digital camera valued at $7,449 RRP. The winner of the Portfolio Prize will receive a $2,000 cash prize – both courtesy of Principal Sponsor, Nikon Australia.

Top tips

If you’re a budding photographer or not sure where to start, we’ve compiled some helpful tips and tricks from competition coordinator Tim Van Leeuwen to help you take your bird photography to the next level. For more inspiration, check out the winning and shortlisted entries from last year’s BirdLife Australia Photography Awards here. 

1. Before you shoot: plan and prioritise ethics 

• Plan your shoot: success starts with preparation. Research locations and bird behaviour.
• Ethics first: the welfare of the bird should always come first. Never stress or harass a subject for a photo. If a bird is disturbed, back off.
• Respect the nest: avoid photographing nesting birds at, or next to, the nest.
• No call playback: do not use bird call playback for attracting birds, and avoid photographing birds that have been attracted by a third-party using playback.
• No baiting: live baiting of birds is unacceptable and may contravene Australian laws.

2. While shooting: capture the moment

• Seek unique moments: look for interesting bird behaviours, actions, interactions or dramatic light that tells a story.
• Know your camera: practice changing settings instinctively so you’re ready to capture fleeting moments.
• Consider composition: don’t always fill the frame. Use empty space, shoot from different angles and show the bird in its habitat to create depth and narrative.
• Master the light: the best images often use beautiful, dramatic or atmospheric light, so try taking photos in the early morning or late afternoon.

3. Selecting your entry: be your own best critic

• Stand out: in a sea of entries, your image needs an instant ‘wow’ factor to capture the attention of the judges, whether it’s emotion, narrative or originality.
• Pick your best shot: carefully review sequences and ask others for their input to help you choose the strongest shot.
• Category strategy: enter categories you’re passionate about for a greater chance of catching the judges’ eye.

4. Editing and submitting: the final checks

• Critical view: At 100% view, ensure critical sharpness (especially the eye) and remove digital noise. Technical flaws can lead to instant disqualification.
• Edit judiciously: Avoid over-sharpening and unnaturally oversaturating colours, especially reds.
• Follow the rules: Read the competition rules thoroughly. Images that don’t meet file size or ethics requirements will be automatically rejected.

A winning mindset

• It’s more than technique: a winning image combines technical skill with heart – it evokes emotion, tells a story or shares a unique perspective.
• Embrace the process: entering is a win. You’ve followed your passion and shared your view of the natural world. Learn from every shot.
• Dare to be different: creativity, originality and a point of difference are what make judges pause. Experiment and break conventions.

For more advice from past judges, visit our Tips page.

The BirdLife Australia Photography Awards are a collaboration between BirdLife Australia and BirdLife Photography. One of BirdLife Australia’s special interest groups, BirdLife Photography welcomes all bird lovers with a passion for photography and aims to inspire and support photographers of Australian birds.