Wiki Loves Earth Photography Competition 2026 – Belarus

The Wiki Loves Earth Photography Competition 2026 – Belarus invites photographers to document Belarus’ protected natural heritage by uploading original photographs to Wikimedia Commons. The competition focuses on protected natural areas across the country, with the top 15 photographs advancing to the international Wiki Loves Earth competition, although no monetary prizes are awarded at the national stage.

Wiki Loves Earth Photography Competition 2026 – Belarus Overview

The Wiki Loves Earth Photography Competition 2026 – Belarus is part of the global Wiki Loves Earth initiative, which encourages volunteers and photographers to document natural heritage sites and make high-quality images freely available through Wikimedia Commons and Wikipedia.

The Belarus competition promotes the country’s protected natural areas by encouraging participants to photograph landscapes, biodiversity, forests, nature reserves, and other environmentally significant sites. The selected photographs contribute to open educational resources while helping preserve and showcase Belarus‘ natural heritage to a global audience.

Purpose

The competition aims to:

• Document Belarus’ protected natural heritage through photography.
• Promote environmental conservation and public awareness.
• Increase freely licensed images available on Wikimedia Commons.
• Support Wikipedia with high-quality visual content.
• Encourage community participation in documenting natural landmarks.
• Preserve digital records of Belarus’ protected landscapes.
• Showcase Belarus’ natural beauty internationally.

Focus Areas

Photographs should feature protected natural heritage sites located in Belarus.

Eligible subjects include:

• Protected natural areas of state importance.
• Locally protected natural areas.
• Nature reserves.
• Forests.
• National and regional parks.
• Botanical gardens.
• Natural gardens.
• Mountains.
• Caves.
• Protected landscapes.
• Other officially protected natural sites.

Contest Benefits

Participants receive opportunities to:

• Contribute photographs to Wikimedia Commons.
• Support Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects.
• Promote Belarus’ natural heritage internationally.
• Have their work considered among the top 15 national photographs.
• Advance to the international Wiki Loves Earth competition.
• Contribute to freely accessible educational resources.

Note: The Belarusian stage of the competition does not provide monetary awards or prizes.

Recognition

The competition provides:

• 15 local winning photographs selected by the Belarus Wikimedia community.
• Winning images announced by 31 August 2026.
• The selected photographs represent Belarus in the international Wiki Loves Earth competition.

Who is Eligible?

The competition is open to anyone interested in photographing Belarus’ natural heritage.

Participants must:

• Submit original photographs.
• Photograph eligible protected natural sites in Belarus.
• Upload photographs to Wikimedia Commons.
• Provide valid contact information.
• Meet the minimum technical requirements.
• Comply with Wikimedia submission guidelines.

Photo Requirements

Eligible photographs must:

• Be original work created by the participant.
• Depict protected natural heritage sites in Belarus.
• Have a minimum resolution of 2 megapixels.
• Be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons.
• Include accurate information about the photographed location.
• Meet Wikimedia Commons licensing and submission requirements.

Participants may submit multiple photographs.

Application Process

To participate:

• Create or use an existing Wikimedia Commons account.
• Photograph eligible protected natural sites in Belarus.
• Upload photographs to Wikimedia Commons.
• Ensure images meet the minimum resolution requirements.
• Provide contact information for competition communications.

How the Competition Works (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Create a Wikimedia Commons Account

Register for a Wikimedia Commons account if you do not already have one.

Step 2: Photograph Protected Natural Areas

Capture original images of:

• Nature reserves.
• Protected landscapes.
• Forests.
• Parks.
• Gardens.
• Mountains.
• Caves.
• Other protected natural sites in Belarus.

Step 3: Prepare Your Images

Before uploading:

• Verify image quality.
• Ensure photographs have a minimum resolution of 2 megapixels.
• Organize image information and descriptions.

Step 4: Upload to Wikimedia Commons

Upload one or more eligible photographs through Wikimedia Commons following the competition guidelines.

Step 5: Provide Contact Information

Include a valid means of contact so organizers can communicate with you if your photographs are selected.

Step 6: Community Evaluation

The Belarus Wikimedia community reviews eligible submissions and selects the top 15 photographs.

Step 7: International Representation

The selected photographs represent Belarus in the international Wiki Loves Earth competition.

Why It Matters

The Wiki Loves Earth Photography Competition helps to:

• Preserve Belarus’ natural heritage through digital documentation.
• Promote environmental education.
• Increase awareness of protected natural areas.
• Support biodiversity conservation.
• Expand freely available educational resources.
• Encourage citizen participation in conservation.
• Showcase Belarus’ landscapes on an international platform.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Participants should avoid:

• Uploading photographs below the required 2-megapixel resolution.
• Forgetting to provide contact information.
• Submitting photographs that do not depict eligible protected sites.
• Uploading images that are not their own work.
• Providing incomplete image descriptions.
• Ignoring Wikimedia Commons submission requirements.

Tips for a Strong Submission

To improve your chances of selection:

• Photograph unique protected natural areas.
• Capture high-resolution, well-composed images.
• Highlight Belarus’ biodiversity and landscapes.
• Submit multiple high-quality photographs.
• Provide accurate descriptions and location information.
• Ensure all technical requirements are met.
• Upload photographs before the competition closes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the Wiki Loves Earth Photography Competition?

Wiki Loves Earth is an international photography competition that encourages people to document protected natural heritage sites and upload freely licensed photographs to Wikimedia Commons for educational use.

2. Who can participate in the Belarus competition?

The competition is open to anyone interested in photographing Belarus’ protected natural heritage.

3. What types of photographs are eligible?

Participants may submit photographs of protected natural areas, including nature reserves, forests, parks, gardens, mountains, caves, and other officially protected natural sites in Belarus.

4. How many photographs are selected as winners?

The Belarus Wikimedia community selects 15 winning photographs, which advance to the international Wiki Loves Earth competition.

5. Are there any cash prizes?

No. The Belarusian stage of the competition does not offer monetary prizes or financial awards.

6. What are the minimum technical requirements?

Each photograph must have a minimum resolution of 2 megapixels, be the participant’s original work, and comply with Wikimedia Commons submission requirements.

7. Why is contact information required?

Participants must provide valid contact information so organizers can communicate with them regarding competition results or recognition if their photographs are selected.

Conclusion

The Wiki Loves Earth Photography Competition 2026 – Belarus provides photographers with an opportunity to document and preserve the country’s protected natural heritage while contributing valuable visual resources to Wikimedia Commons and Wikipedia. Although the national competition does not offer monetary prizes, participants gain international visibility, support environmental awareness, and help build a freely accessible collection of photographs that celebrate Belarus’ remarkable natural landscapes and biodiversity.