Photocup 2026 theme:
"SPARK OF EVOLUTION"

Mensa Photography Competition

The search for the International Mensa Photographer of the Year.

Each year, Mensa Canada holds a photography competition for its members. The winning entries from this competition are put forward to compete internationally for the title of Mensa International Photographer of the Year.

Every year has a different theme to inspire the photographers, with examples like shyness, balance, and optical illusions.

Each year, contest deadlines and other rules are published on this page. Once the winners are announced, their photos will be added to the carousel below to enjoy.

The art of photography is an area where Mensans from over 50 countries with different languages, customs and traditions can converge with a single, visual language! Use your creativity, skills, and technical expertise to produce your entry in this year’s PhotoCup competition.

Questions?

Contact the PhotoCup Coordinator:

Rodica Ellison photocup@mensacanada.org

The International Mensa
Photographer of the Year could be you!

Rules of the Competition

There is no entry fee for this competition.
Every entrant of this competition must be a member in good standing of Mensa Canada, and must remain a member in good standing for the duration of the competition.
Entrants may submit up to three photos. Each photo should be in JPG/JPEG format and not exceed 2 MB.
Entries must be received by June 7th, 2024.
When submitting your photo(s) to photocup@mensacanada.org, please include your full name, membership number, e-mail address, and the title(s) of your photo(s).Do not include any information (e.g., name, title) on your photos as labels/tags.
Any photos you submit must not contain any writing, watermarks, etc.
All entries must be the original work of the entrant and photographed wholly by the entrant. AI-generated images will not be accepted. Any such entry will be disqualified, and any member submitting such images will be banned from entering future competitions. The entrant must own the copyright and any other intellectual property rights of each image submitted.
Any promotion of entries is not allowed.
The top three entries of the Mensa Canada PhotoCup will be selected by a judging panel organized by Mensa Canada. Entries will be judged on how well they conveyed the theme, on the quality of their composition, as well as technical and other considerations. The decision of the judging panel is final. The winner of the Canadian competition will claim the title, “Mensa Canada Photographer of the Year”.
The top three entries from Canada will go through to the Mensa International (MI) PhotoCup 2025 Final. The MI PhotoCup 2025 Final judging panel, which includes the MI chairman, will be organized by MI. The decision of the judging panel is final.
Entrants agree that their photos may be exhibited (and otherwise publicized) nationally and internationally, both inside and outside Mensa, and that their names and countries may also be published.
Entrants will retain copyright of their photos, but will grant Mensa non-exclusive rights for their publication in Mensa websites, newsletters, social media platforms, journals, photo SIG posters, galleries, exhibitions, and other relevant outlets and events (both virtual and in-person) without any financial reward to the entrant.

Mensa Canada holds its own Photocup competition. We follow the exact rules of Mensa International: see below.
You may submit 3 entries.
The three finalists are forwarded to Mensa International to be part of the MI 2026 Photocup.
This year, ALL of the photo submissions sent to Mensa Canada will be forwarded to MI 2026 Photocup. Canadian Mensans are also able to submit their photos directly to the MI Photocup. The MI website has more information on that contest.
MI will accept a story of explanation about the photo.

KEY INFORMATION

Theme: “SPARK OF EVOLUTION”
Deadline for Mensa Canada PhotoCup competition: July 11, 2026
Mensa Canada PhotoCup 2026 coordinator: Rodica Ellison, rodicaellison@gmail.com, or photocup@mensacanada.org

DOs ✔ & DON’Ts ✘

DOs ✔

✔ You must be a Mensa member in good standing and you must remain a member in good standing for the duration of the competition.
✔ When submitting your photo(s), you must include your full name, membership number, e-mail address and the title(s) of your photo(s).
✔ You may submit up to 3 photos (maximum of 3). Each photo should:
- be in JPG/JPEG format
- have a resolution of 150 DPI or higher
- not exceed 10 MB
✔  In order for the competition to be fair, and in order to allow the judging panel to accurately score your photo(s), you must provide “EXIF data” for each image you submit. Click here for an explanation of EXIF data and step-by-step instructions.
✔ Focus on the Theme: Each individual image should independently reflect the theme “Spark of Evolution“.
✔ “Global Editing” is allowed. Global Editing involves applying changes across the whole image. The following common edits are allowed: cropping, re-framing, straightening. The other Global Editing techniques that we allow are:
- colour correction across the whole image; e.g. changing to sepia, greyscale, monochrome.
- changes to the following settings: light balance, brightness, exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, saturation, tint, temperature, sharpness, definition.
✔ Each photograph you submit must be your own original work, and you must be the sole and exclusive owner of the copyright and all other intellectual property rights associated with each submitted image.

DON’Ts ✘

✘ This is a Photography competition, not a Photostory contest. Do not submit a photo story or a series of images intended to be viewed in a specific order.
✘ Pre-dated images (photos taken before 1st January 2026) may not be submitted. If you are using a Digital camera, please ensure it shows the correct date before taking a picture.
✘ AI-generated images will not be accepted. Any such entry will be disqualified, and any member submitting such images will be banned from entering future competitions.
✘ Your photo(s) must not include anything that was not naturally captured in the original camera image, such as labels, watermarks, tags, numbers, symbols, letters or words (e.g. your name/signature/initials).
✘ Anything beyond the scope of “Global Editing” (see point 6 of DOs, above) is not allowed. Specifically, the following edits are not allowed: removing objects, masking or grading parts of photos, changing only the background colour, targeting your edits so they affect only certain areas, and the use of AI-powered editing.
✘ Any promotion of your entries (or any promotion of your entries by other people or groups on your behalf) is not allowed.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

You consent to the publication of your name, photograph title(s), and the name of your national Mensa organisation (or, where applicable, your country of residence), both within and outside Mensa.

You shall retain the copyright to your photographs. However, by submitting your photographs, you hereby grant Mensa International Ltd., its affiliated national Mensa organisations, and any corporate entities associated with Mensa International Ltd. a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, publish, distribute, display, and otherwise utilise the photographs in any format or medium, whether now known or hereafter developed. 

This license includes, but is not limited to use:

on websites and social media platforms;
in newsletters, magazines, journals, photography Special-Interest Group posters, and other promotional materials;
in galleries and exhibitions;
and in any other events, whether conducted virtually or in physical settings, by Mensa International Ltd., its affiliated national Mensa organisations, or any corporate entity authorised by Mensa International Ltd. to use such materials.

You acknowledge and agree that no financial compensation or remuneration shall be provided to you for such use.

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