Queer Nature Photography Awards 2026

The Queer Nature Photography Awards is administered by the Narwhal Rainbow Alliance, an Amsterdam-based organization at the intersection of LGBTQ+ advocacy and natural science communication. The 2026 cycle is the second edition. The brief is unusual: photographs of non-human nature documenting same-sex behaviors, gender fluidity, rainbow families, and other forms of biological diversity that challenge binary norms.

The premise is grounded in scientific literature: same-sex pairings, gender plasticity, and non-binary reproduction are documented across hundreds of species, from clownfish to bonobos, and the awards aim to surface that visual evidence in popular form rather than only academic publication.

First place receives €1,500. The top 10 photos are exhibited at the awards event, with the top 3 announced during the ceremony. There is no entry fee.

The 2026 jury comprises Christine Wilkinson (wildlife ecologist and National Geographic Explorer), Charlotte Vermeulen (emeritus biologist at ARTIS Amsterdam Zoo), Erin Ranney (wildlife cinematographer with credits at Nat Geo, Disney+, BBC), Noah Baars (Narwhal Rainbow Alliance founder), Nova West (filmmaker/photographer), and Laura Pennafort (BBC/Nat Geo cinematographer).

Eligibility is open to everyone — professional photographers, passionate amateurs, students. There is no LGBTQ+ identity requirement for the photographer. Each participant submits a maximum of 3 photos via WeTransfer to info@narwhalrainbowalliance.com, with an explanatory paragraph describing the work's relevance to queer nature. The 2026 deadline is May 31; results announced late July.