This year's Countryfile Calendar competition is now closed to entries. Next, judges will pick their 12 favourite images to feature in the 2026 edition of the Countryfile Calendar. The public will then vote on the overall winning photograph, which will be featured on the calendar's cover.
Countryfile has not yet revealed when voting will be open – but, based on previous years, it should be sometime around the end of August.
Find out all about the Countryfile Calendar, including the theme of this year's competition, what the judges are looking for – and how to buy it once it's released.
John Craven launched the 2026 Countryfile Calendar on the Spurn Point episode, saying, "Our country is blessed with an incredible array of beautiful settings and opportunities to capture on camera its wonderful wildlife. With summer here and the beauty of nature all around us, it’s my great pleasure to launch our photographic competition."
What is the Countryfile Calendar competition?
Every year, Countryfile opens its photographic competition to budding photographers across the UK to submit their best wildlife, landscape and nature shots.
12 winning photos are chosen to feature in the much-loved Countryfile Calendar for the following year, which is sold in aid of BBC Children in Need appeal with a minimum of £5 from each calendar sale benefiting the charity.
This is a tradition dating back to 1998, and during this time, more than £33 million has been raised to help transform young lives around the UK.
What is the theme of the Countryfile Calendar 2026 competition?
The theme this year is 'Wild Encounters'. The theme is open to interpretation, but the judges are looking for stunning photos of the UK's landscape, its wildlife, weather, or human interactions with the environment around us.
"We’ll be looking for photographs that reveal the untamed side of our countryside in all its glory," says John Craven. "It could be a captivating landscape or a magical encounter with wildlife whatever you choose, we want to see your interpretation of what a wild encounter really is. So now’s your chance to once again head out into our green spaces to capture in vivid detail all that the countryside offers."
- Don't forget, you can take great wildlife photos without specialist equipment - check out our guide to taking pictures with your smartphone.
The theme 'Wild Encounters' is open to the interpretation of the photographer. But entries should feature landscape photographs of the UK, or wild or farm animals, in a natural setting. Pictures of pets are not eligible for the competition – nor are zoo animals. Images of UK wildlife in captivity are also ineligible. Please take your photos responsibly, avoid disturbing wildlife and always follow the Countryside Code.
Who is judging the Countryfile Calendar 2026 competition?
A panel including John Craven, Hamza Yassin and a celebrity judge will choose the winning photographs.
From all the entries received, judges will select 12 photos to be featured in the 2026 calendar. There’ll also be an overall winning photograph, chosen by the Countryfile viewers. This will be featured on the cover of the calendar.
When is voting open for this year's Countryfile Calendar competition?
Countryfile has not yet revealed when voting will be open for the 2026 competition – but, based on previous years, we'd guess that voting will open sometime around the end of August. Voting is usually open for a week or so, with the public able to vote on its favourite photo – out of the 12 selected by the judging panel.
The 12 photos selected by the judging panel will make their way into the calendar, but the public will vote on the overall winning photograph, which will be featured on the calendar's cover.
What's the prize for the Countryfile Calendar 2026 competition?
The overall winner of the competition will feature on the cover of the 2026 Countryfile Calendar.
The person who takes the winning photo also receives a gift card to the value of £1,000, which can be spent on photographic equipment of their choice, at a number of outlets.
The person who takes the photo the judges like best receives a gift card to the value of £500, which can also be spent on photographic equipment at a number of outlets.
How to enter the Countryfile Calendar competition
Submissions are now closed for this year's Countryfile Calendar competition. The closing date for entries was 10am on Monday 28 July 2025.
How to buy the Countryfile Calendar
The 2026 Countryfile Calendar is not yet on sale. In previous years, the calendar has been available to buy on www.hcscalendar.co.uk but we will update this page when the calendar is available to buy.
How much does the Countryfile Calendar cost?
The 2026 Countryfile Calendar is not yet on sale, but the 2025 calendar cost £10.99, UK postage included.
£5.50 from the sale of each calendar is donated to BBC Children in Need.
Who won the Countryfile Calendar competition for 2025?
'Seal of Approval' by Ursula Armstrong was chosen as the overall winner and appeared on the cover of the 2025 Countryfile Calendar.
Who won the BBC Countryfile Calendar competition for 2024?
The winner was Warren Price with 'Ice Fishing', chosen for the front cover of the calendar and for the month of December.
"I never imagined when I put the picture in that it would get to the final 12..." Warren told John Craven on Countryfile.
Warren took the shot in Bedfordshire at his local nature reserve.
"In December 2023 we had really heavy snowfall," he told John. "It was bitterly cold and it just gave me enough time to get that shot."
Warren added: "It's a legendary calendar and a complete honour," to appear on the cover of the calendar.
Who won the BBC Countryfile Calendar competition for 2023?
Top image credit: Ursula Armstrong
Feeling inspired?
Check out our expert guides to Britain’s best locations for landscape photography, best places to photograph wildlife in the UK and best wildlife and nature photography courses.
