BBC Countryfile Calendar 2026: Competition, How to Enter & Key Dates
The BBC Countryfile Calendar is one of the most beloved annual traditions in British rural life. Each year, thousands of amateur photographers across the UK submit their best landscape and countryside images for the chance to have their work featured in the official Countryfile Calendar — a product that raises significant funds for the BBC Children in Need charity. Here is your complete guide to the Countryfile Calendar 2026 competition.
What Is the BBC Countryfile Calendar?
The BBC Countryfile Calendar is an annual wall calendar published in association with the long-running BBC One television programme Countryfile. The programme, which focuses on rural life, farming, and the British countryside, has been running since 1988 and commands an audience of millions.
The calendar features twelve stunning photographs of the British countryside — one for each month — selected from entries submitted by the public. Photographs selected for the calendar are featured during a Countryfile episode, and the calendar is sold nationwide with proceeds going to BBC Children in Need.
The Countryfile Calendar has become a much-loved item in British homes, particularly among those who appreciate natural landscape photography, rural scenes, and the changing seasons of the British countryside.
The Countryfile Calendar 2026 Competition
How Does the Competition Work?
The Countryfile Calendar competition invites amateur photographers to submit their best photographs of the British countryside. Entries are judged by a panel of experts including professional photographers and Countryfile presenters. The twelve winning images are published in the following year's calendar.
So the photographs that appear in the 2026 calendar are typically selected from a competition that runs in 2025. However, BBC Countryfile occasionally announces further competitions or updates throughout the year, so it is always worth checking the official BBC Countryfile website for the latest information.
Who Can Enter?
The Countryfile Calendar competition is open to amateur photographers residing in the United Kingdom. Professional photographers are generally not eligible to enter. There is typically a minimum age requirement, though younger photographers can sometimes enter with parental permission.
What Kinds of Photos Are Chosen?
Winning Countryfile Calendar photographs share several common qualities:
- British subjects: All images must depict the British countryside, including landscapes, wildlife, farming scenes, seasons, and rural communities.
- Seasonal variety: The panel looks for images that represent all four seasons, as the calendar needs photographs suitable for each month of the year.
- Technical quality: Images should be sharp, well-exposed, and of sufficient resolution for print publication.
- Emotional impact: The strongest entries capture a mood, a moment, or an atmosphere that resonates with viewers.
- Originality: Distinctive perspectives and unusual compositions stand out from the crowd.
Tips for Taking Winning Countryfile Calendar Photographs
Chase the Golden Hour
The hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset produce the warmest, most atmospheric light of the day. Golden hour transforms ordinary landscapes into extraordinary scenes, with long shadows, warm tones, and a magical quality that is difficult to replicate at other times of day. Set your alarm and get out into the countryside early.
Look for Seasonal Drama
British seasons are dramatic and varied. Autumn mists over valleys, winter frost on fields, spring blossoms, and summer hay bales all make compelling subjects. Consider which season is underrepresented in previous years' calendars and focus your efforts there.
Include Human Elements Sparingly
While pure landscape shots are popular, photographs that include a human element — a farmer working, a child exploring, a shepherd with their flock — can add scale and story to an image.
Patience and Persistence
The best landscape photographs often require multiple visits to the same location at different times and in different weather conditions. Do not expect to capture the perfect shot on your first attempt. Return to promising locations in different seasons and weather.
Research Your Location
Apps and websites that show the direction of sunrise and sunset, moon phases, and weather forecasts are invaluable for planning landscape photography shoots. Knowing exactly where the sun will rise or set on a given day allows you to position yourself perfectly.
Buying the Countryfile Calendar 2026
The BBC Countryfile Calendar 2026 is available to purchase from a range of retailers, including bookshops, garden centres, rural stores, and online retailers. It typically goes on sale in the autumn, ahead of Christmas. The calendar makes an excellent gift for anyone who loves the British countryside, nature photography, or the Countryfile programme.
Purchasing the calendar directly supports BBC Children in Need, a wonderful charity that has raised hundreds of millions of pounds for children across the UK since its establishment.
Watching Countryfile in 2026
BBC Countryfile is broadcast on BBC One on Sunday evenings, with episodes typically running for around an hour. The programme covers a broad range of rural topics, from farming challenges and conservation to weather forecasting and community stories. The programme is also available on BBC iPlayer.
The episode featuring the announcement of the calendar competition winners and the reveal of the selected photographs is always a highlight of the Countryfile year, typically broadcast in autumn.
The Countryfile Calendar and Charity
Since its inception, the Countryfile Calendar has raised millions of pounds for BBC Children in Need. The charity supports disadvantaged children and young people throughout the UK, funding projects that help those facing illness, disability, abuse, poverty, and social disadvantage. By purchasing the calendar or entering the competition, participants are directly contributing to this important cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Countryfile Calendar competition open?
The competition for the following year's calendar typically opens in spring or summer. Check the official BBC Countryfile website for the exact opening date for the 2027 calendar competition (which would feature in the 2027 edition).
Can I buy the Countryfile Calendar 2026 online?
Yes, the Countryfile Calendar is available from major online retailers including Amazon, as well as the BBC Shop. It typically goes on sale in September or October each year.
Does the competition cost anything to enter?
The Countryfile Calendar photo competition is typically free to enter for eligible UK amateur photographers. Confirm entry requirements on the official BBC Countryfile website when the competition opens.