Back by popular demand is our annual photo competition with great prizes to be won! Whether it’s an action shot of a live music event or you’ve grabbed a snap of some lively audience members, Worcester Music Festival is inviting photographers of all ages and abilities to submit to the contest and show us what you’ve been up to over the 2026 festival weekend.
A £100 voucher is up for grabs, plus prizes for second and third place as well.
Entries will be whittled down to a Top 20 ahead of the Top 3 being announced at the awards ceremony in October/November 2026.
The competition will be judged by a panel of music photographers and we are delighted to welcome back Steve Johnston, James Watkins and Andy Burton.
About the Judges
James Watkins is an award-winning photographer with more than 25 years’ experience across music and entertainment, whose work has been published worldwide. A trusted BBC photographer, he works extensively across Radio 1, Radio 2 and 6 Music, including Live Lounges, Piano Rooms and Sara Cox’s Radio 2 Breakfast Show. His work spans major events including Glastonbury and Reading Festival, including photographing Elton John’s iconic final UK performance.
James has photographed artists including Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, Billie Eilish and Harry Styles, with privileged access to stars including Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks and Lady Gaga. He continues to photograph major artists, broadcasts and live events across the UK.
Steve Johnston is a BA (Hons) live music photographer with more than 30 years’ experience, largely within rock and metal. His editorial work is represented by Rex Features/Shutterstock and published by the likes of Rolling Stone, Variety, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer, Guitarist, the BBC and UK press.
He has shot hundreds of artists, from B.B. King and McFly to Iron Maiden and Napalm Death. His work was shortlisted in the NME Photography Awards, and in 2011 he won Gibson’s Sonisphere Photography Competition.
Andy Burton is a versatile events and portrait photographer based in Worcester with over 16 years of experience. He will often be seen at Worcester’s annual events such as the Worcester Show, Victorian Fayre, and many other major city gatherings.
Andy has been an in-house photographer at Worcester Music Festival since 2013, where he also coordinates and manages other volunteer photographers for the music festival, who help showcase the best of Worcester’s thriving live-music scene.
The Rules
- You can use ANY type of camera to take your photo.
- Basic editing of photos is allowed
- Do not add any branding, logos or watermarks to your photos
- You can be of any age, and any ability, to enter
- You can submit up to ten photos
- Only two photos of the same performance allowed.
- Photos do not need to be of bands, but must be directly related to WMF 2026 events
- Your photos also must have been taken at the 2026 WMF weekend festival.
- You cannot submit staged or promotional shots.
- Photos must be submitted in standard 3:2 aspect ratio and hi-res jpeg format (minimum size of 3600 x 2400 pixels)
- Entries close midnight Sunday 4 October 2026
. . . . . . So get snapping and good luck!
The Prizes
1st prize – £100 voucher
2nd prize – £50 voucher
3rd prize – £25 voucher
Entries for the 2026 competition will open soon.
