ELIGIBILITY:

Entries are invited from amateur photographers of all ages and nationalities, and the competition is free to enter.

The competition will open to entries on 10 February 2026 at 08:00 (UK time). The closing date for the competition is 31 October 2026—entries received after 23:59 (UK time) on that date will not be eligible.

The competition is open to anyone except:

Professional photographers (those who make money from wildlife photographs beyond potential social media royalties and prize funds); and

Individuals (or their immediate families) directly involved in the competition’s organisation.

RES staff members

Those who work as RES volunteers or work for Insect Week partners are not excluded if they are not directly involved in the competition’s organisation.

The competition has two categories, and entrants should choose the appropriate option on the online submission form:

The “18 and over” category includes separate themes—”Insect behaviour”, “Insect portraits,” and “Insects in their environment.” 

Under 18s

Smart Device—An additional selection for equipment type, i.e., Smart Device, including smartphones, is also available for selection (open to both Over 18s and Under 18s). 

Any entrant found to have entered the competition using the wrong submission form will be disqualified.

Entrants using the Under 18 Category must be aged 17 years or younger as of the date of closing of the competition and must accurately report their age at the time of submission. They must receive the permission of a parent or guardian before entering the competition.

The age of the Under 18 Category entrant will be checked before any prize is awarded. Prizes for entrants under the age of 18 will be sent to the parent or guardian.

The entrant must be the original photographer and solely hold the copyright.

Submitted images must not be licensed or have disposed of any rights that will conflict with the competition. Images that have been made available on stock libraries and that may have gained publicity from this may be disqualified at the judges’ discretion.

BENEFIT:

Prizes will be awarded as follows:

£750 for the 1st prize winner in the 18 and over Category;

£500 for the 2nd prize winner in the 18 and over Category;

£450 for the 1st prize winner in the Under 18 Category; and

£250 for the 2nd prize winner in the Under 18 Category.

The four winning images will be published in the RES’s bulletin Antenna, and its editors may also publish one or more of the runner-up images in addition to those of the prize winners.