Rural Photographer Award Categories
 

• Rural Photographer of the Year Award ($1000 & Trophy) Sponsored by Rural Business Support
• Best Royal Adelaide Show Photo ($750 and a framed certificate)
• Best Rural Photographer Award Nature/Landscape/Rural Scenes ($500 and a framed certificate)
• Best Rural Photographer Award Production ($500 and a framed certificate)
• Best Rural Photographer Award People ($500 and a framed certificate)
• Best Rural/Regional Photojournalist Award ($500 and a framed certificate)
• Best Single Photograph in each of the above three open categories (No prize money)

The judges will select the best single photograph from each of the above three categories that will then go on to the national ACAJ Star Prize competition; and then, if successful go on to the international IFAJ awards in 2027. The selected winning image may or may not come from the winning portfolio of three photos as stipulated for the RMC SA/NT Awards above.

Entered photographs must have been published either in print, or on an open online site from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026.

Entries close at 10pm on Sunday 17 January 2027.

Winners will be presented at an evening Awards ceremony on Friday 13 February 2027 at the Adelaide Showground.

You must be a current financial member of Rural Media & Communicators SA/NT to enter the Awards.

Click here to become a member
 

Terms & Conditions

Any photographer who has had photographs relating to rural issues in South Australia or the Northern Territory published in print or on open online electronic media is eligible to enter.

A portfolio of three photos must be entered in each category except for the Best Royal Show Photo which is judged on one photo.

All material to be judged in the awards must have been published or posted in South Australia or the Northern Territory, or in a national medium that includes coverage in these two states/territories, between 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026.

The judging panel will select the 2026 Rural Photographer of the Year from the entrants in the four individual award categories, whose overall portfolio is deemed to best fit the RMC SA/NT objectives. This person cannot enter the following year but will be invited to join the Judging Panel.

Members of the judging panel and their families are ineligible to enter. All entries will remain the property of Rural Media & Communicators SA/NT (RMC SA/NT), which shall retain discretionary power over future use.

Additional to these awards, the judges will select the best single photograph from each of the three open categories. These will then go on to the national ACAJ Star Prize competition; and then, if successful go on to the international IFAJ awards in 2027. The selected winning image may or may not come from the winning portfolio of three photos as stipulated for each of the RMC SA/NT Award categories.

Click here to download essential instructions for entrants