DJI and SkyPixel are kicking off their 11th annual photo and video contest, and the 2026 photo contest is giving away a total of $200,000 in prizes. Oh yes, that tops last year’s $170,000 prize pool. Thanks, inflation(?), or maybe just more real investment in the contest!
Photographers and videographers have until March 10, 2026 to submit their best work across aerial and handheld categories. Winners will be announced April 27, 2026.
What’s new for the SkyPixel 2026 photo contest
The 2025 SkyPixel contest was the first time we ever got a “Handheld” category, a nod to DJI’s Osmo line of cameras. This year, the handheld videography category is expanding to include panoramic perspectives shot with 360-degree cameras. That’s a nice addition for creators working with dynamic viewpoints.
Another new thing this year also serves as motivation to not procrastinate. For the first time, participants can win weekly awards throughout the submission period.
Requirements to enter the SkyPixel 2026 photo contest
Unlike some past years that have allowed you to enter using non-DJI gear, this year’s contest requires you to use DJI drones or other cameras (hey, the whole contest is sponsored by DJI)
Aerial Photography must be captured with DJI drones (Inspire, Mavic, Air, Mini, Phantom series, Neo, or Flip). Images need to be at least 3MB with 300dpi resolution.
Aerial Videography entries can’t exceed 5 minutes, with at least 30 seconds shot on eligible DJI drones and over 50% aerial footage required.
Handheld Videography follows similar length requirements but uses DJI handheld gear like Ronin gimbals, Osmo Action, Osmo Pocket, Osmo Mobile, Osmo 360, or Osmo Nano series.
The prizes
Grand prize winners each receive a SkyPixel trophy and Creator Contract, plus:
- Photography winner: Hasselblad X2D II 100C Combo (valued over $15,000)
- Aerial video winner: DJI Inspire 3 combo and Mavic 4 Pro combo (over $22,000)
- Handheld video winner: DJI Ronin 4D-8K cinema camera combo (over $18,000)
Beyond the grand prizes, there are 50+ additional awards including Mavic 4 Pro, Avata 2, RS 4 Pro, Air 3S, and Osmo Pocket 3, plus cash prizes. All entrants receive DJI store credits (available where DJI has official online stores).
So what are we looking to compete with? Below is the winning image of the 2025 SkyPixel contest:
That compelling shot, titled Mysterious Realm by Gangerqia, is a top-down image of a frozen pond.
I also got a kick out of this image, which was another winner, titled, Mud Bath Bliss by AB Gusai.
And I have to shoutout one of my friends, Joanna Steidle, for her shot, Another World. It not only won the 2025 SkyPixel contest, but has gone on to win a number of other prizes including 1st place in the wildlife category at the 2025 Siena Drone Awards. That same photo is also published in the “National Geographic World From Above” book by Jeffrey Kerby.
Who’s judging the SkyPixel 2026 photo contest?
The photography panel includes outdoor photographer Jake Guzman, landscape photographer Daniel Kordan, and Jiang Ping, former chief photographer for National Geographic China.
Video judges bring some serious credentials: Oscar-winning cinematographer Wally Pfister (The Dark Knight, Inception), Ryan Hosking (Yellowstone), Zeng Jian (Blind Massage), and natural history cinematographer Benjamin Hardman, who’s worked with Netflix, BBC, and National Geographic.
How to enter
Like last year, you can submit through the official SkyPixel website or DJI’s social channels (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and X).
Full contest rules and submission details are available at skypixel.com/contests/2025.
Since launching in 2015, the SkyPixel contest has received over 500,000 submissions from more than 140 countries. The platform now has 55 million registered users.
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