Non-professional photographers around the world are invited to enter the International Amateur Photographer of the Year award (APOY). Amateur Photographer Magazine champions the best in image-making with this annual competition, which takes place over ten themed rounds and offers the chance to win some fantastic prizes throughout the year. The competition is now open, with the second category, BLACK & WHITE, open for entries until 22 June 2026.
A black & white image has a certain something that colour photography simply can’t emulate, and the pursuit of a great monochrome picture is something many photographers devote their whole lives to. The joy of this category is that it is completely open – any subject goes, because the medium is equally stunning whether you shoot landscapes, portraits, abstracts, or go down the classic route of street photography. It’s always worth shooting with a conversion to black & white in mind – don’t make it an afterthought.
Entry is free to photographers aged 13-21 in the Young Amateur Photographer of the Year competition.
Your guest judge: Paul Sanders
Your guest judge for Round Two, Black & White, is Paul Sanders, a fine-art photographer and former picture editor of The Times. His approach to photography is now one of mindful connection – his work is made in response to his emotional and spiritual reactions to the locations he visits. He is also passionate about printing. See more of his work at www.discoverstill.com
How to enter
For the main APOY 2026 award, you can enter up to 5 images in each of the 10 rounds. 1 free entry per round can be obtained via a unique code published in Amateur Photographer magazine during the period in which that round is open. Without the code, you’ll be able to enter a maximum of 4 images per round.
For the Young APOY 2025 award, eligible photographers can enter up to 4 free images per round.
APOY prizes
The winner of each round of APOY 2026 will receive:
- Free DxO software (DxO PhotoLab 8 and DxO FilmPack 7) worth £340
- A £300 voucher to spend on anything at Park Cameras
- An annual subscription to The School of Photography worth £120
- A £50 voucher for Bob Books.
The two runners-up in each round will receive a free DxO Nik Collection licence worth £146 and a £25 voucher for Bob Books.
The top ten entries from every round will also be published in AP.
The overall winner after ten rounds wins £1,000 to spend at Park Cameras and a £100 voucher for Bob Books.
Young Amateur Photographer of the Year
Now a well-established part of APOY, the Young Photographer of the Year competition encourages our up-and-coming snappers. Entrants should be 21 years old or younger by the competition’s final closing date of 1st February 2027. All the categories are the same as for the main contest – simply select the Young APOY option on Photocrowd when you upload your images. Entry is free. Each round winner and two runners-up in each round wins prizes, with the overall winner after ten rounds receiving vouchers from Park Cameras and Bob Books.
Young APOY Prizes
- Free DxO PhotoLab and FilmPack licences worth £340
- A £100 voucher to spend at Park Cameras
- An annual subscription to The School of Photography worth £120
- A £50 voucher for Bob Books.
The two runners-up in each round will receive a free DxO Nik Collection licence worth £146 and a £25 voucher for Bob Books.
The overall winner of Young APOY will receive a £250 voucher to spend at Park Cameras and a £100 voucher for Bob Books.
The camera club award
Do you belong to a camera club or photographic society?
You can accumulate precious points for your society when you enter Amateur Photographer of the Year. The winning club after all ten rounds receives a beautiful new website build from Amazing Internet, worth £1,500.
Plan your APOY 2026 Entries
| Theme | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Black & White | 26 May 2026 | 22 June 2026 |
| Animal Kingdom | 23 June 2026 | 20 July 2026 |
| Celebrating Colour | 21 July 2026 | 17 August 2026 |
| Architecture | 18 August 2026 | 14 September 2026 |
| People & Portraits | 15 September 2026 | 12 October 2026 |
| Landscapes | 13 October 2026 | 9 November 2026 |
| Close-up & Macro | 10 November 2026 | 30 November 2026 |
| Night & Low Light | 1 December 2026 | 4 January 2027 |
| Open | 5 January 2027 | 1 February 2027 |
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