COPYRIGHTS & USAGE STATEMENT

By submitting an image to the Giga Photo Award, I confirm that I own the copyright and have the legal right to share and license the work. Copyright remains with me as the photographer.

I grant the Giga Photo Award, Giga, and UNICEF permission to use my submitted images for purposes related to the award, including exhibitions, publications, public communications, promotion, and advocacy.

Selected images may also be included in visual libraries related to connectivity, with attribution and, where applicable, credit and links to me for those interested in licensing or learning more about the work.

Key steps

Create a free account on Picter.com if you haven't already done so. You will receive an email with a confirmation link. You can return as many times as necessary to upload your material. Submissions to Giga Photo Award 2026 will be made online through Picter.

Picter's servers for Giga Photo Award will open on 17th February and will close on 17th March, 2026 at Midnight (GMT +01:00). The categories will be judged on 26-27th March, 2026. To know more about the jury members, please go to https://gigaphotoaward.global

Please read these categories and rules carefully.

Registration & Submission through Picter

Participation in Giga Photo Award 2026 is free.

We are using Picter platform, which is the same as other major competitions.

Create a free account at Picter if you haven't already done so. You will receive an email with a confirmation link.

You can return as many times as necessary to upload your material. The Giga Photo Award 2026 will appear on Picter from 17th February 2026 and will close on 17th March 2026.

Photo Captions and Information

Captions play a critical role in the judging process and may determine whether an image advances to the next stage. Editorial style captions are strongly preferred.
Captions must be accurate and must not misrepresent the content of the photograph. Inaccurate or misleading captions may result in disqualification.
After uploading on Picter, you will be able to review image order and caption information directly on Picter.
Any caption edits or metadata updates should be made before uploading. If changes are needed later, please replace the image file.

File Type and Image Specifications

Images must be submitted as .jpg files only.
Files should be saved at maximum quality (compression ratio greater than 9).
Minimum resolution: 300 dpi.
Images made with smartphone cameras are eligible.
Diptychs or triptychs are permitted in the Multiple Image and Junior categories, provided they are truthful combinations of two or three authentic images.
Film borders are acceptable only if the image was originally captured on negative, slide, or Polaroid film.

Single Image and Photo Series

A photograph submitted in a single image category may also appear as part of a multiple image series.
A photo series may be submitted only once.
The image order selected during submission will be preserved. You may adjust the sequence before finalizing your entry.
The Giga Photo Award will not alter the sequence of images after submission.
For series submissions, please include a story summary in the description field of the first image, in addition to individual image captions.

Rules for Digital Processing

Photographs must represent people and events accurately and with care.
Treat all the people photographed with respect and dignity. Give special consideration to vulnerable subjects and compassion.
Post production editing must preserve the integrity of the image's content and context. Adding, removing, rearranging, reversing, or distorting people or objects within the frame is not permitted.
The award accepts color and black and white images only. Black and white images must be bi tonal and display a full grayscale range. Artificial color toning will result in disqualification.
Smartphone images are allowed; however, the use of capture filters or software that introduces excessive distortion, vignetting, textures, or dramatic tonal manipulation will be disqualified.
Diptychs and triptychs are permitted under the same integrity requirements stated above.
AI generated images are not accepted in any category of the Giga Photo Award.

Visual Integrity, Consent and Child Protection

Verbal consent should always be obtained where possible. In public spaces, national laws may apply; however, photographers are encouraged to seek the strongest consent achievable. Written consent is required in specific situations.
The privacy and protection of children and women in vulnerable situations must be respected. Avoid identifying children visually or by name if doing so could put them at risk.
Submitted imagery must not perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
Winning portfolios will be reviewed through a child rights and safeguarding lens, in line with UNICEF standards.
For the Junior Visual Storyteller Category, required consent forms are available in Arabic, English, French, Russian, and Spanish and must be downloaded and submitted with the entry: https://weshare.unicef.org/CS.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&VBID=2AM4WNBXCUZ2Y&PN=1&WS=SearchResults
Photographers are encouraged to review UNICEF's visual guidelines prior to submission:

https://rise.articulate.com/share/HEawae7Xb4jZ76C_GdURUAz-UwkCUefd#/lessons/dPb2KDvwmZx1ofW5PeJJO4l6b7HC7nSh