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Earth Day 2026 photography competition now open

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To celebrate Earth Day 2026, the University of Liverpool Sustainability Team, in partnership with Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), is inviting staff and students to take part in a photography competition exploring our changing planet and the stories behind climate action.

Earth Day 2026 is centred on the global theme “Our Power, Our Planet,” highlighting the collective power we all have to protect the environment and drive positive change. As a university, we are committed to advancing environmental and social equity through our Sustainability Strategy and Energy Strategy.

To mark the occasion, we are inviting staff and students from the University of Liverpool and XJTLU to submit digital photographs on the theme “Stories of Sustainability.” Selected images will be displayed on campus in Liverpool and at XJTLU in China.

Photography has a unique ability to capture moments, perspectives and stories about the world around us. Entries might:

  • Capture the impacts of climate change
  • Celebrate nature and biodiversity
  • Highlight solutions and innovation
  • Document research in action
  • Showcase everyday choices that support a more sustainable future

The competition aims to inspire creative perspectives from across the University community and encourage reflection on the role we all play in shaping a healthier planet.

Winning images will be featured in an outdoor exhibition in Abercromby Square during Earth Week, as well as at XJTLU, culminating on Earth Day on Tuesday 22 April. Staff, students and visitors will be able to experience these visual stories on campus as part of the celebrations of the two universities. Selected photographs will also be shared across the digital channels of the universities.

You can view the exhibition on campus from when we previously ran the competition below. 

Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. In Liverpool, entrants will be able to win the following prizes, with equivalent prizes also available for XJTLU entrants:

1st prize: Bird box and Bird Box camera kit
2nd prize: LEGO Botanicals Bonsai Tree
3rd prize: Grow your own kitchen garden kit and a bottle of Sea of Change prosecco

How to Enter

To enter, please email your photograph to sustainability@liverpool.ac.uk with:

  • The title of your image
  • A short description explaining the story behind your photograph (this may be used alongside the image in the exhibition display)
  • Your name and contact details
  • Your institution (UoL or XJTLU)

Please retain a high-resolution version of your image in case your photograph is selected for exhibition or publication.

Submission deadline: Wednesday 15th April 2026. Winners will be announced shortly afterwards.

The competition is open to all University of Liverpool and XJTLU staff and students.

We look forward to seeing your creative interpretations of “Stories of Sustainability.”

Terms and Conditions

  • Entrants may submit up to three images.
  • The theme of the competition is “Stories of Sustainability.”
  • The competition closes 15th April 2026.
  • Entries must be emailed to sustainability@liverpool.ac.uk and include the title of the work, photographer’s name and contact details.
  • Images must be submitted as JPEG files no larger than 2MB. Please ensure they are saved at the highest possible resolution and quality.
  • All entries must be the original work of the entrant. Entrants must hold copyright and obtain permission from anyone featured in the photograph (or their parent/guardian if under 16).
  • Entrants must not have breached any laws when taking their photographs.
  • The University of Liverpool and XJTLU reserve the right to request original image files for verification.
  • Entrants retain copyright of their images. By entering the competition, entrants grant the University of Liverpool and XJTLU a royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to publish and exhibit the photographs in print, online or other media. No fees will be payable for such uses.
  • While every effort will be made to credit photographers, this cannot be guaranteed in all uses.
  • Prize winners will be required to provide their name and address to receive prizes.
  • By entering the competition, entrants agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.
  • Images deemed inappropriate or in breach of these rules will be disqualified. This includes images that are offensive, previously published, copyrighted by another party, or contrary to the spirit of the competition.
  • The University of Liverpool Sustainability Team reserves the right to amend these rules if necessary.

Contact

For any questions about the competition, please contact:

Sustainability Team
sustainability@liverpool.ac.uk