2026 NCOA National Photography Awards Contest

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) invites photographers to capture older adults 60+ thriving through family, friendships, and community. The theme is "Stronger Together — Family . Community . Connection" with the goal to empower individuals, support families, and show how community connections bring joy, purpose, and vitality—proof that aging well means staying active and engaged. Entry is free with no entry fee required.

Awards include 1st Place ($1,000), 2nd Place ($600), Public Vote ($500), 8 Merit Awards ($300 each), and 10 Honorable Mentions ($150 each). All selected artworks will appear on the virtual ncoaGallery.org, and 20 award-winning photographs will be printed on high-quality, large-format canvas for presentation in the onsite exhibition at NCOA 2026 Age+Action Conference in Arlington, VA, showcased in multiple art galleries throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and included in the permanent collection at NCOA's headquarters in Crystal City, VA.

Carol Lukitsch will serve as guest juror, reviewing submissions based on creativity, storytelling, technical quality, and alignment with the theme. The national call is open to U.S.-based professional and amateur photographers ages 18 and above. Photos should feature an older adult (60+) living in the United States as the primary subject. Color photographs only are accepted (no black-and-white or AI-generated images), any camera type is welcome, and each image must include a caption or statement of minimum 100 words. Submissions require 2-10 images in .jpeg/.jpg format, high resolution, maximum 5 MB per file.