National Geographic Traveller (UK) Photography Competition
Branded Competition
The brief
National Geographic Traveller (UK) sought to create an opportunity for photographers of all experience levels to gain exposure and capture the world through the National Geographic lens, celebrating the brand’s renowned legacy of excellent and immersive visual storytelling. The incentive aims to highlight the best in travel photography and demonstrate one of the National Geographic’s brand pillars.
Our approach
In 2011, National Geographic Traveller (UK) launched its annual Photography Competition for photographers across the UK and Ireland. Designed to showcase exceptional travel photography from amateur to professional talent, the competition was created to present the world in the National Geographic style.
Entrants can submit their work to any of six categories, ranging from landscapes, wildlife, food, people, cities and portfolio, which will then be judged by a rotating panel of high-profile industry experts. Each year, some of the best-known brands in the industry sponsor the competition’s Grand Prize, including Exodus Travel, Nikon, CeWe Photo World and Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) for the 2025 edition.
The prestigious event is supported by a global press and media campaign, promoting the winners to a wide network of online and print outlets, with coverage appearing in The Telegraph, The Times, CNN Travel, the BBC and beyond.
Our results
Now in its 13th year, the National Geographic Traveller (UK) Photography Competition has been attracting outstanding talent year after year. Having helped launch the careers of countless budding travel photographers along the way, the competition continues to attract thousands of entries each year and has become a renowned, and sought-after, accolade in the field.
The initiative has been consistently and masterfully growing the National Geographic brand presence and awareness, as well as boosting magazine sales of National Geographic Traveller (UK) print editions.
Complemented by campaign coverage in some of the world’s biggest media brands with millions of page views, the initiative has achieved an unrivalled exposure of travel photographers and the National Geographic Traveller (UK) media landscape.
Preparations for the 14th National Geographic Traveller (UK) Photography Competition in 2026 are well underway.
