A Panoramic Institution Opens the Skies
The Epson Pano Awards 2026 are now accepting submissions, and for the first time the long-running panoramic photography festival has carved out a dedicated Aerial category in both its Open and Amateur divisions. The competition remains focused on panoramic work, requiring a minimum aspect ratio of 2:1, but the new category explicitly acknowledges the rising influence of drones and other aerial imaging tools. Professional and amateur participants can now submit their sweeping overhead views alongside traditional Nature and Landscape, Built Environment and Architecture, and VR/360 entries. Backed by Epson and reviewed by a judging panel that includes industry names such as Bill Bailey, Daniel Kordan, and Annette Mossbacher, the awards are positioning aerial panoramas not as a novelty, but as a core part of contemporary panoramic practice.
Aerial Photography Steps Into the Mainstream
By creating a distinct aerial photography awards track within a prestigious panoramic contest, the Epson Pano Awards 2026 underline how far drone imagery has come. Not long ago, aerial perspectives were treated as side categories or technical curiosities; now they are judged on equal footing with established landscape and architectural panoramas. This shift matters for photographers who have invested in aerial workflows, from flight planning and safety to stitching high-resolution panoramas from multiple frames. Their work is no longer merely about technical novelty, but about composition, storytelling, and artistic vision recognized by mainstream juries. The inclusion of aerial work alongside VR/360 and conventional panoramas also suggests that major competitions now see aerial imaging as integral to the broader evolution of visual storytelling, rather than a niche reserved for specialized contests.
New Opportunities for Drone Photographers
For drone operators, the new Aerial category effectively turns a panoramic mainstay into a high-profile drone photography competition. It offers a rare opportunity to benchmark work against both peers and veteran panoramic artists, within a framework that values technical precision and creative risk-taking. Because the Aerial category exists in both Open and Amateur divisions, emerging pilots can enter without directly competing against seasoned professionals, while still being part of the same festival ecosystem. The sizeable overall prize pool—more than USD 50,000 (approx. RM230,000), including USD 15,000 (approx. RM69,000) in cash and an Open winner package exceeding USD 11,000 (approx. RM50,000)—adds further incentive. Yet perhaps the bigger reward is visibility: shortlisted aerial entries gain exposure in an event closely watched by agencies, print buyers, and fellow photographers worldwide.
A Festival Expands With Emerging Imaging Techniques
The return of the panoramic photography festival in 2026 comes with a noticeably expanded scope. Beyond the new Aerial category, the continued presence of VR/360 work signals a broader embrace of emerging imaging techniques, from immersive environments to ultra-wide stitched panoramas. This positions the Epson Pano Awards as more than a showcase of traditional wide-format landscapes; it becomes a laboratory for how photographers use technology to reimagine perspective. Deadlines are staggered, with regular submissions open until June 22 and a final cut-off on July 13, giving creators time to refine complex aerial and VR workflows. For drone photographers, this environment encourages experimentation—combining long-exposure aerial shots, multi-row panoramas, or even integrating ground-based frames—to push the boundaries of what “panoramic” means in an era of rapidly evolving aerial and immersive imaging.