World Water Day - IWA Photo Competition
Published on Feb 5, 2026
World Water Day is an annual United Nations observance held on 22 March that celebrates the importance of freshwater and inspires action to tackle the global water crisis. It highlights issues around access to safe water, sanitation, and sustainable water management while supporting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030. The theme for 2026 is Water and Gender, emphasising the need to address gender inequalities in water access, leadership, and decision making so that water becomes a force for a healthier, more prosperous, and gender equal future. (unwater.org)
About the Competition
To mark World Water Day 2026 and elevate the voices of members around this theme, we are running a photo competition. Members are invited to submit photos that visually connect to Water and Gender, showcasing how water and gender intersect in real contexts — from community action to leadership, or especially professional engagement. The competition will celebrate creativity, relevance to the theme, and member engagement, and winners will be showcased both online and at the IWA stand during the Congress.
Timeline
- Submission period: 10–20 Feb (concluded)
- Screening by IWA Secretariat: 23–27 Feb (concluded)
- Voting: 2–20 March
- Winner announced: 23 March
View the shortlisted photos below:
Cast your vote here.
Cast your vote here.
Participation Criteria
To be considered a valid entry, submitted photos must meet the following criteria:
Theme alignment: The photo must clearly relate to the World Water Day theme, Water and Gender. Submissions that do not demonstrate a clear connection to the theme will not be considered.
Eligibility: Submissions must be made by an IWA member. Membership status will be verified by the IWA Secretariat. Entries submitted by non-members will not be eligible.
Originality and rights: The photo must be original and taken by the participant, or the participant must hold full rights to share the image publicly. By submitting a photo, participants confirm that they have the necessary permissions and rights.
Context and caption: Each submission must include a short caption (max 5 words) explaining the context of the image and its relevance to the theme. Submissions without a caption, or with captions that do not meet the requirements, will not be considered.
Authenticity: Photos should depict real people, real places, or real water-related actions and experiences. AI-generated or heavily manipulated images are not permitted and will be excluded.
Visual clarity: Images should be clear and visually understandable. Professional-quality photography is not required; however, images that are unclear or misleading may not be considered.
Ethical considerations: Photos must respect the dignity, privacy, and rights of individuals and communities depicted. Where individuals are identifiable, informed consent must be obtained. Photos that do not meet ethical standards will not be considered.
Values alignment: Submissions must align with IWA values, including inclusion, diversity, and respect. Content that is discriminatory, harmful, or inappropriate will be excluded.
Screening process: All submissions will be screened by the IWA Secretariat against the criteria above. Photos that do not comply with the criteria will not be considered and will be deleted. Up to five (5) compliant entries will be shortlisted.
Winner selection
The winner will be the photo that receives the most votes. The winner will be showcased at the IWA Stand during the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition in Glasgow (4-8 Oct, 2026)
If you have any questions, please reach out to isabela.espindola@iwahq.org