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Georgia Renaissance Festival
The Royal Gallery Awards
Photo Contest — Official Rules

Huzzah! Their Majesties of Newcastle have decreed the first annual Royal Gallery Awards.

If you have a keen eye, a full camera roll, and a love for the Georgia Renaissance Festival, we invite you to submit your finest photographs for a chance to be featured in Festival promotions, website content, social media, exhibits, and future Festival materials.

Inspired by the many photographers who help preserve the magic of the lanes — including longtime Festival friend Wes Carter, whose images helped capture so much of this season’s story — the Royal Gallery Awards invite all guests and photographers to share the Festival through their own lens.

Contest Deadline
All entries must be received by June 30, 2026
Eligibility & Entry Rules

  • Only original photos taken at the Georgia Renaissance Festival during the 2026 season may be entered. Photos from previous seasons are not eligible.
  • This contest is intended for amateur photographers.
  • All entries must be submitted digitally through the official entry form.
  • There is no cost to enter, and you may submit as many entries as you like.
  • Each entry should include the photographer’s name, contact information, photo title, and selected category.
  • Employees of Georgia Renaissance Festival, Lancelot, and their immediate families are not eligible. Void where prohibited.
Photo Requirements

  • Photos should be high-resolution and suitable for print or digital promotional use.
  • Preferred minimum size: 2400 pixels, 2 MB, and 300 dpi when available.
  • Accepted file types: .jpg, .jpeg, or .png.
  • Please do not submit photos with heavy filters, added effects, borders, text, watermarks, or artificial enhancements.
  • Each photo should include a title and photographer name. Example: Jane Smith — Knights at the Joust
What to Capture

We encourage entrants to look for the moments, details, and stories that make the Georgia Renaissance Festival special. Grand spectacles are welcome, but so are quiet, candid, unexpected moments from the village lanes. Photos may include:

  • Entertainment, stage shows, and lane performers
  • Jousting, royal court, and Festival traditions
  • Fantasy, cosplay, and costumed guests
  • Artisans, handmade goods, and demonstrations
  • Food, drink, games, rides, and family fun
  • Festival scenes, details, and candid moments
Categories & Prizes

All entries will automatically be considered for Best in Show. Entrants may also select one individual category on the entry form.

Best in Show
1st Place
One Season Pass (winner’s choice of eligible season), six complimentary single-day adult tickets, and a $50 Festival gift certificate.
2nd Place
Six complimentary single-day adult tickets and a $40 Festival gift certificate.
3rd Place
Four complimentary single-day adult tickets and a $30 Festival gift certificate.
Honorable Mention
Two complimentary single-day adult tickets and a $25 Festival gift certificate.
Individual Category Winners

Each individual category winner will receive two complimentary single-day adult tickets and a $25 Festival gift certificate. The seven categories are:

Entertainment Joust Fantasy / Cosplay Crafts / Artisans Family Fun Festival Food & Drink Other
Winner Selection & Recognition

Winning photographs will be selected by a panel of judges after the submission deadline. Winners will be announced once judging is complete.

Selected photographs may be featured with photographer recognition on the Georgia Renaissance Festival website, social media, future promotional campaigns, exhibits, educational presentations, printed materials, and other Festival-related uses.

How to Enter

Entries must be submitted through the official Royal Gallery Awards entry form. For questions or issues with the form, please contact [email protected] and include “Royal Gallery Awards 2026” in the subject line.

Photo Usage & Permissions

By submitting photo(s), photographers grant Georgia Renaissance Festival and its related entities the right to publish, display, reproduce, and use submitted images in Festival-related materials, including but not limited to website content, social media, promotional campaigns, exhibits, educational presentations, printed materials, and future Festival promotions.

All entries become the property of Georgia Renaissance Festival and will not be acknowledged or returned. Georgia Renaissance Festival assumes no responsibility for submitted photographs.

Photographers are responsible for ensuring they have permission from any identifiable individuals featured in submitted photographs when required.

Open your gallery, choose your finest work, and present it before the Royal Gallery.
The realm awaits your vision.

The Royal Gallery Awards
Georgia Renaissance Festival — the realm awaits your vision.