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The Nature Conservancy launches 2026 Oceania Photo Contest

The Nature Conservancy Papua New Guinea

Key Facts:

• TNC has opened entries for its 2026 Oceania Photo Contest
• This is the third year for the contest, which aims to connect people with nature and inspire conservation action
• The competition has a prize pool of AUD$15,000
• Last year's contest attracted more than 3,500 entries

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has opened entries for its 2026 Oceania Photo Contest and invites photographers from Papua New Guinea to submit images that capture the wonder of nature.

Now in its third year, the Oceania Photo Contest celebrates the power of photography to connect people with nature and inspire conservation action.

Ruth Konia, Country Director for TNC Papua New Guinea, said that the 2026 Oceania Photo Contest is particularly interested in receiving entries that highlight all that nature has to offer across Papua New Guinea.

“As proud Papua New Guineans we know we live in an extraordinary country, and we’re keen to share how special it is with people all around the world. We’re asking nature lovers from within our communities to enter photos that help capture the vibrance and vulnerability of our incredible wildlife, landscapes and ecosystems. We want to shine a light on all that our natural world has to offer, so please share your photos and help us tell the story of our beautiful country," Ms Konia said.

“When we see nature through someone else’s lens, we are invited to pause, notice and better understand the places, species and ecosystems that sustain us. This simple moment in time is often the first step towards care, and care is what inspires people to act for conservation.”

The 2026 Oceania Photo Contest will be judged by a panel of celebrated nature photographers - Jarrod Boord, Ben Buckland, Annette Ruzicka.

The contest is open to residents of Papua New Guinea, Aotearoa New Zealand, Solomon Islands and Australia.

Amateur and professional photographers alike can enter photos across six categories: People & Nature, Climate, Water, Lands, Plants & Fungi, Wildlife, with a prize pool of AUD$15,000 in gift cards to be won, including one AUD$6,000 Grand Prize for the top photo across all the categories. 

Last year’s Oceania Photo Contest attracted more than 3,500 entries from talented photographers across the region. The 2025 Grand Prize Winner was Miesa Grobbelaar, with an incredible image of a humpback whale being freed by divers from a chain entangling its tail.

The contest is free to enter, with entries accepted via The Nature Conservancy website. Winning images will be featured in TNC’s national campaigns, digital platforms and public exhibitions.

Enter the TNC Oceania Photo Contest 2026

About us:

 

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy helps people and nature thrive by protecting and restoring ecosystems at scale. Our work contributes to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and protects plant and animal species for generations to come. We do this by developing tools, amplifying local knowledge, influencing decision-making and unlocking sustainable finance to scale evidence-based solutions. In Papua New Guinea, we take a community-led approach to conservation, working across ecosystems supporting customary owners and communities to lead decisions about their lands and waters. To find out more visit here.

The Nature Conservancy Papua New Guinea Address: 
Section 494, Allotment 14, Hanamoa Building, Unit 1B and 2B, Gordons Industrial Area, Port Moresby PNG 

Contact details:

Ally Catterick, Director of Marketing & Communications 
[email protected] | M: 0407 501 132