2026 marks 12 years of impactful storytelling through MAP’s Mangrove Photography Awards, capturing the beauty and importance of mangroves from thousands of perspectives around the world.

Now open for submissions, the 2026 Awards welcome everyone, from professional photographers to nature enthusiasts. This year’s categories highlight mangrove wildlife, landscapes, people, climate, and conservation, alongside a youth category and regional awards for the Emirates and Arabian Gulf.

Together, these images showcase the vital role mangroves play, and why their protection matters.

Click the link below to learn more.

Credit: Birds’ Eye View of the Hunt – Overall Winner 2025- Mark Ian Cook, USA

For 25 years, this contest has raised awareness and provided youth with a platform to highlight the importance of mangrove forests and the challenges they face. Last year, we received 512 remarkable pieces from 40 countries, each representing the artist’s personal exploration of mangroves through field trips, classroom lessons, or independent study.

This year, MAP invites children around the world to participate in our 26th Annual Children’s Mangrove Art Contest! Through this contest, we aim to cultivate a lifelong appreciation and respect for the environment in the next generation of decision-makers. We will be accepting submissions until August 31st 2026, for more details please click the link below.

Selected winning artworks will be showcased in our 2027 art calendar, helping to spread the message of mangrove conservation and highlight the powerful voices of young creatives around the globe.

Credit: Emrul Kayes Rafsan, Bangladesh, Age 13, Cover Winner from the 2025 contest