COMING SOON:
Commonwealth Youth
Photography Competition 2026

Commonwealth Youth Photography Competition 2026:

Waves of Change

We're calling on young photographers aged 18–30 from across the Commonwealth to capture the power, beauty, and fragility of our seas. Whether you're on a coastline, a riverbank, or a harbour wall your perspective matters.

Enter the competition. Make your mark. Be part of something bigger.

Entries opening soon.

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, in partnership with 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.

How Did Waves of Change Get Its Name?

The story behind this year's theme started with young people just like you. Watch the moment the winner of our naming competition was announced, and hear how their vision helped shape the Commonwealth Youth Photography Competition 2026.

For regular updates on the competition follow @RoyalCWSociety on Instagram, X and Facebook.

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COMING SOON: Commonwealth Youth Photography Competition 2026