WMO’s 2026 Calendar Photo Competition Opens for Public Voting

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has launched voting for its highly anticipated 2026 Calendar photo competition, one of its most popular annual public activities. This year’s competition is especially significant as WMO celebrates its 75th anniversary, reflected in the selection of 75 stunning finalists chosen by a panel of expert judges from hundreds of entries worldwide.

The 2026 calendar theme highlights the profound impacts of weather, climate, and water on people’s lives and livelihoods—both the positive forces and the challenges posed by natural phenomena. The finalists’ images capture breathtaking scenes such as powerful storms, serene mountains, vivid auroras, expansive deserts, glaciers, and colorful sunsets across diverse natural environments. Together, they demonstrate nature’s awe-inspiring power and emphasize the urgent need to protect our planet from human-driven changes—key priorities in WMO’s global mission.

Now, WMO invites its members and the general public to participate in the voting process by liking their favorite photos on WMO’s social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Flickr. Public votes will contribute to selecting the winners, who will then be chosen by a WMO jury consisting of photographers, meteorologists, scientists, and communication experts. The jury will evaluate the finalists not only by popular vote but also on technical and artistic quality as well as ensuring geographical diversity.

The final 13 winning photographs will be featured in the official WMO 2026 Calendar. They will also be showcased across WMO’s social media channels and website and play a prominent role in the celebrations and outreach activities planned for World Meteorological Day 2026.

This competition offers a unique opportunity to appreciate the beauty and complexity of our natural world while supporting WMO’s vital efforts to raise awareness about climate, weather, and water-related challenges.