Capture the Planet: Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Launches Global Call for Environmental Photography
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has officially opened submissions for its prestigious annual Environmental Photography Award, a flagship initiative dedicated to harnessing the power of visual storytelling to advocate for our planet’s future. Photographers worldwide are invited to submit work that captures the fragile beauty of our natural world and the critical intersection between humanity and the environment.
A Platform for Change
In an era of accelerating climate change and biodiversity loss, photography serves as a vital tool for documentation and activism. This competition challenges lens-based storytellers to move beyond traditional landscape imagery, asking them to document both the splendor of nature and the stark realities of human impact.
“The award aims to showcase both the beauty and complexity of the natural world,” the foundation stated. By highlighting environmental successes and systemic challenges, the competition provides an international stage for artists to influence public perception and policy.
Competition Categories
The award invites submissions across five distinct categories, each designed to highlight a different facet of environmental engagement:
- Polar Regions: Showcasing the unique wildlife and fragile ecosystems of the Earth’s frozen extremities.
- Forests: Capturing forest biodiversity and the symbiotic, often strained, relationship between humans and woodland environments.
- Ocean: Documenting marine biodiversity and the pressing threats facing our coastal and deep-sea ecosystems.
- Changemakers: Celebrating the individuals, grassroots communities, and innovative projects leading the fight for environmental restoration.
- Humanity versus Nature: A provocative category exploring the complex, often conflicting, footprints of human activity on the natural landscape.
Prizes and Global Recognition
The competition is not merely a contest of skill; it is a springboard for professional recognition. The Grand Prize winner will receive a €5,000 grant and an all-expenses-paid trip to Monaco to attend the prestigious exhibition opening.
Furthermore, winners in each of the five categories will be awarded a €1,000 grant, while the Public and Students’ Choice awards—decided via online voting—each carry a €500 prize.
Beyond financial incentives, all shortlisted photographers will see their work prominently displayed in a high-profile exhibition and featured in an official award book. Each shortlisted artist will also receive two complimentary copies of the publication, ensuring their work reaches an international audience of curators, environmentalists, and art collectors.
Who Should Apply?
The call is open to photographers of all nationalities, provided they are 18 years of age or older by November 1, 2026. To maintain the highest standards of integrity, employees and agents associated with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Photocrowd, or corporate sponsors are ineligible to compete.
How to Participate
Photographers passionate about conservation and visual storytelling have until November 1, 2026, to submit their entries. By participating, artists contribute to a growing archive of environmental narratives that aim to inspire global action.
For more information on the submission guidelines and to view previous winning entries, visit the official Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation website.
