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2026 National Geographic Taiwan Photo Contest brings together a distinguished panel of professional judges and instructors from Taiwan and abroad.
The 2026 National Geographic Taiwan Photo Contest has announced that it will officially launch on May 21! Marking its 10th anniversary milestone, the contest reached a record-breaking 16,060 entries last year, becoming the largest photo competition in Taiwan by submission volume. Sponsored exclusively by the Wistron Wistron Corporation/ Wistron Foundation for the fifth consecutive year, this year's contest undergoes a comprehensive expansion across four core areas: "Ecological Ethics," "Visual Education," "Public Participation," and "International Exchange." Key highlights include the nation's first-ever "Astrophotography Team Category," the inaugural Youth Photography Critique Salon co-hosted with Huafan University, an expanded series of lectures and mobile photography workshops, as well as a new public social media voting event. Reflecting a decade of refining, these initiatives signify the contest's evolution into a professional event that integrates advocacy, education, and public engagement—further aligning Taiwan's creative photography with global sustainability movements.
The press conference featured environmental documentary director Chin-yuan Ke, documentary photographer San-Tai Hsieh, Dr. Wei-hao Wang, a researcher at Academia Sinica's Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Alex Chao, General Manager of Galuxe Optics, who shared their perspectives as judges on this year's evaluation criteria. The event also specially invited Ming-yi Huang, the "farmer photographer" and runner-up in the 2016 People Category, on stage to share how his life changed after winning the award. What began simply as a way to document fragments of daily life through photography evolved, after his award, into a means of caring for the local environment and culture. His story echoed the spirit of the contest's 10th anniversary—that everyone, through the lens, could capture their own memories and connection to the land.
Left: 2025 National Geographic Taiwan Photo Contest Youth Category champion Pin-han Pan (far left) and Ecological Environment Category runner-up Li-fang Yang (center) sharing what they gained from being mentored by director Chin-yuan Ke (far right). Right: 2016 contest People Category runner-up Ming-yi Huang sharing his experience using photography to help farmers build their brands, illustrating the contest's far-reaching impact over the past decade.
Yung-shih Lee, Editor-in-Chief of the Traditional Chinese edition of National Geographic, published by Boulder Media, stated: "Outstanding photography goes beyond visual impact—more importantly, it conveys viewpoints, carries stories, and evokes emotional resonance with the viewer. This year, we look forward to seeing more works rooted in local Taiwanese perspectives—works that combine depth with narrative power and showcase unique creative energy across different photography genres."
Joyce Chou, CEO of Wistron Foundation, stated: "Over the years, the National Geographic Taiwan Photo Contest has accumulated tremendous visual energy and social influence. Wistron Foundation has long been dedicated to issues of ecology, the environment, and the land, and we hope to continue supporting the contest to raise greater public awareness of nature and biodiversity—allowing photography to become a powerful force for environmental conservation and public communication.
A National First: Deep Sky Now Open to Team Entries — Leading Astrophotography Judges from Taiwan and Abroad Join Forces
In the past, astrophotographers had to complete large-scale works entirely on their own, contending not only with the constraints of equipment costs and technical challenges, but also with unpredictable weather and environmental limitations. For this reason, this year's contest introduces a team competition mechanism for the first time, opening the Deep Sky sub-section to team entries—encouraging photographers to overcome the limitations of solo creation through teamwork and complementary skills, integrating observation planning, equipment operation, and post-production techniques to capture more unique details of the night sky. This year's Astrophotography Division features a heavyweight panel of judges from Taiwan and abroad, including acclaimed American deep-sky astrophotography master Adam Block, celebrated astrophotographer Jeff Dai, Dr. Wei-hao Wang of Academia Sinica's Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Alex Chao, General Manager of Galuxe Optics—conducting a rigorous evaluation based on the dual standards of top-tier astronomical research and optical expertise.
Judges from Each Category Share the Key Elements of a Great Photograph
Deepening Visual Education: First-Ever "Youth Photography Critique Salon" Co-Hosted with Huafan University
To reach out to the next generation of creators, the Traditional Chinese edition of National Geographic has partnered with Huafan University for the first time to host a Youth Photography Critique Salon. The event invites young contestants to engage face-to-face with more than 10 past contest judges and leading professionals from the fields of photography and education. Rather than simply waiting passively for contest results, young creators can build more mature perspectives on imagery through two-way exchanges and professional feedback with experienced photographers—helping them break through technical barriers and creative limitations. Chao-liang Shen, Chair of Photography and VR Design Department at Huafan University, remarked: "Photography education cultivates the younger generation's ability to observe the world. We hope that through a variety of activities, we can encourage more young people and help visual education take root from an early age."
"Ecological Photography Reporting Mission" Fully Upgraded: Deepening Ecological Ethics and Conservation Action
Since introducing the Ecology and Environment Category to the photo contest in 2022, the event has encouraged people to document nature through visual media. It invites outstanding photographers and enthusiasts worldwide to submit compelling ecological stories—using photography as a medium to promote public environmental awareness. This year, the “Ecology and Environment Reporting Mission" has been fully upgraded. Environmental documentary director Chin-yuan Ke will personally lead three winners through an end-to-end journey—from classroom workshops and hands-on shooting to final presentations—offering an in-depth program that combines visual storytelling with ecological respect.
Expanded Mobile Photography Workshops and Connected Photography Forums — Celebrating 10 Years by Inviting All to Join the Visual Movement
Since the reintroduction of the “Mobile Photography Category in 2024”, mobile photography has rapidly become a major creative trend in the contest. In 2025, mobile phone entries accounted for approximately 33% of total submissions, showing that photographic creation is no longer limited to professional equipment—the smartphone in hand can also serve as a powerful tool for documenting life and expressing one's perspective. Recognizing this trend, the Traditional Chinese edition of National Geographic will expand its mobile photography workshops from June to August, hosting six sessions across northern, central, and southern Taiwan. Personally led by National Geographic photographer Yu-wen Chen, the workshops will guide participants to master light, composition, and storytelling in daily life—transforming casual snapshots into more focused visual creations.
In addition, two photography forums will be held at the GIS NTU Convention Center on June 6 and July 18. The first session will feature Editor-in-Chief Yung-shih Lee sharing insights on award-winning works from a judge's perspective. The second session will bring together ecological photographer Chin-yuan Pai and underwater photographer Yung-sen Wu to delve into the debate surrounding the 2023 suspension of bird photography submissions, exploring how to balance visual impact with ecological respect. Both events are free to attend with online registration.
As the National Geographic Taiwan Photo Contest reaches its 10th anniversary, readers will also be invited to participate in an online voting event to choose the most iconic popular works from among the winners across all categories over the past five years. This initiative connects Taiwan's local visual narratives with global themes of biodiversity and sustainability—building a unique body of Taiwanese visual memory while setting new milestones for the contest.
Submissions for the 2026 National Geographic Taiwan Photo Contest will be open from May 21 to August 31, hoping to attract even more professional photographers, visual creators, photography enthusiasts, and the general public to document Taiwan's cultural and natural landscapes through their lenses—preserving memories of the land while engaging with contemporary environmental and social issues. Offering generous cash prizes and a rich array of awards, this year's contest warmly invites all photography and visual art creators to participate.
2026 National Geographic Taiwan Photo Contest — Submission Information
Submission Period: May 21 (Thu), 2:00 PM – August 31 (Mon), 12:00 PM Contest Website: https://www.natgeomedia.com/photocontest/ National Geographic Taiwan Official Facebook Page National Geographic Taiwan Official Website
* For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the official announcements on the National Geographic Taiwan Event Page.