At every beach, in every surf community around the country, the high art of surf photography is alive. In some cases they’re big-name surf towns with big-name surf photographers, but in most instances, the surf photographer of today is doing it for the love. They do it to capture the action at their local break. They do it to stoke out their friends. They do it because it’s a hell of a lot of fun. And it’s with that mindset that we’re so excited to announce the launch of the 2026 SURFER Photo Contest powered by SwellCo.
The submission window runs from October 1 through October 31. Community voting ends November 15. Winners announced on November 18. All photos submitted must have been shot in 2026, so no mining the archive for gold. And only three photos per entrant can be submitted. This inaugural iteration of the contest is open only to U.S. residents, but that could change in the future.
“Surf photography is the heart and soul of surfing. Capturing the best, and sometimes worst, of wave riding, on the pages of SURFER for over 65 years, we teamed up with our friends at SwellCo to help keep the tradition alive,” explains SURFER Editor In Chief Jake Howard. “This is more of a grassroots affair. We’re excited to see what shots come in from local photographers and the local crew they shoot on the daily. We couldn’t be more excited to launch the inaugural 2026 SURFER Photo Contest powered by SwellCo.”
Photo submissions will be judged by a panel from SURFER and SwellCo. There will also be a fan voting element that encourages friends and family to get involved in the action. A huge thank you to our partners at NeedEssentials, Db, Sun Bum, and Leus Towels for the support and most excellent prizes.
SwellCo is a digital platform that connects surfers and photographers, providing a space to share photos from beaches around the world. The company offers tools that help photographers showcase their work, engage with the broader surf and action sports community, and share their images with local surfers. Through its technology and community-focused approach, SwellCo aims to make it easier for photographers and surfers to connect and stay stoked.
Click here to enter or learn more about the 2026 SURFER Photo Contest powered by SwellCo.
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