THE 2026 Wiki Loves Africa, Africa’s largest openly licensed photographic, video and audio contest, is now open for entries.
Wiki Loves Africa is an annual public contest organised by Wiki In Africa, in collaboration with the Wikimedia movement across Africa. The contest encourages people across Africa to contribute media (photographs, video and audio) about their environment to Wikimedia Commons for use on Wikipedia and other project websites of the Wikimedia Foundation.
The 2026 theme is Rites and Rituals, and it invites participants to explore the diverse ways African communities mark important life stages, honour traditions, and express their collective identity through symbolic practices.
The organiser says it “encourages participants to contribute to media that illustrates a specific theme for that year. Each year, the theme changes and could include any universal, visually rich and culturally specific topic (for example, markets, rites of passage, festivals, public art, cuisine, natural history, urbanity, daily life, notable persons, etc). The project is run across the whole continent. However, some specific actions (training, communication, etc.) are held in some countries with national organisers”.
Applicants are to only enter images or media that visually capture the theme as it applies to Africa.
There are several prizes, ranging from $200 to $1000, up for grabs for quality entries, both at a national and international levels. For national prizes, see what local organisers have planned in your country.
The deadline for applications is April 30, 2026. Interested applicants can apply here.
Blessing Otoibhi is a Multimedia Journalist and Anchor host for the News in 60 seconds at The International Center For Investigative Reporting. You can shoot her a mail via Botoibhi@icirnigeria.org or connect on Twitter @B_otoibhi