Wellcome Photography Prize 2027

About this call

The Wellcome Photography Prize, run by Wellcome in London, United Kingdom, brings together photography and scientific imaging to show how health and science influence our lives, communities and futures. Entries should explore discovery research, mental health, infectious disease, or climate and health, or where they meet. There are three categories: a single photograph, a storytelling series of 3 to 5 photographs, and a single image made with a scientific or medical imaging technique. Judges select a top 25 and the winners, looking at creativity and visual impact, storytelling and relevance, and technical excellence. Finalists are expected to be contacted in December 2026, with the top 25 and the winners announced in summer 2027.

Who can apply

• Open to applicants of any nationality
• Medium: Photography
• Free entry
• Open to anyone in any country, except people directly involved with organising or judging the competition. Collaborative works are accepted. Entrants under 18 need consent from a parent or legal guardian. Images must have been created after 31 December 2021; submissions are digital, but the original imagery need not be (high-quality scans are acceptable). Previously published images can be entered, but images that have won or been shortlisted in the prize before, and works originally commissioned by Wellcome, cannot. There is no limit on the number of images, but each image can be entered only once and in one category (Wellcome may move an image to a different category), and images entered in a single image category cannot be included again in a series entry. Three categories: Striking solo photography (a single photograph), A storytelling series (3 to 5 photographs; diptychs, triptychs and polyptychs may be accepted into it as a single image), and The marvels of scientific and medical imaging (a single image made with a scientific or medical imaging technique). Eligible: photography, close-up photography, microscopy, medical imaging and new and emerging science and biomedical imaging technologies. Illustration, moving image and AI-generated images are not accepted. Post-production manipulations are allowed if clearly described in the caption. Every image needs accurate captions and metadata as described during submission; Wellcome may ask for the original unedited file and may disqualify the image if it is not provided. Files must be at least 15MB uncompressed, in Adobe RGB (1998), high-resolution and suitable for printing; TIFF or high-resolution JPEG preferred. No watermarks or names identifying the maker may be visible in the image. The entrant must be the copyright holder or have the holder's permission, and must have all third-party permissions and releases, including model release or patient consent where relevant. Copyright holders keep copyright and grant Wellcome a non-exclusive, worldwide, irrevocable licence to use their images in connection with the prize for 3 years from submission and, for shortlisted and winning entries, perpetually, including for merchandising and uses connected with Wellcome's charitable mission; it is royalty free except that merchandise generating revenue earns the copyright holder a reasonable fee. Entries are submitted only through the online submission platform, which requires an account. If a winner or shortlisted entrant cannot be contacted within seven days of the judges' decision, the prize may go to another entrant. Where financial sanctions or banking restrictions prevent payment, Wellcome may substitute a prize of equivalent value or award it to another entrant.