Mangrove Action Project - a non-profit restoring and protecting the world’s mangrove forests - is proud to announce that entries to the 12th annual Mangrove Photography Awards are now open.
Building on a landmark 2025 edition — which drew a record-breaking 3,300+ entries from 78 countries — the 2026 awards are set to be bigger than ever, with new partnerships with the Global Mangrove Alliance and UNESCO expanding the reach and impact of every entry.
Mangroves are among the planet’s most vital yet threatened ecosystems, providing essential services from fisheries and coastal protection to carbon sequestration and biodiversity. Despite this, global coverage continues to decline, with half of the world’s mangrove ecosystems at risk of collapse by 2050. The Mangrove Photography Awards exist to spark conservation through authentic visual storytelling.
What’s New for 2026
- Bigger prizes: $7,000 total
- $1,000 for the overall Mangrove Photographer of the Year
- $500 for each of 11 category winners
- $250 for the Young Mangrove Photographer of the Year and the People’s Choice Award.
New partnerships with the Global Mangrove Alliance and UNESCO mean greater exhibition opportunities and wider global reach for photographers’ work and the conservation stories behind it.
Categories
- Photographers can submit up to 12 images across six categories: Wildlife, Underwater, Landscape, People, Threats, Conservation Stories (Portfolio)
- Special awards include the UNESCO Award, Emirates Award, Arabian Gulf Award, and People’s Choice Award.
Key Dates
- Entries open: 1 April 2026
- Entries close: 1 June 2026
- Winners announced: 24 July 2026, ahead of World Mangrove Day
- People’s Choice Award: August 2026
Banner Image: Jellyfish in the sun by Chris Rohner