Deadline: 15-Jul-2026
Wiki Loves Earth 2026 in Serbia invites photographers to document Serbia’s natural heritage sites and upload their images to Wikimedia Commons. The competition runs from 15 May to 15 July 2026 and offers national prizes of up to 35,000 RSD, with selected images advancing to the international final.
Overview
Wiki Loves Earth 2026 in Serbia is part of the international Wiki Loves Earth photography competition.
The competition promotes Serbia’s protected natural sites, landscapes, monuments of nature, and representative species through freely licensed images on Wikimedia Commons. These images can be used on Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects to improve public knowledge of Serbia’s natural environment.
Key Details
- Competition: Wiki Loves Earth 2026 in Serbia
- Country: Serbia
- Platform: Wikimedia Commons
- Submission period: 15 May–15 July 2026
- Eligible content: Photographs and video
- Minimum resolution: 2 megapixels
- First prize: 35,000 RSD
- Best video prize: 12,000 RSD
- International final: 10–15 photographs selected
- License requirement: Free license
Focus Areas
The competition focuses on visual documentation of Serbia’s natural heritage.
Key themes include:
- Natural heritage sites
- Protected natural areas
- Monuments of nature
- Landscapes
- Representative species
- Flora and fauna
- Macro photography
- Biodiversity
- Open knowledge
- Wikimedia Commons photography
- Wikipedia visual content
Key Concepts Explained
What is Wiki Loves Earth?
Wiki Loves Earth is an international photography competition that encourages people to photograph protected natural areas and upload freely licensed images to Wikimedia Commons.
What is Wikimedia Commons?
Wikimedia Commons is a free media repository used by Wikipedia and related Wikimedia projects. Uploaded images can be reused globally under open licensing terms.
What is a Free License?
A free license allows others to reuse, share, and sometimes adapt an image, usually with attribution. Competition entries must be uploaded under a free license accepted by Wikimedia Commons.
What Are Eligible Natural Heritage Sites?
Eligible sites are natural heritage or monument sites listed for the Serbian contest. Submissions must relate to these listed locations.
What Are Representative Species?
Representative species are animals, plants, or other natural subjects photographed within eligible protected sites. These may be accepted if properly identified and clearly connected to the eligible location.
Who is Eligible?
The competition is open to everyone.
Participants must:
- Upload original photographs taken by themselves.
- Use an active Wikimedia Commons account.
- Upload images between 15 May and 15 July 2026.
- Submit images related to listed natural heritage or monument sites in Serbia.
- Release images under a free license.
- Provide captions and descriptions.
- Add coordinates where possible.
- Ensure images have no visible watermarks.
- Submit photographs with a minimum resolution of 2 megapixels.
What Can Be Submitted?
Eligible submissions may include:
- Protected natural sites in Serbia
- Natural monuments
- Landscapes within eligible locations
- Flora found within eligible sites
- Fauna found within eligible sites
- Representative animal or plant species
- Macro photographs
- Videos of eligible natural heritage sites
Prizes and Awards
The Serbian national prizes include:
- First place: 35,000 RSD
- Second place: 23,000 RSD
- Third place: 17,000 RSD
- Best video: 12,000 RSD
Additional recognitions may be awarded for:
- Most photos submitted overall
- Most photos across different natural heritage sites
- Best macro photograph
International Final Selection
After national judging, 10–15 photographs are selected for the international final.
No more than two images per photographer may qualify for the international stage.
How Entries Are Judged
Entries are evaluated by a jury after the submission period ends.
Judging criteria include:
- Technical quality
- Originality
- Usefulness for Wikipedia
- Relevance to eligible natural heritage sites
- Accuracy of captions and descriptions
- Suitability for Wikimedia Commons
How to Participate
Step 1: Create or Use a Wikimedia Commons Account
Participants need an active Wikimedia Commons account to upload entries.
Step 2: Check Eligible Sites
Review the list of eligible natural heritage or monument sites in Serbia.
Step 3: Take Original Photos or Videos
Capture your own images or videos of eligible locations, landscapes, flora, fauna, or representative species.
Step 4: Prepare Details
Add captions, descriptions, and coordinates where possible.
Step 5: Upload During the Contest Period
Upload entries between 15 May and 15 July 2026.
Step 6: Use a Free License
Release each file under a Wikimedia Commons-compatible free license.
Step 7: Review Submission Quality
Check that the file has no visible watermark, meets the 2-megapixel minimum resolution, and clearly relates to an eligible Serbian natural heritage site.
Why It Matters
Wiki Loves Earth 2026 in Serbia helps make the country’s natural heritage more visible and accessible online.
The competition matters because it:
- Documents Serbia’s protected natural areas.
- Promotes biodiversity awareness.
- Improves Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons.
- Supports free public access to environmental images.
- Encourages participation in open knowledge.
- Highlights landscapes, species, and natural monuments.
- Connects Serbian photographers with a global photography initiative.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Participants should avoid:
- Uploading images outside 15 May–15 July 2026
- Submitting photos taken by someone else
- Uploading images with visible watermarks
- Submitting photos below 2 megapixels
- Photographing sites not listed as eligible
- Forgetting captions or descriptions
- Omitting coordinates where available
- Uploading images without a free license
- Submitting representative species without proper identification
- Assuming more than two images can qualify for the international final
Tips for Strong Submissions
Participants should:
- Choose clearly eligible natural heritage sites.
- Capture sharp and well-composed images.
- Add accurate captions and descriptions.
- Include coordinates where possible.
- Identify species correctly.
- Avoid excessive editing.
- Select images useful for Wikipedia articles.
- Submit a range of locations if possible.
- Ensure each image meets Wikimedia Commons standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wiki Loves Earth 2026 in Serbia?
It is a national photography competition inviting participants to document Serbia’s natural heritage sites and upload images to Wikimedia Commons.
When is the submission period?
Photos must be uploaded between 15 May and 15 July 2026.
Who can participate?
The competition is open to everyone who submits original photographs taken by themselves.
What photos are eligible?
Eligible photos must relate to listed natural heritage or monument sites in Serbia. Representative species photographed within eligible sites may also be accepted.
What are the national prizes?
The prizes are 35,000 RSD for first place, 23,000 RSD for second place, 17,000 RSD for third place, and 12,000 RSD for best video.
What is the minimum image resolution?
Submitted photos must be at least 2 megapixels.
Can photos advance to the international final?
Yes. A total of 10–15 photographs will be selected for the international final, with no more than two images per photographer qualifying.
Conclusion
Wiki Loves Earth 2026 in Serbia gives photographers an opportunity to document Serbia’s natural heritage, protected landscapes, and representative species through freely licensed images. By contributing to Wikimedia Commons between 15 May and 15 July 2026, participants help improve Wikipedia, promote biodiversity awareness, and share Serbia’s natural environment with a global audience.
For more information, visit Wikimedia Commons.