---
title: 18th Annual Bicycle Travel Photo Contest
description: >-
  Photo contest for bicycle travel images in six categories; $300 cash per
  category winner plus magazine publication.
url: 'https://www.artsume.com/programs/e51f14c1-3e7b-4304-ba5e-710c27634ed7'
type: program
status: open
createdAt: '2026-09-08'
updatedAt: '2026-10-11'
programType: Prize/award
organization: Adventure Cycling Association
organizationUrl: 'https://www.artsume.com/o/adventure-cycling'
deadline: '2026-12-31'
location: 'Missoula, MT, United States'
isOnline: true
compensationRange: >-
  $300 cash per category winner, plus free one-year membership for winners and
  honorable mentions and publication in Adventure Cyclist magazine.
disciplines:
  - photography
---

# 18th Annual Bicycle Travel Photo Contest

**Hosted by:** Adventure Cycling Association

**Type:** Prize/award | **Location:** Missoula, MT, United States | **Deadline:** December 31, 2026

## About This Program

> "Bicycle travel photography"

### About This Call

*Adventure Cyclist* invites you to enter your most stunning photos — highlighting the beauty, adventure, and inspiration of bicycle travel — in our 18th Annual Bicycle Travel Photo Contest. By submitting, you agree to the contest's terms and conditions. We're looking for your most spectacular bike travel images in five categories.

### Categories

- En Route: Whatever the route, wherever the location, we want to see your shots documenting active bicycle travel. Special attention paid to photos on Adventure Cycling routes.
- People/Portraits: Portraits (including self-portraits!) of bicycle travelers experiencing all the life-changing joys and struggles that come along with adventure.
- Around Camp: All the down time of bicycle travel — typically at a campsite, but also in hotel rooms, at Warmshowers stays, or wherever you call "camp."
- First Bike Adventure: Whether you went on your first bike trip two months ago or 20 years ago, show us your best photos from it!
- Cover Shot: Give us your very best, most compelling photos. A shot so good it could grace the cover of Adventure Cyclist magazine.
- Drop-in Rides: Your best moments from riding the TransAmerica Trail, Golden Gravel Trail, or Great Divide in 2026.

Your original images in digital format, capturing all aspects of bike travel, are eligible for the competition.

### Prizes

The contest is open to ALL photographers at least 18 years of age WITH U.S.-BANK ACCOUNTS. The winner of each category will receive $300 cash. Both winners and honorable mentions will receive free one-year Classic Adventure Cyclist membership with Adventure Cycling. Chosen images will be printed in Adventure Cyclist magazine. The images will also be featured on adventurecycling.org, which is visited by more than a million people annually.

### Dates and Judging

The contest opens January 1, 2026, and closes December 31, 2026, at 11:59pm Mountain Time. Photo entries will be judged based on creativity, quality, originality, responsiveness to the prompt, and overall impact. You may submit up to 5 photographs per category for a contest total of 25 submissions. You'll need to complete the form for each photo submitted.

### Technical Requirements

In order to be printed in Adventure Cyclist without being stretched or distorted, contestants must submit photographs in .jpeg or .jpg format, at least 4,000 pixels wide, and no smaller than 8 MB.

We use Submittable to accept and review our submissions.

## Eligibility & Requirements

- **Geographic Eligibility:** International
- **Disciplines:** photography
- **Age Requirements:** 18+ years old
- **Note:** The contest is open to all photographers at least 18 years of age with U.S.-bank accounts, since prize payments can only be made to a U.S.-based bank account.

### Additional Requirements

- A print-quality, high-resolution jpeg image file no less than 4000 pixels on the long side, no smaller than 8 MB
- An image title
- The location in which the image was taken and route name, if applicable
- A description of the trip, circumstances, etc. to be used as an image caption if your photo is chosen

## Compensation & Benefits

$300 cash per category winner, plus free one-year membership for winners and honorable mentions and publication in Adventure Cyclist magazine.

**Includes:** Prize

Each category winner receives $300 cash. Both winners and honorable mentions receive a free one-year Classic Adventure Cyclist membership. Chosen images are printed in Adventure Cyclist magazine and featured on adventurecycling.org. Adventure Cycling will offer photographer compensation commensurate with its standard editorial rates for any use of a winning image in Adventure Cyclist magazine beyond publication of the winning images themselves.

## Timeline

- **Opens:** December 31, 2025
- **Deadline:** December 31, 2026

## Contact

**Email:** magazine@adventurecycling.org

## How to Apply

Apply at: https://adventurecyclist.submittable.com/submit/342159/18th-annual-bicycle-travel-photo-contest