REGISTER | LOGIN You are invited to submit your very best photos of California wildlife for the 15th annual California Wildlife Photo of the Year 2026 contest.

The 2026 contest has five submission *Entry Periods, beginning in January, 2026 and ending October 31, 2026. The final judging period, November - December, 2026, is reserved for selecting the Photo of the Year. The 2026 15th annual contest is presented by California Watchable Wildlife and sponsored by Sierra Nevada Conservancy, Out of this World Optics and Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Winters Davis.

Winning images will be published through social media starting in March-April, 2026.

The 2026 Photo of the Year will be announced in January, 2027

Here's how: What to submit:
  • Images taken at a California Watchable Wildlife Viewing site (see map on California Watchable Wildlife Website)
  • Images taken in the Sierra Nevada (view map)
  • Any California wildlife species in native habitat
  • People viewing wildlife
  • Interesting animal behavior
  • Seasonal abundance of wildlife
Judging:

Images will be judged by a panel of three judges. Criteria are:
  • Technical Excellence (focus, exposure, resolution)
  • Composition
  • Difficulty in getting the shot
  • Overall impact and storytelling aspects of the image
* Entry Periods: Winning images published on social media:
1) January-February, 2026 March/April, 2026
2) March-April, 2026 May/June, 2026
3) May-June, 2026 July/August, 2026
4) July-August, 2026 September/October, 2026
5) September-October, 2026 November/December, 2026

Awards:

Photo of the Year will be chosen from all winning entries submitted in 2026. In addition, one photo will be selected from the submissions to represent a California Watchable Wildlife viewing site (view map),  and one photo to represent the Sierra Nevada (view regions) All awards are made by California Watchable Wildlife. The Photo of the Year photographer is awarded an optics product valued at $1,000 from Out of This World Optics and a two-night stay at Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Winters Davis. The Sierra Nevada and California Watchable Wildlife winning images will also receive gift items.

Click here for Submission Guidelines and Terms.

Return to the California Watchable Wildlife Website.


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