How to enter Wellcome Photography Prize

The winner of each category will receive £10,000.

An additional 22 entries from across the three categories will be awarded £1,000 each.

The prize receives extensive international media coverage each year, and image makers may also get the opportunity to take part in events to showcase their work to reach new audiences.

We're looking for compelling stories that help us better understand health and science and that offer moments of hope. From discoveries inside a single cell to stories from communities around the world, we welcome work that explores scientific discovery, urgent health challenges and the experiences of people most affected by them.

Your entry should explore one or more of the following subject matters or the spaces where they intersect:

Discovery research

• Offer a unique opportunity to see exploratory science research in action and meet the people who bring it to life.
• Reveal the real world of research, from grassroots science to specialised equipment, whether in the laboratory, office, clinic or field.
• Excite people about new knowledge that has the potential to improve life, health and wellbeing.

Mental health

• Shine a light on what it’s like to live with a mental health condition and the different ways people support themselves and each other.
• Explore the role of community in nurturing mental wellbeing.
• Examine the relationship between mental and physical health.

Infectious disease

• Show how infectious diseases affect different communities, and the ways people respond and adapt to this.
• Highlight how research, innovation, vaccines and treatments can protect and improve health.
• Explore how environmental and climate change influence the spread and impact of infectious diseases.

Climate and health

• Connect the planet’s health with our own and investigate the solutions people are creating to cope.
• Track the evolution of a particular health condition as the climate changes.
• Document how changes in policy are having a positive impact on health.

There are three categories in the competition, the images shown in each are for illustration only.

Category 1: Striking solo photography

Captivate people with a single photograph that stirs imagination and starts conversation about health, science or medicine.

Category 2: A storytelling series

Tell a richer story with 3-5 photographs to reveal different perspectives or explore a health-related issue in greater depth.

Category 3: The marvels of scientific and medical imaging

Capture the wonder of human health in a single image created by a scientific or medical imaging technique.

A panel of high-profile judges will select the top 25 entries and choose the winners of the Wellcome Photography Prize. They are looking for imagery that bring to life the ways health and science influence our lives, especially work that helps people better understand important health challenges, scientific discoveries and the role of science in society.

The story behind an image and the reasons why it was created are as important as the image itself.

Our judges are looking for three things:

1. Creativity and visual impact 

• Strong visual impact that leaves a memorable impression
• Thoughtful composition and creative interpretation
• Purposeful use of colour, tone, light, scale or form

2. Storytelling and relevance

• Tells a compelling story about how health and science influence our lives, communities and futures.
• Links to mental health, infectious disease, climate change, or new knowledge that expands our understanding of life, health and wellbeing.
• Provides clear context that helps audiences understand why the image matters.
• Shows sensitivity to the people, places or subjects represented, particularly where work involves lived experience, illness, inequality or communities affected by health challenges.

3. Technical excellence

• High standard of technical execution appropriate to the medium, subject and imaging technique used.
• Clearly described, appropriate and skilful editing, processing or image manipulation where applicable.
• High-resolution image quality suitable for print.
• Meets the competition requirements and terms and conditions.

Good storytelling depends on trust, respect and informed consent. We encourage you to read our ethical photography guidelines [PDF 14.32MB] particularly when documenting health, lived experience and equality.

Developed in collaboration with Eh!woza as part of the Wellcome Photography Prize 2025 participatory photography project, these guidelines offer practical reflections on topics such as representation, consent, power and storytelling. They are intended to support thoughtful, respectful image-making across contexts and disciplines.

Read the competition terms and conditions to ensure your entry is eligible.