2026 NCOA National Photography Awards

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) invites U.S.-based professional and amateur photographers ages 18 and above to submit work for the 2026 National Photography Awards. The theme is "Stronger Together: Family. Community. Connection." Photographers should showcase adults aged 60+ thriving through family, friendship, and community. Photos should feature an older adult (60+) living in the United States as the primary subject and may also include family, friends, or community members who share a meaningful connection with them. Entry is free.

Awards include: First Place ($1,000), Second Place ($600), Public Vote Award ($500), Eight Merit Awards ($300 each), and Ten Honorable Mention Awards ($150 each). Twenty award-winning photographs will be printed on premium-quality canvas for exhibition at the NCOA 2026 Age+Action Conference in Arlington, VA (May 26–29, 2026), displayed in multiple art galleries throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area (June–November, 2026), and included in NCOA's permanent collection at its headquarters in Crystal City, VA. All selected artworks will appear on the ncoaGallery.org website. Carol Lukitsch, a distinguished artist, educator, and curator, will serve as guest juror alongside the NCOA Committee, selecting works based on creativity, storytelling, technical quality, and alignment with the theme.

Application Deadline: March 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Winners will be notified April 30, 2026. Public voting opens May 15, 2026, with the Public Vote Winner announced June 10, 2026. Awards will be mailed June 30, 2026.