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A full decade of extraordinary visual storytelling. The 10th Annual Unsplash Awards are officially here!

To celebrate 10 years, we’re bringing you 10 categories and for the first time, The Decade Award.

Submissions are live now: https://t.co/8iWmoPFr7J

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This illustration by Ilya Roslan is nominated for the Illustration of 2026 Award. 🏆🎨

Shortlisted by Rahmad Kurniawan: “I opted for this illustration due to its strong representation of diversity and its highly aesthetically pleasing color composition.”

Vote for this illustration at https://t.co/8vvTjwaniz.

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This image by Mike Hindle is nominated for the Photo of 2026 Award. 🏆 📸

Shortlisted by Simon Lee: “The light drew me in first, then the layers of architectural detail kept me looking. I love how the dark foreground frames the illuminated dome, allowing the eye to move through its curves, sculptures, and intricate ornament...It reminds me how rewarding it can be to simply stop and look up.”

Vote for this image at https://t.co/8vvTjwaniz.

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This illustration by Rizki Ardia is nominated for the Illustration of 2026 Award. 🏆🎨

Shortlisted by Yuniaz: “The perspective and the cyclists' poses make the whole composition feel like it's moving forward, rather than feeling static. I also really like the color combination—the bright blue, yellow, pink, and deep navy work really harmoniously together. The colors feel bold and energetic, but still balanced.”

Vote for this illustration at https://t.co/8vvTjwaniz.

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This image by Jeremy Hynes is nominated for the Photo of 2026 Award. 🏆 📸

Shortlisted by Daniel J. Schwarz: “What makes this image stand out is the moment it captures. The bird looks straight into the lens, calm and curious rather than nervous, and the distance between the animal and the photographer seems to disappear. It feels less like watching a bird and more like a quiet exchange between two individuals. A moment like this cannot be planned.”

Vote for this image at https://t.co/8vvTjwaniz.

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This illustration by Kamara Rahmat is nominated for the Illustration of 2026 Award. 🏆🎨

Shortlisted by Chris Costa: “Kamara's work is the perfect mix between simplicity and complexity. This piece has a way of scratching my itch for structure while delving deeper with each texture and shadow. Truly wonderful.”

Vote for this illustration at https://t.co/8vvTjwaniz.

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This image by Eduardo Ramos is nominated for the Photo of 2026 Award. 🏆 📸

Shortlisted by Evelyn Verdín: “I chose this image because I find it interesting that behind its apparent simplicity, there are different ways of reading it: a diffuse, scattered touch; an identity that seems to be fading away or has become lost; light in motion.”

Vote for this image at https://t.co/8vvTjwaniz.

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This illustration by Anupam Raisim Kerketta is nominated for the Illustration of 2026 Award. 🏆🎨

Shortlisted by Runend Art: “The girl’s sense of directionlessness gives the piece a quiet and contemplative feeling. I like how the simple composition and color choice can communicate an emotional story without relying on too many elements.”

Vote for this illustration at https://t.co/8vvTjwaniz.

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This image by Slava Jamm is nominated for the Photo of 2026 Award. 🏆 📸

Shortlisted by Ahmet Hamo: “The striking contrast between the warm, glowing light on the sculpted sandstone walls and the dark, solitary figure creates a powerful sense of scale, atmosphere, and mystery. It captures the quiet grandeur of nature and feels both cinematic and timeless.”

Vote for this image at https://t.co/8vvTjwaniz.

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This illustration by Nastia is nominated for the Illustration of 2026 Award. 🏆🎨

Shortlisted by Pablo DR: “I chose this illustration for its clean composition and simplified forms, where the color contrast conveys freshness, tranquillity, and balance. I also liked how it subtly portrays the passage of time, showing the natural transition from buds to full bloom.”

Vote for this illustration at https://t.co/8vvTjwaniz.

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This image by Sophia DiDonato is nominated for the Photo of 2026 Award. 🏆 📸

Shortlisted by Toa Heftiba: “It makes me feel something I can’t quite put into words, which is usually what draws me to an image. It feels almost like a visual metaphor: the volcano quietly holding all that power beneath the surface while the soft clouds and light make everything feel strangely calm. Beautiful, atmospheric and a little haunting.”

Vote for this image at https://t.co/8vvTjwaniz.

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This illustration by Risky Ming is nominated for the Illustration of 2026 Award. 🏆🎨

Shortlisted by Beatriz Camaleão: “This illustration immediately stood out to me. I love the colour palette, the exaggerated scale of the plants, and the way the figure sits within the composition. There’s something playful, peaceful and slightly surreal about it that really drew me in. More than anything, it’s simply an image I enjoyed looking at and kept coming back to.”

Vote for this illustration at https://t.co/8vvTjwaniz.

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Embark on a visual journey around the globe with this category, as photographers capture the essence of exploration and wanderlust.

Official Judge: Angelique Miller from @Expedia

Head over to https://t.co/8iWmoPETib to submit to this year’s #UnsplashAwards

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This image by Cal Rollins is nominated for the Photo of 2026 Award. 🏆 📸

Shortlisted by Anita Austvika: “Guardian of the River The image captures more than a wildlife encounter—it conveys strength, solitude, and the raw beauty of nature**, frozen in a moment of stillness within a moving landscape. It also speaks to being alone and stranded, like the world itself right now, not knowing which way to go out of ever-accumulating problems, or the safest way to reach dry land. Still, hopefully the bear will find the strength and wisdom within and make a good decision….”

Vote for this image at https://t.co/8vvTjwaniz.

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Embracing the nostalgia and artistry of analog photography, this category pays tribute to the timeless beauty of film.

Official Judge: Harriet Browse from @Polaroid

Head over to https://t.co/8iWmoPETib to submit to this year’s #UnsplashAwards

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Searching Unsplash profiles just got a whole lot easier ✨

You can now search directly inside user profiles to instantly filter through thousands of uploads and find the exact images you need.

Learn more: https://t.co/wPrqHgxaKC

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This illustration by Naila Conita is nominated for the Illustration of 2026 Award. 🏆🎨

Shortlisted by Bessy Caleze: “The illustration doesn't need an explanation; it captures the subject, 'employee cycle,' in one illustration; it is straight to the point.”

Vote for this illustration at https://t.co/8vvTjwaniz.

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From candid moments to formal portraits, this category showcases the emotions, cultures, and stories that define the human experience.

Official Judge: Rob Macneice from @NikonUSA

Head over to https://t.co/8iWmoPETib to submit to this year’s #UnsplashAwards

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This image by Planet Volumes is nominated for the Photo of 2026 Award. 🏆 📸

Shortlisted by Eugene Golovesov: "This image stood out to me because it feels more like a painting than a photograph…There’s something very calming about it, and I think that’s what I liked most — it creates a feeling without needing to show too much.”

Vote for this image at https://t.co/8vvTjwaniz.

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In this category, photographers turn fashion and beauty into art, capturing trends and personal style through expert composition.

Official Judge: Emily Watts from @HYPEBEAST

Head over to https://t.co/8iWmoPETib to submit to this year’s #UnsplashAwards

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This illustration by Alghozy is nominated for the Illustration of 2026 Award. 🏆🎨

Shortlisted by Graphicook Studio: “The artist has successfully transformed this familiar structure into a visually captivating illustration. It stands out for its modern, minimalist aesthetic while keeping the subject eye-catching…Furthermore, the artist's choice of perspective brings a unique sense of energy and life to an otherwise ordinary object.”

Vote for this illustration at https://t.co/8vvTjwaniz.