DJI launches SkyPixel contest with huge $200K prize pot

DJI and SkyPixel are back with one of the most anticipated creative competitions of the year, and this one comes with stakes big enough to make any photographer or filmmaker sit up straight. The 11th Annual SkyPixel Photo & Video Contest is officially live, inviting creators worldwide to “Frame the World” and maybe walk away with a share of nearly $200,000 in prizes. If you’ve ever looked at your drone footage or handheld clips and thought, Hey, this is actually good, this competition is your moment.

Since 2015, SkyPixel — DJI’s massive online community for aerial and handheld creators — has become a gallery for some of the most jaw-dropping visuals on the internet. Every year, the annual contest doesn’t just showcase talent; it also pushes the boundaries of what’s possible with creative tech. That means drones like the DJI Mavic 4 Pro (currently 19% off), FPV rigs like the $619 DJI Avata 2, and handheld cameras such as the Osmo Pocket 3 and Osmo Action 5 Pro (down 23% for Black Friday) aren’t just tools; they’re ticket-punchers to global recognition.

This year’s theme, Frame the World, encourages participants to stretch their perspective. Whether it’s a sweeping desert shot from a drone or a quiet handheld moment captured on something like the tiny Osmo Nano, the contest is about letting creators find their flow, visually and emotionally.

Last year, SkyPixel expanded the contest to include handheld photography. This year, organizers are going even bigger — expanding handheld videography to include 360-degree perspectives from the new Osmo 360. If you’ve been experimenting with immersive viewpoints, this is your category to shine.

There’s also a brand-new weekly award system, meaning you don’t need to win the whole thing to get recognized (and snag some prizes along the way).

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Contest categories and how to enter

The competition is split into two major buckets: photography and videography, with the latter broken down into aerial and handheld.

Aerial Photography: This one is straightforward: images must be taken with a DJI drone. Eligible models include the Inspire, Mavic, Air, Mini, Phantom series — plus newcomers like the $159 DJI Neo and the foldable DJI Flip (20% off for Black Friday). Think landscapes, architecture, sports, wildlife, portraits — anything that pops when you put a camera in the sky. Minimum requirements:

• 3MB file size
• 300 dpi

Aerial Videography: This is where your cinematic instincts can soar. Entries must be under 5 minutes, over 50% aerial footage, with at least 30 seconds shot using DJI gear such as the Mavic 4 Pro, Inspire 3, DJI Avata 2, or DJI FPV. If you’ve got a sequence that’s lived rent-free in your hard drive, now is the time to set it free.

Handheld Videography: Perfect for shots made with gimbals or cameras like the Ronin series, Osmo Pocket, Osmo Mobile, Osmo Action, Osmo Nano, or Osmo 360. Entries can’t exceed 5 minutes and must include over 50% handheld footage. Everyday life moments — a coffee shop, a bustling street, a smile you captured during a trip — all count.

This year’s lineup of judges reads like the closing credits of a blockbuster film. On the photography side, big names include outdoor photographer Jake Guzman, landscape legend Daniel Kordan, and Jiang Ping of National Geographic China fame.

Video entries will be reviewed by Hollywood and documentary heavyweights such as Wally Pfister (yes, the Oscar-winning cinematographer behind Inception and The Dark Knight), Ryan Hosking of Yellowstone, and Benjamin Hardman, whose work has appeared across Netflix, BBC, Disney, and National Geographic. Translation? Winners aren’t just getting gear; they’re earning serious bragging rights.

DJI-SkyPixel prizes: Nearly $200,000 on the line

This year’s contest features massive rewards, including three Grand Prizes:

• Photography Grand Prize: A Hasselblad X2D II 100C Combo (worth over $15,000)
• Aerial Videography Grand Prize: A DJI Inspire 3 Combo plus a Mavic 4 Pro Combo (worth over $22,000)
• Handheld Videography Grand Prize: A DJI Ronin 4D-8K Combo (worth over $18,000)

Beyond that, the prize pool includes over 50 additional prizes ranging from the DJI Mavic 4 Pro and DJI Avata 2 to the DJI RS 4 Pro, DJI Air 3S, and Osmo Pocket 3, plus cash awards and the coveted SkyPixel Creator Contract. Everyone who enters also receives DJI credits to spend at store.dji.com, as long as they’re in a region where the DJI Store operates.

Key dates to remember:

• Submissions Open: Nov 27, 2025
• Submissions Close: Mar 10, 2026
• Winners Announced: Apr 27, 2026

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to upload your best work, or an excuse to try out new gear, this is it.

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