About

We invite photographers of all levels, from experienced professionals to amateurs, to explore and unravel the rich tapestry of human experiences with water, with more than €10 000 in prizes up for grabs. From cultural and spiritual traditions to everyday moments, livelihoods, gender, and the environment, your photos can reveal how water connects us all and influences who we are. The contest leans on the United Nation’s theme for World Water Day 2026, which will focus on the vital connections between water and gender, exploring how water shapes identities, opportunities, and equality.

Photostories should achieve either of the following:

• Explore the link between water and identity. Show how gender, profession, ethnicity, culture, background, and personal experiences shape the way people access, (un)sustainably manage, and interact with water.

• Highlight the challenges and inequalities in water access. Show the real-world impact these issues have on people's lives and the diverse ways communities are responding.

• Celebrate stories of resilience and inclusion. Give a voice to underrepresented groups and share experiences that inspire solutions for fair and sustainable water use.

• Join us in this visual journey to illuminate the complex and multifaceted relationship between water and human identities. Together, we can celebrate the strength of diversity in water stewardship and support a future where equitable and inclusive water solutions benefit all.

What winners receive

Global Prizes:

• General Category, Total Prize Pool: €5,000, sponsored by: WEX and Calumet

  • 1st Prize: €3,000 + feature on Onewater's website
  • 2nd Prize: €1,000 + feature on Onewater's website
  • 3rd Prize: €500 + feature on Onewater's website
  • 5 Merit Awards: €100 each + feature on Onewater's website

• Youth Category, sponsored by IW:Learn

  • Two winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip (travel, accommodation, and participation) to the 11th International Waters Conference (IWC) in Asia.

Regional Prizes - Latin America and the Caribbean:

• Youth Category, Total Prize Pool: €500, sponsored by: Onewater
  • 1st Prize: €300 + feature on Onewater's website
  • 2nd Prize: €150 + feature on Onewater's website
  • 3rd Prize: €50 + feature on Onewater's website

Regional Prizes - South East Asia:

• General Category, Total Prize Pool: €5,300, sponsored by: Asian Development Bank (ADB)

  • 1st Prize: €1,500 + feature on Onewater's website
  • 2nd Prize: €1,000 + feature on Onewater's website
  • 3rd Prize: €500 + feature on Onewater's website
  • 5 Merit Awards: €100 each + feature on Onewater's website

• Youth Category, Total Prize Pool: €1,800, sponsored by: Asian Development Bank (ADB)

  • 1st Prize: €800 + feature on Onewater's website
  • 2nd Prize: €600 + feature on Onewater's website
  • 3rd Prize: €400 + feature on Onewater's website

Regional Prizes - Sub-Saharan Africa:

• Youth Category, Total Prize Pool €500, sponsored by: WasserStiftung
  • 1st Prize: €300 + feature on Onewater's website
  • 2nd Prize: €150 + feature on Onewater's website
  • 3rd Prize: €50 + feature on Onewater's website

How to enter

• To be considered for a Youth Category, the author has to be 25 years old or younger on 7 December 2025.

• To be considered for a regional category, the story has to take place in the region. 

• There are no extra steps to be considered for the regional or youth category, just make sure you have your birthday filled out in your profile and the location of the story is filled out. 

• Each submission must include the following:

• Photos: 5-10 photographs that tell a (photo) story (.jpg or .png, with a resolution of at least 3872 x 2592)

• Story: Insert the story that accompanies your photos (min. 300 words – no max). Stories with less than 300 words are not eligible.

• Captions: Include a small caption (example: 1-The Po River is a vital lifeline for the community, providing essential resources such as drinking water, irrigation for agriculture, and a habitat for wildlife. 2-A heron stands gracefully on the riverbank., 3-...)

• Signed Photo License: Download, sign and submit with your application (see here)

• Friendly Note: Please label your photographs using the following format:

• This will help us keep everything organized. We appreciate your cooperation!

About Onewater

Onewater is a social enterprise committed to advancing water science communication and facilitating knowledge transfer. Our mission is to bridge science-policy gaps and facilitate dialogue among communities, researchers, service providers, development agencies and policy makers to address global and local freshwater and ocean challenges and promote sustainable solutions.

Judging criteria

Submissions will be judged on writing, originality, theme, and photo quality.