The 2025 National Wildlife Photo Contest is now closed.

There is still time to vote for your favorite photos in the People's Choice Award contest! This public competition will close May 1, 2025. Anyone thirteen (13) years of age and older can vote by registering. Visit the public gallery.

Now in its 54th year, the prestigious National Wildlife^® Photo Contest celebrates wildlife, habitats and the natural world, with an emphasis on conservation and ethical photography honoring the well-being of animals in the wild. Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's contest. We sincerely appreciate your contribution and we’re glad you’re a part of this growing family of talented, dedicated people. All entries support the National Wildlife Federation's conservation mission, which is dedicated to saving wildlife species and habitats.

A selection of the winning photographs and honorable mentions from the 2025 contest will be published in the Winter 2026 issue of National Wildlife magazine. In addition to cash prizes, the Grand Prize, Portfolio, and all First and Second Place winners will be announced in a press release and highlighted through our social media channels. All winning images and honorable mentions will also be published on the National Wildlife Federation’s website in January 2026. NWF anticipates notifying winners in October 2025.

A panel of judges will award the following prizes:

• Grand Prize: One winner receives a cash prize of $5,000.
• Portfolio Prize: One winner receives a cash prize of $750.
• First Place: One winner in each of the eight subject categories receives a cash prize of $500.
• Second Place: One winner in each of the eight subject categories receives a cash prize of $250.
• Honorable Mentions: Each receives a certificate of distinction and a National Wildlife Federation calendar.

Become a member: You can further support our mission by becoming a member of the National Wildlife Federation, which entitles you to receive National Wildlife magazine as a benefit of membership. Learn how to join and receive the magazine.

Stay up to date with National Wildlife magazine:

• If you'd like to be notified about National Wildlife's 2026 photo contest, you can sign up for more information here.
• National Wildlife’s Facebook
• National Wildlife’s Instagram

© 2025 The National Wildlife Federation, all rights reserved
The National Wildlife Federation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
PO Box 1583, Merrifield, VA 22116-1583
1-800-822-9919 (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST)