Africa Travel Week Media Awards Open Entry Ahead of WTM Africa 2027
Entries close 15 January 2027 across five categories. Winners will be announced at WTM Africa in Cape Town this April.
Africa Travel Week (ATW) has opened entries for the 2027 ATW Media Awards, which recognise journalists, photographers, artists and content creators working in African travel and tourism media.
Entry is free. Nominations close on Friday, 15 January 2027. Winners will be announced at WTM Africa, which will take place 7–9 April 2027 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in the host city of Cape Town.
Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director at RX Africa, said the awards were intended to broaden participation across experience levels.
“Africa’s travel story is richer, more diverse and more compelling than ever, and the people telling it deserve to be celebrated,” De Jager said. “Whether you’re a seasoned journalist, a photographer with a frame you can’t stop thinking about, or a young creator just finding your voice, we want to see your work. The ATW Media Awards are designed to honour work that inspires travel, champions responsible tourism and shows the world the authentic spirit of African destinations.”
Five categories
One submission is accepted per category. All entered work must have been published in print or online between 1 January and 31 December 2026.
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Sustainability Feature Award | Journalism examining sustainability in African tourism, including community-led tourism, conservation and initiatives building a fairer, greener travel sector |
| Visual Tourism Award | Photography and artwork capturing African landscapes, wildlife, people and culture. Entrants may submit one photo, one artwork or one cohesive series of related images |
| Tourism News Award | Reporting on developments, trends and challenges affecting African tourism |
| Destination Feature Award | Features presenting an African destination through its landscapes, heritage and people |
| Young Talent Award | Writers, photographers and digital creators under 25 |
The Visual Tourism Award includes a change for 2027: exposure blending (HDR) and focus stacking are now permitted, subject to authenticity guidelines set out in the entry criteria.
Entries will be assessed by a panel of travel editors, journalists and photographers. ATW said panel members will be announced at a later date.
Full category details
Full category criteria, technical requirements and entry instructions are available at https://atwconnect.com/the-2027-atw-media-awards/
ATW has asked editors, publishers, tourism boards and industry partners to circulate the call for entries among writers, photographers, freelancers, students and creators in their networks. De Jager framed that outreach as central to the awards’ reach.
“The next great story about Africa may be sitting with someone who just needs to be told to enter,” she said. “Sometimes all it takes is a nudge.”
