Commons:Wiki Loves Folklore 2026

Wiki Loves Folklore

Wiki Loves Folklore is a global media contest held annually on Wikimedia Commons, aimed at documenting the diverse folk cultures from around the world. Wiki Loves Folklore 2026 builds on the success of the 2025 campaign, continuing its focus on celebrating folk culture. The initiative traces its roots back to 2018, originating from Wiki Loves Love 2019, which highlighted ceremonies and festivals centered around love.

Scope

This media contest celebrates the rich tapestry of folk culture from around the world, featuring categories that include (but are not limited to) folk festivals, dances, music, activities, games, cuisine, clothing, and a wide variety of traditional expressions. These may encompass ballads, folktales, fairy tales, legends, seasonal celebrations, calendar customs, folk arts, folk religion, and mythology. For further inspiration and a broader selection of examples, we invite you to explore our Category page.

How to participate

1. Capture culture
Photograph or record traditions, rituals, stories, food, dance, music, clothing, crafts, or community heritage.

2. Upload
Submit your work to Wikimedia Commons between
1 February – 31 March 2026.

3. Describe & categorize
Add media description, location, date, and relevant categories.

4. Win prizes
Awards include global and regional prizes for photography, video, and audio.

Prizes and details

Campaign Prizes

Global Photography Excellence

1st prize: 500 USD
2nd prize: 400 USD
3rd prize: 300 USD
Top 10 Noteworthy Contribution Prizes: 50 USD Each

Multimedia Categories

Best Video: 300 USD
2nd Video Prize: 200 USD
3rd Video Prize: 150 USD
Best Audio: 200 USD
2nd Audio Prize: 150 USD
3rd Audio Prize: 150 USD

Community Prizes

Distinguished Heritage Documenter

1st prize: 500 USD
2nd prize: 300 USD
3rd prize: 200 USD

Volunteer organiser Excellence Award

1st prize: 200 USD
2nd prize: 150 USD
3rd prize: 100 USD
Wiki Loves Folklore Postcards to top 100 Uploaders
Certificates and postcards to Local Organizers.

Regional prizes

Regional prize awarded to the top jury-selected media entries from the following regions.

MENA - Middle East & North Africa
SSA - Sub-Saharan Africa
SA - South Asia
ESEAP - East, Southeast Asia, & Pacific
LAC - Latin America & Caribbean
NA - North America
NWE - Northern & Western Europe
CEECA - Central & Eastern Europe & Central Asia

Award per region

Regional Winner: 125 USD
Regional Runner-up: 75 USD

(Disclaimer: All Prizes will be distributed only in the form of major brand gift cards or vouchers, equivalent to the local currency amount.)

Timeline

1 Feb – 31 Mar 2026 – Upload period
April – June – Review & jury
15 July 2026 – Results announced (expected)

Essential rules

✔ Acceptable: Your own original photos/videos/audio, free license (CC BY-SA/CC0), with context & metadata.

✘ Not accepted: Watermarks, AI-generated media, copyrighted content, overly edited images, low-quality uploads, or missing EXIF (if camera supports it).

Full details → Complete Rules Page

Participate locally

Local Wikimedia groups host photowalks, workshops, and national sub-contests. Find your local group:

→ Local Events Directory

Previous international winners

2025 Winners

Contact us

There are several ways to contact us:

Write us on discussion page.
Send us an email to supportwikilovesfolklore.org
Communicate with us through Twitter, Facebook or Instagram

Writing competition

There will also be a writing competition Feminism and Folklore 2026 from 1st February 2026 till 31 March 2026. Create or expand articles on feminism, women biographies and gender-focused topics for the project in league with Wiki Loves Folklore gender gap focus with folk culture theme on Wikipedia. Participate now in your local language.