Now in its fifth year, the Pollinator Photography Competition celebrates the beauty and importance of Australia’s insect pollinators, including more than 2,000 native bee species, honey bees, flies, butterflies, moths, wasps and beetles.

This year, the Competition includes a video category, with videographers invited to submit 30-second video capturing pollinators in action and showcasing their behaviour and beauty.

First place in the photography category wins $1,500, with $750 for second, $500 for third and $750 for people’s choice. The video category awards a $750 prize to first place.

Run by the Wheen Bee Foundation, the Competition has attracted more than 1,800 entries since its launch in 2022.

Competition judge, photographer and invertebrate advocate Angela Robertson-Buchanan said capturing the perfect pollinator photograph is a game of patience and observation.

“Capturing pollinators is about sitting and observing in a spot where you know they’re likely to be,” Ms Robertson-Buchanan said.

“The longer you spend watching, the more likely you are to capture that perfect moment.”

Many of Ms Robertson-Buchanan’s macro pollinator photographs have been taken in her own bee-friendly garden, where pollinator-friendly plants and water sources attract many native species.

“It’s less about finding a special location and more about noticing what’s happening around you,” she said. “You’ll be surprised by what you see when you stop and look closely.”

The 2026 judging panel includes evolutionary biologist and photographer Dr James Dorey.

The Pollinator Photography Competition takes place in the lead-up to Australian Pollinator Week, a nine-day festival, from 7-15 November, dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of pollinators and supporting their needs.

The 2026 Pollinator Photography Competition is sponsored by Wild Emery, Rotarians for Bees, Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market, The Botanical Planet and Hornsby Beekeeping.

To complement the Photography Competition, the Wheen Bee Foundation hosts the School Pollinator Art Competition, inviting primary and secondary students to explore the importance of pollination through art. Learn more about the competition here.

Winners of the Pollinator Photography Competition will be announced via a webinar on Thursday, 12 November at 7.30pm AEDT.

The Competition closes Sunday, 25 October at 5pm AEDT.

Submit your entry here. Read the full terms and conditions here.