Sydney Photography Competition For Kids and Adults Now Open

Little Sydney Lives Is Back — And There’s a Photography Competition for Grown-Ups Too

There’s something quietly magical about the way kids see Sydney. Not the postcard version, but the real one. The bus rides. The corner shops. The way the light lands on the kitchen bench before the day properly begins.

That’s exactly what Little Sydney Lives is all about. And for 2026, the much-loved photography competition is officially open to children aged 5 to 12.

But here’s the twist. This isn’t just one for the kids. There’s also a separate photography competition for teens and adults, meaning the whole household can get involved, each capturing Sydney through their own lens.

And before you overthink it, this isn’t a big, complicated project. It can be as simple as a quick snap on your phone during the school run or a weekend wander.

A Competition That Celebrates Their Sydney

From harbour sparkle to suburban stillness, kids are invited to capture the city as they experience it. Think:

• After-school rituals and weekend wanderings
• Sunrise glimpses from the backseat
• Siblings, pets, and perfectly imperfect moments
• The familiar made suddenly interesting

Photos can be taken anywhere, from home to the school run to a spontaneous park detour. If it matters to them, it belongs here.

As Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore puts it, “Every young person sees Sydney through a different lens and this is a no-holds-barred opportunity to showcase their creativity.”

Judges are typically looking for originality, storytelling and a strong sense of place, not technical perfection. So yes, your five-year-old’s slightly wonky but joy-filled shot absolutely counts.

From Camera Roll to Exhibition Wall

Here’s where it shifts from cute to seriously cool.

A panel of judges will select up to 21 finalist images to be exhibited at Customs House for up to one year. A full year, in one of Sydney’s most loved cultural spaces.

It’s the kind of moment that sticks. The “we need to go see it in person” kind.

What You Need to Know

• Who can enter: Children aged 5–12 (parents/guardians submit on their behalf)
• How to shoot: Camera or phone
• Format: Landscape orientation, max 5MB
• Entries close: 11:59pm, Sunday 17 May
• Winners announced: 26 September

Entries are submitted online via the City of Sydney website, and the process is straightforward enough to knock over in one sitting.

The Prizes (Yes, They’re Very Good)

• Winner: OM System camera pack valued at $2,199
• Runner-up: OM System camera pack valued at $1,299

📸 To enter or for more info – click here.

Not Just for the Kids 👀

Australian Life Photography Competition at Hyde Park

If your camera roll is quietly stacked with moments you never quite got around to doing anything with, this is your sign.

For 23 years, the Australian Life photography competition has been shining a light on the art of noticing. The fleeting, the everyday, the unexpectedly beautiful.

Open to photographers aged 13 and over, it’s an invitation to capture life across Australia in all its forms. Big, small, abstract, chaotic, calm.

No elaborate setup required. Smartphone shots are absolutely welcome. It’s about the eye, not the equipment.

What Can You Capture?

• Everyday life and human moments
• Landscapes and urban environments
• Portraits and personalities
• Abstract compositions and creative takes

Twenty finalist images will be selected for a free outdoor exhibition in Hyde Park, running from 25 September to 25 October. Think: a gallery, but under open sky, with coffee in hand and kids in tow.

The Details

• Who can enter: Ages 13+
• Format: JPEG, landscape, under 5MB
• Important: No AI or synthetic elements permitted
• Entries close: 11:59pm, Sunday 17 May

Each finalist receives a $500 exhibition fee (+ GST), with the overall winner taking home a $10,000 cash prize. Visitors can also vote for the People’s Choice, with an OM System camera pack valued at $5,298 up for grabs.

Entries are submitted online via the City of Sydney website, and like the kids’ comp, it’s designed to be accessible rather than intimidating.

📸 To enter or for more info – click here.

Submissions for both competitions close Sunday 17 May. Just enough time to start seeing things differently ✨

About Author

Francesca Millena

Writer, foodie and ideas-sponge, Francesca grew up in the Inner West and loves writing about all things IW related from playgrounds and podcasts, restaurants and retail, bubble tea and basketball courts. Mum to an active child, she also knows a thing or two about keeping a little one entertained on a rainy day.

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