Welcome to the inaugural National Weather Festival Photo Competition!
Whether you're a seasoned photographer or simply enjoy capturing the beauty and power of the atmosphere, we invite you to share your favorite weather-inspired images.
This competition celebrates the many ways weather shapes our world, from storms and breathtaking skies to seasonal landscapes and memorable moments enjoyed outdoors. Through your photographs, we hope to showcase the beauty, science, excitement, and impact of weather while inspiring curiosity and appreciation of the natural world.
Selected photographs will be displayed during the 2026 National Weather Festival as part of the National Weather Center's 20th Anniversary Celebration, with winning entries recognized in multiple award categories.
Before submitting, please review the contest rules and requirements carefully. By submitting an entry, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to the contest rules, eligibility requirements, and usage terms.
Submission Opens:
Monday, August 31, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. CT
Submission Closes:
Sunday, September 27, 2026, at 11:55 p.m. CT
Winning and selected photographs will be recognized as part of the National Weather Festival 2026 Photo Competition. Selected photographs will be displayed at a designated location during the National Weather Festival, with recognition of the photographer and applicable award, as appropriate.
Following the Festival, winning photographs will be displayed on the first floor of the National Weather Center for a period of time to be determined. The location, size, format, and duration of each display may vary based on the award received, available display space, printing considerations, and exhibition design.
Winning entries will also be featured through National Weather Center social media and other National Weather Festival communications, as appropriate.
In addition to recognition and exhibition opportunities, winners may receive prizes contributed by National Weather Festival partners. Additional prize information may be announced as it becomes available.
All photos must be original work, taken by the participant. No third party may own or control any materials the photo contains, and the photo must not infringe upon the trademark, copyright, moral rights, intellectual rights, or rights of privacy of any entity or person.
Definitions to be aware of:
Participant: An individual submitting one or more photographs to the contest.
Youth (minor): Someone who is under the age of 18 years of age at the time of submission.
Parent or Legal Guardian: An adult who has the legal right and responsibility to care for a minor participant and give official permission for them to enter
Professional Photographer: Those who make more than 10% of their income from photography or teach photography
Please read the following to be eligible to submit to the competition.
The National Weather Festival Planning Committee, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any photos. Disqualification may include:
Participants represent and warrant that their submission is their original work and does not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, privacy rights, publicity rights, or other rights of any third party.
Photos must be taken safely and legally. Disqualifying elements include:
By submitting a photograph containing recognizable individuals, the participant certifies that permission has been obtained from all identifiable persons appearing in the image. If the image depicts minors (anyone under the age of 18), the participant must certify that consent was obtained from the parent or guardian of the minor depicted.
Please use the Photo release form linked below:
For participants who are under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must submit the entry on the minor's behalf and agree to these contest terms and conditions.
By submitting an entry for a minor, the parent or legal guardian represents and warrants that:
By entering the contest, participants retain ownership of their photographs but grant the National Weather Center, National Weather Festival, and affiliated organizations a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to use submitted images for educational, promotional, marketing, exhibition, archival, and publication purposes with photography credit whenever practical.
Submitted photographs may be displayed digitally or in print during the National Weather Festival, at the National Weather Center, or during future educational exhibits.
Participants may submit up to five photographs, with a maximum of one entry per category. To ensure fair judging, each photograph should be entered in the category that best represents its subject matter. Photographs may only be submitted to a single category and cannot be entered multiple times.
Contest organizers reserve the right to reassign entries to different categories if necessary to ensure appropriate placement and equitable judging.
The following categories, judging criteria, and submission usage terms apply to all contest entries.
Storms - Weather phenomena including thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, hail,
snowstorms, flooding, and other significant weather events.
Seasonal - Images representing the seasons and changing weather patterns, including spring blooms, summer heat, autumn colors, winter weather, and seasonal
transitions.
Scenic Weather - Landscapes and nature scenes that highlight the beauty of weather and the atmosphere, including dramatic skies, sunrises, sunsets, rainbows,
fog, and other visually striking conditions.
Sky & Clouds - Photographs featuring clouds, atmospheric phenomena, and sky conditions, including cloud formations, halos, sundogs, crepuscular rays, and other captivating atmospheric features.
Weather Fun - Photos that capture the enjoyment, wonder, or playful side of weather. Entries may include people playing in rain puddles, enjoying snow or wind, wildlife interacting with weather conditions, or other uplifting and memorable moments inspired by the atmosphere.
All judging decisions are final. Photos will be evaluated based on:
Awards may include Best in Show, People's Choice, First Place in each competition category, Youth Winner, and Honorable Mention(s). The National Weather Festival Planning Committee reserves the right to adjust the number or type of awards based on the number and quality of eligible submissions received.
Winning and selected photographs will be displayed at a designated location during the National Weather Festival, with recognition of the photographer and applicable award designation, as appropriate.
Following the National Weather Festival, winning photographs will be displayed on the first floor of the National Weather Center for a period of time to be determined. The location, size, format, and duration of the displayed photographs may vary based on the award received, available display space, printing considerations, and exhibition design.
Winning and selected photographs may also be featured on National Weather Center and National Weather Festival social media channels and in other promotional or educational communications, in accordance with the contest's Usage of Submissions terms.
In addition to the recognition and exhibition opportunities described above, one or more contest winners may receive additional prizes contributed by National Weather Festival partners. These prizes may include items, experiences, or other contributions provided by participating partners.
Additional prizes are not guaranteed and may vary by award category. Prize information, including eligibility and any applicable requirements for receiving a prize, may be announced or updated before the National Weather Festival.
Unless otherwise announced, physical prizes must be claimed in accordance with instructions provided by the National Weather Festival Planning Committee and may be available for pickup during the National Weather Festival.
The People's Choice Award will be selected through public voting on the National Weather Center's Instagram account. Eligible photographs will be shared on Instagram as part of the People's Choice voting process, and the photograph receiving the most eligible votes will be recognized as the People's Choice Award winner.
To participate in the People's Choice Award, entrants must provide a valid Instagram handle with their submission and have an Instagram account that can be tagged in the voting post. Providing an Instagram handle is optional for participation in the overall photo competition but is required for eligibility for the People's Choice Award.
Additional details regarding voting dates, voting procedures, and how votes will be counted will be announced by the National Weather Center.
People's Choice voting will take place through the National Weather Center's Instagram account during a designated voting period announced by the National Weather Festival Planning Committee.
The Planning Committee will determine the voting method, voting period, and procedures for counting votes. Only votes received during the designated voting period will be considered.
Participants may share or promote their photographs and encourage others to participate in the public voting process. The Planning Committee reserves the right to disqualify votes or submissions that involve fraudulent, automated, or otherwise inappropriate voting activity.
In the event of a tie, the Planning Committee will determine the method used to resolve the tie.
The Planning Committee reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the People's Choice Award if circumstances arise that prevent the award from being conducted as planned.
