Last year, Nebraska Life launched its first photo contest and received thousands of images from across the state.

The winning photographs and finalists filled more than 30 pages of the magazine. Entries included a moonrise over the Sower statue atop the Nebraska State Capitol, cowboys moving cattle through Sandhills dust and Main Street celebrations blurred by motion and color. Nicole Louden’s “Sunset Stunner” was named Photograph of the Year, and Jeffrey Z. Carney was named peer-nominated Photographer of the Year.

This year, the contest returns with a new theme: Heart of Nebraska.

The assignment is broad, but not vague. We want photographs that show the people, places, work, weather, wildlife, history and daily life of Nebraska. That might mean a county fair, a basketball game, a branding, a storm front, a family portrait, a storefront, a river, a night sky or a road you know by memory.

The 2026 categories are Community, Aerial & Drone, Wildlife, Macro, Sports, Portrait, Architecture, History, Water, Agriculture, Night Sky and Landscape. Community combines last year’s Hometown Pride and Celebration categories, making room for parades, festivals, school events, main streets, reunions and the gatherings that bring Nebraskans together. Night Sky is new this year for stars, moonlight, the Milky Way and dark skies above the plains.

Along with each photo, include the county, nearest town and a short note about what was happening when the image was taken.

The 2026 Nebraska Life Photo Contest is accepting submissions through Sept. 28 at nebraskalife.com/photo-contest. Winning photographs will receive a $250 Rockbrook gift certificate and finalists will be published in our November/December 2026 and January/February 2027 issues.

Show us the Heart of Nebraska.