Belfast Parks Photography Competition 2025-2026

Belfast Parks Photographic Competition 2025-2026

The Belfast Parks Photographic Competition is open to entries from amateur photographers. The competition has four award categories with three prizes in each category. You can enter the competition online or by post. The competition is sponsored by John McQuillan (Contracts) Ltd.

To enter the competition, you can only submit photographs taken in one of our parks or open spaces since 1 September 2025. 

Award categories

There are four award categories.

• People in our parks, for example, photographs of people walking, jogging or cycling, attending events or using outdoor gyms, playgrounds, allotments and bowling greens.
• Buildings and art in our parks, for example, photographs of different buildings, such as the Palm House, or photographs of art, such as sculptures.
• Seasons in our parks, for example, photographs of the different seasons, flowers and colours in our parks. You can photograph the same park setting in spring, summer, autumn and winter.
• Under 16 years. This category is only open to children aged under 16 years old.

You can only enter one competition category. You can enter a maximum of three photographs in the category you choose. 

Eligibility to enter the photography competition

The competition is open to amateur photographers except employees of Belfast City Council or McQuillan Companies.

Your photographs must be taken in an area that is open to the public and is recognisable as a park setting. You can't submit photographs that have already won prizes in other external competitions or were entered in an earlier Belfast Parks Photographic Competition. Read our terms and conditions for this photography competition.

Closing date

The competition closes on Friday 30 October 2026 at 4pm.

Prizes

We will award these prizes in categories:

People in our parks

• First prize: £150
• Second prize: £100
• Third prize: £50

Buildings and art in our parks

• First prize: £150
• Second prize: £100
• Third prize: £50

Seasons in our parks

• First prize: £150
• Second prize: £100
• Third prize: £50

Under 16 years old

• First prize: £50
• Second prize: £30
• Third prize: £20

How to enter the photographic competition

You can enter online or by post.

Online entries

Enter Belfast Parks Photography Competition (link opens in new window)

If you're under 16 years old, your parent or guardian must approve your competition entry and complete the online form.

Enter Belfast Parks Photography Competition for under 16s (link opens in new window)

Postal entries

To enter by post, send your printed photographs, CD, DVD or memory device to:

Belfast Parks Photographic Competition
Parks events and Outreach Unit
City and Neighbourhood Services Department
4-10 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BP

We do not return printed photographs, CDs, DVDs or memory devices to competition entrants.

Submitting a photograph to the competition

When entering by post, you must send printed photographs up to size 8" x 6" and the same photographs as digital files on CD, DVD or a memory device. The size, format and resolution of the CD, DVD or memory device should be suitable for printing and publications.

Photographic competition terms and conditions

• To be eligible, your photo must be taken after 1 September 2025 in an area of the park that’s open to the public and is a recognisable park setting.
• You can only enter one competition category.
• You can submit up to four photographs in your chosen category.
• You must be the sole author and owner of copyright for all photographs you enter in the competition.
• Images must be taken in one of Belfast City Council Parks and open spaces.
• Belfast City Council retains the right to free reproduction and exhibition of all entries. By sending a photograph to us, you grant the council permission to publish the photograph, or any part of it, for an indefinite period, in any media it chooses including the council website and social media channels. No commercial payment will be made by the council for the use of your photograph.
• Entries must be accompanied by an official entry form. If you enter online, you must include your name, category, age (under 16 years old category only) and the name of the park where the photograph was taken.
• Before taking an image and submitting an entry, you must seek permission from anyone who is recognisable in any photograph or secure the permission of parents or guardians for the photographs of minors or vulnerable adults.
• Entrants’ images may be digitally edited to remove spots or scratches. However, the image should not have content added or removed digitally. Judges reserve the right to exclude any image that they believe has been excessively treated so as to alter its authenticity.
• All entries are sent at the photographer’s own risk and Belfast City Council is not responsible for damage or loss sustained in delivery (either electronic or hard copy) of entries.
• No more than one prize will be awarded to any entrant.
• A panel of judges will choose the winning photos. The decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• Employees in Belfast City Council employees and McQuillan Companies are not eligible to enter the competition.
• By entering, entrants will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by these terms and conditions.

Contact details

For any queries about the Belfast Parks Photography Competition, email [email protected] or call 028 9091 8768.