Pokhara, Nepal — The much-anticipated Nepal Photo Festival 2026, organized to promote open-source photography and enrich the WordPress Photo Directory, is set to conclude on June 13 (Jestha 30) in the picturesque mountain village of Ghandruk, Kaski.
The festival has brought together photographers, creators, travelers, and visual storytellers from Nepal and around the world, encouraging them to contribute high-quality photographs to the global WordPress Photo Directory.
What is WordPress?
WordPress is the world’s most popular open-source content management system (CMS), powering more than 40 percent of websites globally. The WordPress Photo Directory is a free platform where photographers can share their images with the world under open licenses, allowing individuals, organizations, and website creators to use them freely.
Through Nepal Photo Festival 2026, organizers aim to showcase Nepal’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, biodiversity, traditions, and everyday life on a global stage while encouraging photographers to participate in the open-source movement.
Cash Prizes for Outstanding Contributors
To recognize excellence and encourage participation, organizers have announced several award categories with attractive cash prizes.
The Best 3 Photos selected from all submissions will each receive USD 111, making it the festival’s highest honor. These photographs will be chosen based on quality, composition, storytelling, creativity, and overall impact.
Similarly, the Top 3 Contributors to the WordPress Photo Directory—recognized for consistently uploading high-quality and diverse images—will each receive USD 77.
Category Awards
Several special category awards carrying a prize of USD 50 each will also be presented:
Best Flora Photo
Best Heritage Photo
Best Cultural Photo
Best Food Photography
Best Street Photography
Best Wildlife Photo
Best Photo by a First-Time Contributor
According to the organizers, these categories celebrate the diversity of nature, culture, history, cuisine, wildlife, and everyday life while encouraging photographers to document and share unique stories through their lenses.
A Platform for Creativity and Global Visibility
The festival has served as a platform for photographers to gain international visibility while contributing to a free and accessible collection of images that can be used worldwide. Organizers believe the initiative will help promote Nepal’s tourism, culture, and creative talent while strengthening the country’s presence in the global open-source community.
The closing ceremony in Ghandruk will feature award announcements, recognition of outstanding contributors, and celebrations of the photographs that best capture the beauty and diversity of the world.
Note: Prize amounts may be converted using rounded currency figures and may not reflect the exact exchange rate on a particular day.
