Apply Now: Wellcome Photography Prize 2027 Offers £10,000 Cash Award

Photographers, photojournalists, researchers, scientists and creative image-makers worldwide are invited to enter the Wellcome Photography Prize 2027.

This is an international competition celebrating powerful visual stories about health, science and human experience.

Organised by Wellcome, a global charitable foundation supporting scientific research, the competition offers successful entrants the opportunity to win cash prizes, showcase their work to international audiences and contribute to conversations about pressing health challenges and scientific discoveries.

The competition is free to enter and open to participants from any country, including Nigeria. The deadline for submissions is October 21, 2026.

According to the official announcement, each category winner will receive £10,000, while an additional 22 entries selected across the three categories will receive £1,000 each. This brings the total prize money to £52,000.

About the Wellcome Photography Prize

The Wellcome Photography Prize uses visual storytelling to explore how science and health shape people’s lives, communities and futures.

The 2027 edition welcomes images that examine scientific discoveries, urgent health challenges and the experiences of individuals and communities affected by health-related issues.

Submissions may explore mental health, infectious diseases, climate change and health, or discovery research. Entries that connect these themes and offer fresh perspectives on human health and wellbeing are also encouraged.

Competition Categories

Applicants can submit their work under any of the following three categories:

1. Striking Solo Photography

This category recognises a single compelling photograph that captures attention and encourages audiences to think differently about health, science or medicine.

2. A Storytelling Series

Participants can submit a series of three to five photographs that explore a health-related issue in greater depth, present different perspectives or document the experiences of people and communities.

3. The Marvels of Scientific and Medical Imaging

This category celebrates striking images created through scientific and medical imaging techniques, including microscopy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-rays, ultrasound and other eligible biomedical imaging technologies.

Who Can Apply?

The competition is open to photographers and image-makers of all experience levels, from beginners and independent creatives to established professionals.

Eligible participants include:

• Professional and amateur photographers.
• Photojournalists and documentary photographers.
• Scientists, researchers and clinicians.
• Medical and scientific imaging specialists.
• Creative professionals working with eligible photographic techniques.

Applicants from Nigeria and other countries worldwide are eligible, subject to the competition’s terms and applicable financial restrictions.

Entries may be submitted individually or collaboratively. Participants must ensure that their work meets the competition’s eligibility requirements and submission standards.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should take note of the following requirements before submitting their work:

• The competition is free to enter.
• Images must have been taken after December 31, 2021.
• Entries must explore health, science, medicine or related human experiences in line with the competition’s themes.
• Images must be submitted in high resolution and meet the specified technical requirements.
• AI-generated images, illustrations and moving-image submissions are not accepted.
• Entrants must obtain appropriate consent when photographing people, particularly patients or individuals in sensitive circumstances.
• Participants retain copyright to their work, subject to the permissions granted to Wellcome under the competition rules.

Applicants are encouraged to review the official terms and conditions for complete information on eligibility, image specifications and usage rights.

Prizes and Benefits

Each of the three category winners will receive £10,000, while 22 additional selected entries will receive £1,000 each.

Beyond the financial rewards, the competition provides opportunities for international exposure through media coverage, publications, exhibitions and promotional activities. Selected image-makers may also have opportunities to participate in events showcasing their work to new audiences.

The top 25 entries are expected to be announced in summer 2027, alongside the announcement of the prize winners.

Application Deadline

The deadline for the Wellcome Photography Prize 2027 is October 21, 2026, at 23:59 GMT (UTC+0).

Interested applicants should complete their submissions before the deadline and ensure that all images and supporting information comply with the official requirements.

How to Apply

To participate, visit the official Wellcome Photography Prize website, review the competition guidelines and submit your images through the online application platform.

Apply here: https://wellcome.org/engagement-and-advocacy/engaging-people/wellcome-photography-prize/enter

Applicants will need to log in or create an account to submit their entries. The application platform allows participants to save their submissions and return to complete them later.

For enquiries, contact the organisers at PhotoPrize@wellcome.org.

Aspiring and established image-makers are encouraged to use this opportunity to tell compelling stories that deepen public understanding of health, scientific discovery and the human experience.