NATJA Travel Media Awards
Recognizing Talent in Travel Journalism & Destination Marketing
2026 Competition Runs September 1 - October 31
Celebrating excellence since 1996About
NATJA Travel Media Awards
The North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) supports professional travel journalism and honors the excellence of destination marketing throughout the world with its annual awards competition, now in its 35th year. The NATJA Awards Competition recognizes the best of the best from travel media (writers, photographers, broadcasters, bloggers, podcasters, videographers, travel websites), content creators and travel promotion submitted by travel journalists, publications, public relations agencies, and destination marketing organizations (DMOs/CVBs) from the United States, Canada, Mexico and internationally.
All content must have been first published, distributed, broadcast, and/or released between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026. Please be advised that judges reserve the right not to award in any given category. For questions or more information, please contact us at awards@natja.org.
Awards
Why enter?
Industry recognition
A NATJA Award marks 35 years of the association's own peer-review standard. Entries are judged by working travel journalists, editors and industry professionals, not marketing staff. That judging pool is what gives the award its credibility within the field.
Exposure
Winners are announced and featured in TravelWorld International, NATJA's own publication, and promoted across the organization's digital and social channels to its full membership of travel media professionals. It puts your work in front of the people who cover this industry for a living.
Morale
An award confirms, in writing, that the work held up against a national field of peers. For a team that put in the hours on a campaign, story or project, that recognition carries weight internally, especially when it comes from journalists rather than a trade outlet.
Competitive edge
“NATJA Award-winning” is a credential built on 35 years of peer judging. It belongs in proposals, media kits and partner pitches as evidence that your work meets a standard set by people who do this work themselves.
DMO recognition
A NATJA Award tells the audience that matters most, working travel journalists and editors, that your destination's marketing and storytelling meet the standard the industry itself sets. It's recognition from the people who decide what gets covered.
Craft recognition
NATJA entries are judged by working photo editors and photographers, people who understand the craft firsthand. A win is peer validation, not a popularity contest.
Portfolio credentials
A NATJA Award is a durable line on a resume or portfolio, one that editors and clients recognize when reviewing work for future assignments.
Editorial exposure
Winning images are featured in TravelWorld International and shared across NATJA's channels, reaching editors and art directors who assign travel photography.
Awards
What is New This Season?
“Change is the only constant.” As the travel industry evolves, so do the NATJA Awards. This year, we’re introducing new categories to recognize the work shaping travel media today.
Student Awards
Brand new student categories to help emerging professionals build a resume.
Expanded Categories & Honors
We have expanded our offering to 100+ categories and special honors, including Editor of the Year.
Judging Panel
Entries are reviewed by working travel journalists, editors and industry professionals.
Awards
How it Works:
Prep your entries
Prepare your entries by creating a PDF of the submission, when applicable, and collecting links and dates of publication.
Fill out the form
Complete the online entry form, make your payment and hit submit. You will receive an email confirmation of your entry.
Await the announcement of the winners
All winners will be announced on the website, social media and NATJA Notes eblast. They will be followed shortly with an email containing the award certificate and badges.
Awards
Deadlines & Fees
Timeline
Student Member Pricing*
All pricing is in USD/CAD
- Student Categories 001–003
- $35 per entry
*Only members can submit. Student Members who submit at the discounted member price must remain in good standing through March 1, 2027 to be eligible for an award.
Member Pricing*
All pricing is in USD/CAD
- Media Categories
- $45 per entry**
- Organization Categories
- $100 per entry
- Publication Category
- $150 per entry
- Creator, Digital & Digital Publications
- $45 per entry**
*Members who submit at the discounted member price must remain in good standing through March 1, 2027 to be eligible for an award. **Articles and photographs with three or more contributors are $70 per entry per category when at least one contributor is a NATJA member in good standing.
Non-Member Pricing
All pricing is in USD/CAD
- Media Categories
- $100 per entry**
- Organization Categories
- $250 per entry
- Publication Category
- $300 per entry
- Creator, Digital & Digital Publications
- $100 per entry**
**Articles and photographs with two or more contributors are $125 per entry per category.
Awards
You Asked & We Answered
Don’t see the answer to your question? Reach out to awards@natja.org, and we’ll reply shortly.
Banff, CanadaWhy do you charge a submission fee for the awards competition?
All the fees collected for the awards competition go towards the administration of the awards competition and judging costs.
I am submitting multiple entries as hard copies into the competition. Do I need to mail or email each entry separately?
Entries are only accepted through the online portal located here. Submissions in the Category 103 for Travel Book must provide physical copies of the book by mail, but submission into the competition must be done online. Book copies can be mailed to the NATJA office. Please email us for the mailing address for the Judge of the book category.
Can I submit multiple entries through the Online Submission Portal?
Yes, you can submit more than one entry through the Online Submission Portal. On the submission form, you will be able to add multiple entries by clicking on the “Add Entry” button.
I live in Canada. Can I send a check in Canadian dollars?
To pay in Canadian dollars, we encourage you to submit through the Online Submission Portal, as you will have the option to pay your submission fees in Canadian dollars. Submission fees paid by check should be in U.S. dollars. If your only banking option is to pay by Canadian-based check, you must add a $5 conversion fee per entry. This fee does not apply to credit card charges.
Are photocopies of articles and/or the entry form acceptable?
Yes, we do accept photocopies of articles and the entry form. Photography entries must be submitted as published (for print publication) or as good quality prints, along with a copy of the article in which they appeared.
I am an international journalist, publication, or CVB/DMO. Can I submit to the awards competition?
Yes, international submissions are welcome. Please keep in mind that stories and marketing material must be written in English for the content to be judged properly. Additionally, if sending a check in your local currency with your submission, you must add a $5 conversion fee per entry. The conversion fee does not apply to online and credit card charges.
I am self-submitting an entry for a publication that is submitting in category 300 Travel Magazine. If my entry places in the competition, will the magazine receive points for Magazine of the Year?
Yes, entries that are self-submitted by the journalist/photographer will count towards the magazine’s points for Magazine of the Year.