Deadline: 30-Jun-2026
Wiki Loves Earth 2026 in Uzbekistan is a national photography competition held under the global Wiki Loves Earth initiative. The competition invites participants to upload original photographs of eligible natural heritage sites in Uzbekistan to Wikimedia Commons, with a total prize fund of 6,000,000 Uzbek sum shared between the Macro and Landscapes categories.
Overview
Wiki Loves Earth 2026 in Uzbekistan encourages photographers to document the country’s protected natural heritage through freely licensed photography.
The competition is part of the international Wiki Loves Earth campaign, which aims to build a global collection of freely accessible images of natural heritage sites for use on Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and other Wikimedia projects.
Only natural heritage sites included in the official contest list are eligible.
Key Details
- Competition: Wiki Loves Earth 2026 in Uzbekistan
- Country: Uzbekistan
- Platform: Wikimedia Commons
- Eligible entries: Original photographs
- Subject: Listed natural heritage sites
- License requirement: Free license (such as CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Total prize fund: 6,000,000 sum
- Categories: Macro and Landscapes
- Organizer: Wikimedia volunteers under the global Wiki Loves Earth initiative
Focus Areas
The competition promotes visual documentation of Uzbekistan’s natural heritage.
Key themes include:
- Natural heritage sites
- Protected natural areas
- Biodiversity
- Landscapes
- Macro photography
- Nature conservation
- Open knowledge
- Wikimedia Commons photography
- Wikipedia visual content
- Freely licensed media
Key Concepts Explained
What is Wiki Loves Earth?
Wiki Loves Earth is an international photography competition that encourages people to document protected natural areas and natural heritage sites. Images are uploaded to Wikimedia Commons under free licenses for educational use.
What is Wikimedia Commons?
Wikimedia Commons is a free online media repository that hosts photographs, videos, and other files used by Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects.
What is a Free License?
A free license, such as CC BY-SA 4.0, allows others to reuse, share, and adapt images while providing appropriate attribution and following the license terms.
What Are Listed Natural Heritage Sites?
Listed natural heritage sites are protected areas officially included in the contest’s eligible site list. Only photographs of these listed sites can be entered into the competition.
Who is Eligible?
The competition is open to anyone who wishes to participate.
Applicants must:
- Submit original photographs taken by themselves.
- Photograph only natural heritage sites included in the official list.
- Upload images during the official contest period.
- Release images under a free license compatible with Wikimedia Commons.
- Follow Wikimedia Commons licensing requirements.
Photographs may have been taken at any time, provided they are uploaded during the official submission period and meet all contest rules.
Eligible Photography Categories
Macro Category
The Macro category recognises close-up photographs of natural heritage subjects, such as plants, insects, textures, fungi, flowers, or other detailed elements within eligible protected sites.
Prize pool:
- 3,000,000 sum
Landscapes Category
The Landscapes category recognises photographs that capture broader views of Uzbekistan’s protected natural areas and scenic landscapes.
Prize pool:
- 3,000,000 sum
Prize Fund
The competition offers a total planned prize fund of 6,000,000 sum.
Prize allocation:
- Macro category: 3,000,000 sum
- Landscapes category: 3,000,000 sum
Outstanding photographs in each category will receive awards according to the competition rules.
Submission Requirements
Participants must ensure that each photograph:
- Is their own original work.
- Depicts an eligible listed natural heritage site in Uzbekistan.
- Is uploaded during the official contest period.
- Is released under a free license such as CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Meets Wikimedia Commons licensing requirements.
- Complies with all contest eligibility rules.
How Entries Are Judged
Photographs are evaluated through a structured review process managed by Wikimedia volunteers.
The judging process considers:
- Eligibility of the photographed site
- Compliance with contest rules
- Proper licensing
- Overall contest requirements
- Suitability for Wikimedia Commons
Selected photographs contribute to national rankings and may advance to the international Wiki Loves Earth competition.
How to Participate
Step 1: Review the Official Site List
Check the official list of eligible natural heritage sites provided by the organisers.
Step 2: Visit an Eligible Site
Photograph one or more listed protected natural areas in Uzbekistan.
Step 3: Take Original Photographs
Capture your own original images. Only photographs taken by the participant are accepted.
Step 4: Prepare Image Information
Organise image titles, descriptions, and other required information before uploading.
Step 5: Upload to Wikimedia Commons
Upload photographs during the official contest period.
Step 6: Apply a Free License
Release the images under CC BY-SA 4.0 or another Wikimedia Commons-compatible free license.
Step 7: Follow Contest Updates
Use the official discussion channels if you need assistance or have questions during the contest.
Why It Matters
Wiki Loves Earth 2026 in Uzbekistan helps preserve and promote the country’s natural heritage through open knowledge.
The competition matters because it:
- Documents protected natural areas.
- Improves visual content on Wikipedia.
- Expands Wikimedia Commons with freely licensed images.
- Promotes biodiversity awareness.
- Encourages public participation in conservation.
- Supports global access to educational media.
- Connects Uzbekistan with the international Wiki Loves Earth initiative.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Participants should avoid:
- Photographing sites not included in the official list.
- Uploading images taken by someone else.
- Missing the official submission period.
- Using an incompatible license.
- Uploading low-quality or incomplete submissions.
- Ignoring Wikimedia Commons licensing requirements.
- Providing incorrect or missing image descriptions.
- Submitting copyrighted or previously restricted material.
Tips for Strong Submissions
Participants should:
- Verify that the site is on the official eligibility list.
- Capture clear and high-quality photographs.
- Choose the appropriate competition category.
- Use accurate titles and descriptions.
- Apply the correct free license.
- Highlight the natural value of the site.
- Ensure the images are useful for Wikipedia articles.
- Review contest rules before uploading.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wiki Loves Earth 2026 in Uzbekistan?
It is a national photography competition encouraging participants to document Uzbekistan’s listed natural heritage sites and upload freely licensed photographs to Wikimedia Commons.
Who can participate?
Anyone may participate by submitting original photographs of eligible natural heritage sites in Uzbekistan.
Can photographs taken before the contest be submitted?
Yes. Photographs taken at any time are eligible, provided they meet the contest rules and are uploaded during the official submission period.
What license is required?
Images must be released under a free license compatible with Wikimedia Commons, such as CC BY-SA 4.0.
What is the total prize fund?
The total planned prize fund is 6,000,000 sum, divided equally between the Macro and Landscapes categories.
Can photographs advance to an international competition?
Yes. Selected photographs may proceed to the international Wiki Loves Earth competition.
Where can participants ask questions?
Participants may use the official contest discussion channels for questions and technical support during the competition.
Conclusion
Wiki Loves Earth 2026 in Uzbekistan provides photographers with an opportunity to document the country’s protected natural heritage while contributing to Wikimedia Commons and Wikipedia. With a total prize fund of 6,000,000 sum and recognition at both national and international levels, the competition encourages high-quality, freely licensed photography that supports conservation, education, and open knowledge.
For more information, visit Wikimedia Commons.
