There’s something about a great travel photograph that makes you feel like you’ve already been there. You can almost hear the street noise, feel the breeze, or smell the local food. That’s exactly the kind of magic captured in these 25 winning travel photos from The Artist Gallery Awards 2026.
This year’s Travel category is a colorful reminder that seeing the world isn’t just about checking destinations off a list. It’s about noticing the little things: the quiet expressions, dramatic landscapes, unexpected encounters, and fleeting moments that most travelers might walk right past.
The Artist Gallery was created to give both professional and amateur photographers a chance to show what they can do behind the lens and get the recognition their work deserves. With different photography competitions held every month, the platform brings together photographers with wildly different styles, backgrounds, and ways of seeing.
And that variety really shines here.
From breathtaking scenery and fascinating cultures to spontaneous street scenes and beautifully timed moments, these 25 photographs turn travel into visual storytelling. Each frame feels like a tiny postcard with its own personality.
So, grab your imaginary passport and take a scroll. You might discover a place you’ve never heard of or suddenly add a few new destinations to your bucket list. Either way, consider your wanderlust officially activated.
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#1. 1st Place Winner: Fleeting Moment by Andy Marty, United Arab Emirates
"Nature sculpted the arch over time; the passage beneath it lasted only moments. In Greenland’s Disko Bay, a lone sailing vessel glides through the window in an iceberg, offering a fleeting sense of scale against a landscape shaped by time, ice and an ever-changing Arctic."
#2. 2nd Place Winner: Sharing the Plains by Julija Zandersone, Latvia
"A hot-air balloon passes above the plains of Tanzania as a lone giraffe stands below. Seen from the air, their difference in scale becomes part of the vast landscape."
#3. 3rd Place Winner: Splash of Colour by Saurabh Sirohiya, India
"A crowd of devotees, drenched in crimson in celebration as a man hurls yellow-tinted liquid mid-air during Holi at Barsana, all singing folk songs together – chaos, color, and collective euphoria captured in a single throw. "
Honorable Mentions
#4. Sacred Fire Ritual by Héctor Ruiz, Spain
"A young practitioner holds a multi-tiered brass oil lamp high during the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony along the Varanasi ghats. Wisps of smoke and the bright, intense flame illuminate his focused expression against the dark background. The image captures a powerful moment of devotion and ritual light."
#5. First Light on the Sea of Stone by Colas Decloitre, USA
"At sunrise, the first light reaches Campo de Piedra Pómez in Catamarca, Argentina, revealing a surreal landscape shaped by ancient volcanic activity. Thousands of pale stone formations stretch toward the horizon, carved by wind and time across an immense volcanic plateau."
#6. Drying Incense by Azim Khan Ronnie, France
"Vietnamese workers sits surrounded by thousands of incense sticks in Quang Phu Cau, a village in Hanoi, Vietnam, where the sticks have been traditionally made for hundreds of years. Incense plays an important role in the spiritual lives of Vietnamese people."
#7. Meteora Monasteries by Bill Wilkins, USA
"This photograph captures the remarkable landscape of Meteora. Towering stone pillars rise from the valley floor, monasteries seem to grow naturally from the cliffs. The warm, golden light invites the viewer to reflect on solitude, faith, and the enduring beauty of this extraordinary place."
#8. Sub-zero Companionship by Khaichuin Sim, Malaysia
"As sunset falls over Mongolia’s taiga, reindeer herders gather around a campfire, sharing warmth with their animals. One of the country’s last reindeer-herding communities, fewer than 500 remain. This portrait reflects their resilience, traditions, and enduring bond with the reindeer."
#9. Standing Against The Sea by Bill Wilkins, USA
"Port of Cassis, located just southeast of Marseille. My photo shows the Phare de Cassis, the iconic lighthouse standing guard to the entrance of the village harbor. The lighthouse stands proudly at the tip of the Quai des Moulins jetty."
#10. Silken Sand by Héctor Ruiz, Spain
"Layers of soft, orange sand dunes roll toward the horizon, their sweeping curves highlighted by subtle highlights and soft shadows. A rocky ridge breaks the sea of sand on the right, providing a sense of scale and grounding to the expansive, timeless landscape."
#11. Beyond the Pattern by Andy Marty. UAE
"In a moment of stillness, one face emerges from a tapestry of painted bodies, drawing the viewer beyond the striking artistry to the humanity within. Photographed in Ethiopia’s Omo Valley, this portrait celebrates the Surma people’s rich cultural traditions."
#12. Colorful Street by Saurabh Sirohiya, India
"Vibrant sarees hang against Jodhpur’s blue walls as an elderly woman walks by with her cane – everyday life woven into the timeless charm of the Blue City."
#13. Touched by Light by Khaichuin Sim, Malaysia
"Swift-moving clouds cast shifting shadows across the Dolomites. I waited for sunlight to break through and illuminate the lonely Church of San Giovanni in Ranui, transforming it into a glowing sanctuary beneath the towering peaks—a fleeting moment revealed only through patience."
#14. Can you feel the Love by Preeti and Prashant Chacko, UAE
"One morning in Maasai Mara, we photographed this mating pair against the backdrop of the mountains in the background. The scene for us seemed to be something right out of the lion king."
#15. Ancient Paths by Preeti and Prashant Chacko, UAE
"One beautiful sunset evening on the dried lake bed of Amboseli, we saw a herd of elephants in the distance. We wanted to photograph them in this beautiful setting, and waited for the herd to align with the fork on the ground. We then found a high vantage point to capture this frame."
#16. Women From Mars by Cezary Filew, Poland
"Although it is said that men come from Mars and women come from Venus – there are some exceptions. Here are armed Mursian Mothers in Mursi tribe village, Omo valley, Ethiopia."
#17. Dance of Merit by Florian Kriechbaumer, UAE
"Captured during the annual Paro Tshechu, one of Bhutan’s most important religious festivals, this image looks down into the courtyard of Paro Dzong as masked dancers perform sacred cham dances before hundreds of spectators."
#18. Tokyo Tower by Yoshiki Nakamura, USA
"It’s been long time since I passed this area with a car although I used to live in Tokyo. Now I visited there for an occasion and had a chance to pass by Taxi. Tokyo Tower has not been changed but the scene I captured seems different from my memory. Probably I used slow shutter speed shooting."
#19. Wings of the River by Yoshiki Nakamura, USA
"Fishermen cast their nets from wooden boats on a river outside Hue, Vietnam, their sweeping forms opening like wings above the water."
#20. Harvesting the Dawn by Yoshiki Nakamura, USA
"At sunrise near Hoi An, Vietnam, a fisherman skillfully works among sweeping nets and a small boat, gathering the morning catch in a sea of golden light."
#21. Tunnel Tree by Florian Kriechbaumer, UAE
"The tree tunnels of Bangkok‘s suburbs are my favourite part of the city."
#22. Reflection by Gary Goldsmith, USA
"A man with head lowered walks along a wall. His distorted reflection is visible on the glass covering of an information board. His figure completes the composition."
#23. Sacred Twin Flames by Héctor Ruiz, Spain
"A striking low-key portrait of two young ritual snake dancers in traditional paint and cowrie shells, illuminated by candlelight."
#24. Contemplation by Gary Goldsmith, USA
"A man seated on a bench, his cup of coffee near, is in a deeply pensive mood."
#25. Baobab Sunset by Héctor Ruiz, Spain
"The sun sets directly behind a cluster of majestic baobab trees along the famous Avenue in Madagascar. The golden and orange hues of the sky silhouette the unique, massive trunks and branching crowns of these ancient trees. The composition captures a classic, powerful moment of the natural world."
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are The Artist Gallery Awards 2026?
The Artist Gallery Awards 2026 are photography competitions recognizing talented professional and amateur photographers. The platform gives photographers opportunities to showcase their skills, gain recognition, and share compelling images across different categories, including the featured Travel category.
What category do these 25 winning photographs belong to?
These 25 photographs are winners from the Travel category of The Artist Gallery Awards 2026. They showcase diverse interpretations of travel photography, from landscapes and destinations to people, cultures, architecture, and spontaneous moments captured worldwide.
Who can participate in The Artist Gallery competitions?
Both professional and amateur photographers can participate in The Artist Gallery competitions. The platform was created to give photographers opportunities to demonstrate their skills behind the lens, gain recognition for their work, and connect with a broader audience.
How often does The Artist Gallery hold photography competitions?
The Artist Gallery holds different photography competitions every month, giving photographers regular opportunities to submit their work. Each competition can highlight different photographic themes and categories, creating a continuous platform for photographers to showcase creativity.
Why are travel photographs so powerful?
Travel photographs can capture places, people, cultures, emotions, and fleeting moments in a single frame. A powerful image can transport viewers somewhere they’ve never visited, spark curiosity, inspire future adventures, and tell a memorable story without words.
