TransNatura 2026 International Nature Photography Contest

TransNatura is an international nature photography contest run by the Vadon Association, a nature conservation organisation based in Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania. Now in its 13th edition, it aims to promote the importance of protecting nature through photography. There are two categories, Wildlife and Nature and Landscapes, and seven prizes worth €5,500 in total. The first three photos are free to enter. The deadline is 20 November 2026.

The best images are exhibited at the Hunting and Natural Sciences Museum in Sfântu Gheorghe from 22 January 2027.

Categories

• Category A: Wildlife
• Category B: Nature and Landscapes

Prizes

• TransNatura Grand Prize: €1,500
• Wildlife: first prize €1,000, second €600, third €400
• Nature and Landscapes: first prize €1,000, second €600, third €400

A digital catalogue of the exhibition is published on TransNatura's Facebook page after the opening.

Who Can Enter TransNatura?

Amateur and professional photographers from around the world, except members of the jury and the organisers. It suits wildlife, landscape and macro photographers, and anyone with strong images of the natural world.

Fees

The first three photos are free. Each additional image costs €5, and fees are not refunded once paid.

Ethics and Editing Rules

• Images must be taken in natural habitats without disturbing wildlife
• Only wild animals are allowed; photos of captive animals are not eligible
• Major changes to key visual elements are not allowed
• Allowed edits: levels, curves, colour balance, hue and saturation, brightness and contrast, and shadows and highlights
• No text, watermark or signature on the images

Technical Requirements

Submit JPG files in RGB, with at least 3,000 pixels on the long side, suitable for enlarging to at least 60 cm. Any aspect ratio is accepted, but the organisers recommend 1:1, 3:2, 4:3 or 16:9 for the exhibition. The organisers may ask for original files, and winning images are requested in high resolution after the contest.

The Jury

The international jury includes nature photographers Milán Radisics and Imre Potyó from Hungary, photographer Ovi D. Pop from Romania, István Magdó of the Hungarian Photographic Artists' World Association, and János Demeter, executive director of the Vadon Association.

How to Enter

Register and upload your images through the contest page on the IAAP platform, which also handles payment for extra images. By entering, you agree that the organisers may use your images for the purposes of the contest.

About the Vadon Association

Vadon is a nature conservation organisation based in Sfântu Gheorghe, in the Covasna region of Transylvania. TransNatura is one of its ways of drawing attention to wild places and wildlife and to the importance of protecting them. The contest has run for more than a decade, with earlier editions archived on its website. For photographers, it is a small, focused contest where the free entries and the cash prizes make it worth a try.

Tips for Entering

Choose images that show animals behaving naturally in their habitat, or landscapes with strong light and composition. Avoid any image where the animal may have been disturbed or baited.

Before You Upload

Check the technical requirements carefully: file format, size, colour space and how files should be named or numbered. Keep the original high-resolution files ready, as organisers often ask for them if your work is selected. Submit a few days before the deadline to avoid last-minute problems with uploads or payment.

Things to Consider

• Three free entries.
• Wild animals only, no captive subjects.
• Limited editing allowed.
• Deadline: 20 November 2026.

Enter the Contest

Have strong wildlife or landscape images?

Enter TransNatura 2026

The rules, jury and entry form are on the contest page.

Looking for more open calls? Browse all competitions and opportunities on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: November 4, 2026