2026 – CALL FOR ENTRIES 

The scores of the works submitted to the competition categories count towards the annual cumulative ranking that determines The Grand Prix of Hungarian Nature Photo. Images entered in the "Pictures from the Great World" category, the materials of the "Nature in Movement (video category)" video competition, and the works of periodic competitions not covering a full competition season are not part of the ranking. When compiling the annual ranking by category, only the scores of the images that achieve the first six places in the given category are taken into account. Additional images with a score equal to the score of the sixth-place photo are also included in the annual ranking by category.

COMPETITION CATEGORIES 

A. Nature photos of Magical Hungary: 

A.1. Natural beauties 

A.2. World of Birds 

A.3. Other animals 

A.4. Compact and mobile 

B. Human impact on nature 

C. Perspectives - National Geographic 

D. Pictures from the Great World 

E. Nature in Movement (video category) 

Nature photos of Magical Hungary 

The Nature photos of Magical Hungary competition contains photo competition categories that form a complete picture of Hungary's natural world, from landscapes to animal and plant species. The four categories—Natural beauties, World of Birds, Other animals and Compact and mobile—provide nature photographers with the opportunity to apply with photos taken with any machine and on any subject, depending on their interest, the location of the photography, and current natural phenomena. The mission of the categories is to present the natural beauties and diverse wildlife of our country's ten national parks in a colorful and nuanced way through the submitted images. In the categories, contestants can enter landscapes, plant photos, photos of birds and other cold- and warm-blooded animals, and they also have the opportunity to submit images taken with DSLR, MILC, compact or bridge system cameras, mobile devices, analog cameras, and drones.

A.4. Compact and mobile

If you see special moments or beautiful natural phenomena while walking in nature, but you don't have professional photography equipment with you, don't hesitate to use your phone or compact machine! Nature photos taken with compact or bridge system cameras, as well as mobile devices (phone, tablet), can be entered in this category. Images taken with drones can be entered in other categories.

What themes are we looking for? 

Landscapes, waterfalls flowers, plants, mushrooms, mosses, lichens, animals 

COMPETITION RULES The 2026 competition year lasts from March 1, 2026, to October 20, 2026. Images can be uploaded from the 1st of each month (from 0:01) until the 20th day of the subject month (until 23:59). 

In categories A. (A.1., A.2., A.3., A.4.), B., C., i.e., in the 6 categories, a maximum of 6 images can be uploaded per month in total.

In category D., a maximum of 4 images can be uploaded per month in total. In category E., a maximum of 4 videos can be uploaded every two months in total. In categories A. (A.1., A.2., A.3., A.4.), B., C., D., the following jury members evaluate the images: Britta Jaschinski photojournalist, Bence Máté nature photographer, Tamás Vitray Jr., editor, National Geographic Hungary, Attila Szilágyi nature photographer, László Suhayda nature photographer. In category E.: Tamás Vitray Jr., editor, National Geographic Hungary, Attila Szilágyi nature photographer,

Zsolt Marcell Tóth nature filmmaker. 

The end-of-year results and the grand prix are determined based on the total score of the best 6 months out of 8 months, this also gives opportunity to those applicants who miss a maximum of 2 months to stay in the competition for the end-of-year grand prix. The maximum score obtainable for a nature photo entered in categories 

A. (A.1., A.2., A.3., A.4.), B., C. is 50 points. With the competition works of the best 6 months out of 8 months, i.e., with 36 uploaded images, a maximum of 1800 points can be obtained in total in the competition year for the annual ranking.

The maximum score obtainable for images entered in category D. is also 50 points. The maximum score obtainable for a video entered in category E. is 30 points. 

The jury scores obtained in categories A. (A.1., A.2., A.3., A.4.), B., C. are included in the annual ranking, meaning that the first three places of The Grand Prix of Hungarian Nature Photo are won by photographers who have collected the most points with their images during the competition season. The first-place photographer wins the Golden Crane statue, designed and individually crafted by sculptor Szilárd Dienes, symbolizing the grand prix; the second-place winner wins a silver-colored statue, and the third-place winner wins a bronze-colored statue.

The scores of categories D. and E. are not included in the annual ranking, nor are the works of periodic competitions not covering a full competition season. The points of the audience vote are also not included in the annual ranking. At the end of the year, in addition to the presentation of the grand prix, the first three photographers who earned the most points during the season in the individual categories are also awarded (when compiling the annual ranking by category, we only take into account the scores of the images that achieved the first five places in the given category). The competition organizer, in consultation with the sponsors, will decide on the awarding of further special prizes by the end of the competition year.

The entry fee is gross 1000 HUF per image every month. In total, 1 image can be uploaded for free per month. When uploading images, it is mandatory to indicate in which national park directorate's territory they were taken. Wherever a candidate takes a picture within Hungary, the location belongs to the administrative territory of one of the ten national park directorates. The following map serves as help to determine this: https://varazslatosmagyarorszag.hu/nemzeti-parkok 

GENERAL ENTRY CONDITIONS 

1. The photographs uploaded to the competition can be a minimum of 6 Megapixels and a maximum of 10 Megabytes in size.

2. The resolution of competition images is the same as the resolution of the original file (RAW image); its size can only decrease by the size of the cropping, meaning the images must be submitted to the competition without resizing. 

3. The extent of cropping relative to the area of the image may not exceed 60%, meaning the size of the uploaded image reaches 40% of the pixels of the original recording (raw or original jpg image). If it does not meet this condition, the competition organizer will permanently disqualify the image from the competition! 

4. In all photo categories (A., B., C., D.) of the Magical Hungary competition, the applicant is obliged to upload the original RAW file of the image in addition to the applied image (DNG file is only accepted if the camera's original raw file extension is DNG), except in the Magical Hungary from a compact perspective (A.4.) category, where it is sufficient to upload the un-interpolated, unmodified, original JPEG file of the image. In the case of recordings made with an analog machine, the original, scanned jpg or tiff file must be uploaded.

5. The competition JPEG file should be uploaded in the best possible quality (recommended at least corresponding to Adobe Photoshop jpeg 10 image quality), preferably in sRGB color profile. 

6. During the processing of competition images, the following digital modifications can be applied: levels, gradation curves, white and color balance, hue/saturation, brightness/contrast, sharpness, as well as shadows/highlights, noise reduction, black and white conversion.

7. Removing or adding image elements using any tools is not allowed; however, it is possible to digitally remove technical errors (scratches, chemical stains, dirt stuck to the sensor or, in the case of underwater photos, to the lens) that occurred during the creation of the original image (in the case of analog technology, scanning the slide/film). The Magical Hungary competition supports and highly values a creative approach. Accordingly: Images made with multiple exposure (multi-expo) techniques are only accepted if these images were made within the camera with Additive (ADD) or Average (AVG) settings and a raw image also belongs to the photo. For these images, it is a requirement that the individual shots forming the multi-expo image must be taken at the same location and at nearly the same time. For multi-expo images, it is expected that the image made by merging several shots should not mislead the observer. When uploading images made with multi-expo technique to the application page, the relevant checkbox must be checked. We accept HDR and panorama images made from image series with image editing software, as well as images made with depth of field extension (focus stacking) technique. For such images, all RAW images must be uploaded as a .zip compressed file. We accept image series combined with image editing software if the individual shots were taken without moving the camera at nearly the same time (e.g., star trail astrolandscapes, firefly swarming). For such images, all RAW images must be uploaded as a .zip compressed file. Black and white conversion for the whole image is allowed. Subsequent coloring of black and white images (e.g., sepia) is not permitted, either for the whole image or partially.

8. Digital manipulation of competition images is not permitted in any category. The original content cannot be changed in the images; the shapes, the behavior of the animals, the natural phenomena, the colors (except for black and white images), and the details must appear authentically, realistically, and in harmony with the raw image. Images manipulated subsequently with image editing software will be disqualified during technical verification. 

9. Only photographs depicting real scenes and not containing elements created with generative artificial intelligence can be entered. In such a case, the image will be immediately disqualified.

10. An image of any aspect ratio can be uploaded, but the applicant should strive to adhere to standard page sizes (1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 3:2, 4:3, 5:4, 16:9). 

11. In all photo categories (A., B., C., D.) of the Magical Hungary competition, EXIF data are mandatory for every file (competition JPEG and RAW image). 

12. In the Magical Hungary competition, only one photo from a burst sequence can be entered, regardless of the competition year. Images whose: subject is the same, for example, the animal or plant species appearing in the image is the same (regardless of whether it is a different individual), or for example, the image depicts the same or a similar landscape detail are considered as a burst sequence. If the image was taken at the same or a very similar location the composition is the same or shows minimal difference the image elements are the same or show minimal difference they were taken directly one after another in time, however, regardless of the time the images were taken, considering the above points, an image is considered a burst sequence. These images can be disqualified by the competition organizer immediately or even subsequently after the conclusion of the judging. In case of question, the competition organizer may contact the applicant.

13. Competition images—regardless of the competition year—can only be submitted once. In case of repeated upload, the last uploaded image will be disqualified. An exception is if the competition organizer provides otherwise for periodic competitions. 

14. Only images taken within the administrative borders of Hungary can be entered for the competitions, with the exception of the Pictures from the Great World (D.) category. If the competition organizer is convinced that an image not taken in the territory of Hungary was entered, the image will be disqualified.

15. The image file may not contain any reference to the identity of the image's author, otherwise, the image is not eligible to participate in the competition and will be disqualified. 

16. The applicant has the opportunity to delete or modify the images uploaded to the competition no later than the closing of the current competition. 

17. If the competition organizer is convinced that an image has been entered that does not comply with any of the above rules, after weighing the error, it may disqualify the affected image from the competition. The credit paid for the disqualified images will not be refunded by the competition organizer to the applicant. The competition organizer further reserves the right that if it becomes aware of the violation of the above rules in the case of an image at any time during the competition year after the closing of the monthly competitions, it may subsequently delete the image and withdraw any eventual award.

18. The competition organizer may delete an image that does not correspond to the spirit, values, and standards of Magical Hungary. 

19. Images will be presented to the jury after payment of the entry fee. 

20. The competition is open to all registered users regardless of professionalism, age, gender, and national affiliation. 

21. Images cannot be objectionable from an ethical point of view. Only images that were taken without causing damage to wildlife and without disturbing wildlife can be entered. The images cannot be made with manipulation that presents reality in a falsified way, they cannot violate public morals, and further, they cannot violate rights related to human dignity. All applied images must be taken in a natural environment, they must present natural and real habitats, phenomena, and forms of behavior, with special regard to images taken of animals, plants, and mushrooms.

22. The applicant acknowledges that all responsibility for any eventual personality and copyright infringements caused by the creation of the submitted images or their public presentation (exhibition) rests with the applicant, including financial liability occurring with the infringement. 

23. By uploading the competition images, the participant automatically accepts the competition conditions, and at the same time consents that the competition organizer may fully and free of charge use their photographs freely, with the indication of the applicant's name, without temporal and spatial restrictions, according to the methods of use permitted by Act LXXVI of 1999 on Copyright on the web and social pages of Magical Hungary, as well as in its printed publications (magazine, books, publications, calendars, advertising materials, etc.), in its audiovisual contents (short films, VM song, etc.), and in publications and albums related to the competition, as well as at exhibitions and other electronic/printed publications propagating these. By uploading the competition images, the participant also automatically consents that the organizer—based on a written agreement concluded with a third party/parties—may grant a limited—i.e., one-time and with a content precisely defined in the contract concluded between the organizer and the third party/parties and corresponding to the goals laid down there—right of use to the third party/parties contracting with it, either free of charge or for a fee. If an onerous agreement as defined in this point 24 is created between the organizer and a third party, 100% of the revenue (usage fee) resulting from the transfer of the right of use flows to the organizer and 100% of the fee belongs to the organizer; the applicant cannot raise any claim or demand in this regard, and automatically waives such claims by uploading the competition images. The competition organizer undertakes to plow back the amount resulting from the revenue of publications and objects entering commercial circulation exclusively into its own nature photography and nature conservation activities. The competition organizer may contact the applicant and consult with them on the conditions in case of using the images for certain products entering commercial circulation.

24. The applicant may subsequently request the deletion or suspension of their public profile; however, their photographs uploaded to the announced competitions, together with the scores received for them, the name of the creator, and the description provided by the applicant, will remain public in the image gallery; the competition organizer will not delete these images from the system and the image gallery. Regarding the uploaded competition images, even after the deletion of the participant's public profile, all points of the General Entry Conditions continue to remain in effect.

25. The competition organizer may hand over the images of the photo competition and the exhibition (electronic files/exhibition enlargements) to the exhibiting institutions and its nature conservation partners, and they may use the images for purposes propagating environmental and nature protection. Furthermore, the submitted images may appear, also free of charge, in the publications, online interfaces, and other materials of the Hungarian national park directorates and their state maintainer, the Ministry of Agriculture. When using the photos, the partners of the competition organizer undertake to indicate the name of the photographer and Magical Hungary