Vital Impacts Environmental Photography Fellowships 2027

Vital Impacts funds photographers working on long-term documentary projects about environmental and conservation challenges, and about the people and communities working toward solutions.

Who can apply

The call is open to photographers of all nationalities and at any level. Vital Impacts strongly encourages applications from photographers documenting environmental and conservation stories in their own communities. Prior publication experience is not required.

What is awarded

In 2027 Vital Impacts will award one USD 20,000 fellowship to an established environmental photographer, six USD 5,000 fellowships to emerging photographers from around the world, and ten mentorships to photographers whose work shows strong potential and would benefit from further guidance. Each fellowship supports one photographer and one documentary project over 12 months.

One fellowship recipient, chosen later, will also exhibit at the Festival of Ethical Photography in Lodi, Italy. The festival covers the full cost of producing and installing the exhibition, as well as that photographer's international travel and accommodation to attend and present the work in person.

Deadline

Submit by 1 December 2026. The entry platform closes at 4:59 AM GMT that day, which is early morning everywhere in Africa, so treat the evening before as your real deadline. Entering costs USD 25 per submission, and the fee may be waived for economic hardship. Recipients are due to be announced in January 2027.

Before you apply

Show why you are the right person to tell this story: what you know about the issue, whom you know and which relationships you have built. Strong applications demonstrate a sustained relationship with the community or issue, a clear grasp of its wider significance and a realistic plan for the project year. All recipients must follow the Vital Impacts Code of Ethics, so read it before you apply.