Wiki Loves Earth 2026 Iran: National Photography Competition

Wiki Loves Earth 2026 Iran is a Wikimedia photography competition that encourages participants to document Iran’s protected natural areas and upload original images to Wikimedia Commons under a CC BY-SA free license. The contest runs from 1 July to 31 July 2026, and entries are judged on technical quality, originality, and usefulness for Wikipedia, with winners announced in August 2026.

What is Wiki Loves Earth 2026 Iran?

Wiki Loves Earth 2026 Iran is a national edition of the global Wiki Loves Earth initiative. It is a photography-based open knowledge competition focused on documenting Iran’s protected natural areas.

Participants upload original photographs to Wikimedia Commons under a free license. These images are used across Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects to improve global access to educational visual content about nature and conservation.

The competition strengthens open-access documentation of biodiversity, landscapes, and protected ecosystems in Iran.

Core Purpose and Semantic Focus Areas

This competition is designed around open knowledge, environmental documentation, and free educational media.

Key focus areas include:

• Photography of Iran’s protected natural areas
• Documentation of national parks, reserves, and ecosystems
• Contribution of freely licensed images to Wikimedia Commons
• Promotion of CC BY-SA licensing for reuse
• Support for Wikipedia visual content improvement
• Environmental awareness and biodiversity documentation
• Legal and ethical nature photography practices
• Structured evaluation of educational value and image quality

Competition Timeline and Structure

• Submission period: 1 July 2026 to 31 July 2026
• Evaluation period: After upload window closes
• Results announcement: August 2026
• Submission platform: Wikimedia Commons

Participants may upload images at any time during the contest window.

Who is Eligible?

Eligibility is based on participation rules aligned with Wikimedia Commons policies.

Eligible participants include:

• Amateur photographers
• Professional photographers
• Nature and wildlife photographers
• Wikimedia contributors
• Any individual with an active Wikimedia account

Requirements:

• Images must be self-taken
• Images must be self-uploaded
• Participants must have an activated email on Wikimedia Commons
• Participants must follow all applicable laws during photography and upload
• Participants must comply with Wikimedia licensing rules

What Can Be Submitted?

Eligible submissions must represent Iran’s protected natural heritage.

Acceptable subjects include:

• National parks of Iran
• Protected forests and ecosystems
• Wetlands and rivers
• Mountain landscapes
• Desert ecosystems
• Biodiversity hotspots
• Official conservation areas
• Other legally protected natural sites

Each photograph must clearly depict a protected natural area within Iran.

Licensing and Legal Requirements

All submitted images must follow strict open licensing rules.

Mandatory requirements:

• All images must be uploaded under CC BY-SA license
• Images must be original and copyright-compliant
• Images must be suitable for free reuse on Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons

Legal compliance requirements:

• Participants must follow local photography laws
• Privacy rules must be respected
• No unauthorized or restricted-area violations are allowed

How the Competition Works

The competition follows a structured open submission and jury evaluation process.

Step 1: Capture photographs
Participants take original photographs of Iran’s protected natural areas.

Step 2: Upload to Wikimedia Commons
Images must be uploaded during the official contest period (1–31 July 2026).

Step 3: Apply required license
Each image must be released under CC BY-SA license during upload.

Step 4: Submit within timeline
Only images uploaded within the contest window are eligible.

Step 5: Jury evaluation
After submissions close, a jury evaluates all eligible images.

Step 6: Winner selection
The best 10 photographs from Iran are selected.

Step 7: Results announcement
Winners are announced in August 2026.

Evaluation Criteria

All submissions are assessed using structured qualitative and technical criteria:

• Technical quality (sharpness, exposure, composition)
• Originality of the photograph
• Usefulness for Wikipedia and educational content
• Relevance to protected natural heritage documentation
• Overall contribution to Wikimedia Commons

Participation Rules and Compliance

Participants must follow strict contest rules to remain eligible.

Mandatory rules:

• All images must be self-taken
• All images must be self-uploaded
• Uploads must occur between 1–31 July 2026
• Images must remain undeleted during the contest period
• Each participant must maintain an active Wikimedia email account
• All applicable laws must be followed

Disqualification conditions:

• Deleted images during competition period
• Non-original or copied content
• Missing or incorrect licensing
• Uploads outside the contest period

Participants may upload unlimited images during the contest timeframe.

Prizes and Recognition

The competition includes recognition and environmental reward-based prizes.

Awards:

• Top 10 photographs are selected by jury evaluation
• 1st to 5th place winners receive oak trees planted in their name
• Trees are planted in the Wikipedia Oak Jungle in Iran
• Winners are officially announced in August 2026

Why This Competition Matters

Wiki Loves Earth 2026 Iran supports global open knowledge infrastructure.

It contributes to:

• Expansion of free educational media
• Preservation of Iran’s natural heritage documentation
• Improved Wikipedia visual content
• Environmental awareness and conservation education
• Citizen participation in scientific and cultural documentation
• Long-term biodiversity and landscape preservation

Key Concepts Explained

Wiki Loves Earth
A global Wikimedia photography initiative focused on documenting protected natural areas using free licenses.

Wikimedia Commons
A free media repository where images are uploaded for use across Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects.

CC BY-SA License
A Creative Commons license allowing reuse, adaptation, and redistribution with attribution under the same license.

Protected Natural Areas
Legally designated ecological zones such as national parks, reserves, and conservation regions.

Jury Evaluation System
A structured review process that selects winning images based on technical and educational value.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Participants often lose eligibility due to avoidable errors.

Avoid:

• Uploading outside 1–31 July 2026
• Using non-original photographs
• Missing CC BY-SA licensing
• Forgetting Wikimedia email activation
• Uploading deleted or removed images
• Violating photography laws
• Submitting irrelevant or non-protected area images

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is Wiki Loves Earth 2026 Iran?

It is a Wikimedia photography competition focused on documenting Iran’s protected natural areas through freely licensed images.

2. When can I submit photos?

Submissions are accepted from 1 July to 31 July 2026 only.

3. Where do I upload images?

All images must be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons.

4. What license is required?

All images must be released under CC BY-SA license.

5. How are winners selected?

A jury evaluates images based on quality, originality, and usefulness for Wikipedia.

6. What are the prizes?

Top 5 winners receive oak trees planted in their name in the Wikipedia Oak Jungle in Iran.

7. Can I upload multiple images?

Yes, participants may upload unlimited images during the contest period.

Conclusion

Wiki Loves Earth 2026 Iran is a structured international photography initiative that promotes documentation of protected natural areas through open licensing and Wikimedia Commons contributions. By combining environmental awareness, open knowledge principles, and high-quality photography, the competition helps preserve Iran’s natural heritage while strengthening global access to educational visual resources.