Now closed for 2026
About the Competition
The Commonwealth Youth Photography Competition 2026 is a celebration of young talent, global connection, and the natural world that binds us all.
Organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the City of London Youth Natural Environment Board, this competition invites young people from across the 56-nation Commonwealth family to share their vision through the lens.
This year's theme, Waves of Change, invites you to explore our oceans and waterways: their majesty, their vulnerability, and the communities whose lives depend on them. We're looking for images that move people. Images that tell stories words can't.
Open to all Commonwealth nationals and residents aged 18–30.
This Year's Theme
Waves of Change
From shifting coastlines to evolving cities, from cultural transitions to personal transformation: the world is in motion. Waves of Change asks you to look at your world and photograph what you see: the environment in flux, the communities adapting, the moments that mark a turning point.
Find out how the competition got its name:
2026 Winners Announced
The Commonwealth Youth Photography Competition 2026: Waves of Change has now concluded.
Thank you to everyone who submitted a photograph and shared their ocean story with us. We received entries from across the Commonwealth, exploring our relationship with oceans and waterways through the themes of Human-Ocean Connection, Hope and Resilience, Threats and Challenges, and Innovative Solutions.
We are delighted to now celebrate the winners of the 2026 Competition.
The winning and finalist images are being showcased as part of the competition’s exhibition at CHOGM 2026 in Antigua and Barbuda, highlighting young Commonwealth perspectives on our oceans, communities and environment.
Now closed for 2026
Our panel of eight world-class judges reviewed entries across four categories: Human-Ocean Connection, Hope and Resilience, Threats and Challenges, and Innovative Solutions.
To celebrate the 2026 Competition and discover this year’s winners, follow us on social media and explore the winners page:
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