Capture the action, emotion, and spirit of Canicross through your lens and share your own unique story!

1. General Information

The Photo & Video Contest is organized as part of the ICF Canicross World Championship 2026, which will take place in Poland from 2 to 8 November 2026.

The purpose of the contest is to creatively capture and highlight the spirit, intensity, emotion, and unique atmosphere of the Canicross World Championship 2026 through photography and video.

The contest offers participants, visitors, and enthusiasts of the sport an opportunity to present their own visual perspective and creative interpretation of Canicross and the event.

2. Eligibility

The contest is open to individuals aged 12 and over, regardless of nationality, professional status, or photographic experience.

Any type of photographic or video equipment may be used, including professional cameras, action cameras, smartphones, and other image-recording devices.

The equipment used is not a judging criterion. The jury will evaluate the final creative result exclusively, rather than the equipment used to produce it.

3. Categories and Number of Entries

Each contestant may submit a maximum of:
Three (3) photographs.
One (1) video.

Participants may enter both the photography and video categories, provided they comply with the above limits.

All submitted material must have been created exclusively during the World Championship in Poland, from 2 to 8 November 2026, and must be directly related to the event.

4. Photography Specifications

Photographs may be taken using a professional camera, action camera, smartphone, or any other photographic device.

Photographs taken with mobile phones are fully eligible for submission.

All photographs must be in horizontal (landscape) orientation. Photographs in vertical (portrait) orientation will not be accepted.
Accepted file formats: JPEG / JPG, PNG, WebP.
Maximum file size: 3 MB per photograph.

Basic photographic adjustments are permitted, including corrections to brightness, colour, contrast, sharpness, and cropping.

Alterations that substantially change the original content, add or remove significant elements, or distort the authentic representation of the moment are not permitted.

Standard in-camera computational processing is permitted. However, the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI), the replacement of people, locations or objects, and the creation of artificially generated scenes are strictly prohibited.

5. Video Specifications

Each contestant may submit one (1) video.

The submitted video must meet the following specifications:

Maximum duration: 2 minutes.

Maximum file size: 200 MB.

Mandatory horizontal (landscape) orientation.

Accepted file format: MP4 (H.264).

All footage must have been recorded during the Canicross World Championship, from 2 to 8 November 2026.

Professional cameras, action cameras, smartphones, and other video-recording devices may be used.

Creative editing and post-production are permitted, including the use of music, titles, graphics, transitions, and visual effects, provided that the participant holds all necessary rights and permissions.

Standard in-camera computational processing is permitted. However, the use of generative AI, the replacement of people, locations, objects or music, and the creation of artificially generated footage are prohibited.

6. Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights

Each participant is responsible for the legality and authenticity of the material submitted.

Participants declare that they are the creators of their submitted works or that they possess all necessary rights and permissions to enter and use the material in accordance with these regulations.

The use of music, photographs, graphics, video clips, fonts, logos, or any other third-party material is permitted only when the necessary rights and licences have been obtained.

Particular attention must be paid to the music used in videos. The use of original music, appropriately licensed music, or music that is legally permitted for publication on ICF’s official digital platforms is recommended.

The designation “royalty-free” does not exempt participants from verifying the conditions of the relevant licence.

The ICF and the Organizing Committee reserve the right to request evidence of the origin and usage rights of any submitted material.

In the event of a complaint or an identified copyright infringement, the relevant entry may be withdrawn or disqualified.

Creators are responsible for any infringement of third-party rights arising from their submitted material, in accordance with applicable law.

7. Photography and Video Content

The primary objective of the contest is to capture the overall experience, atmosphere, and spirit of the Canicross World Championship.

Participants are encouraged to create photographs and videos highlighting:

The action, speed, and intensity of the races.

The unique bond between athlete and dog.

Emotion, effort, and athletic performance.

The natural environment and race courses.

The atmosphere of the event.

Spectators, volunteers, and everyone contributing to its organization.

Preparation and behind-the-scenes moments.

Moments before, during, and after the races.

The sense of community, cooperation, and values of Canicross.

Participants are encouraged not to limit their work exclusively to a particular athlete or team, but to aim to capture the broader character of the event.

The objective is to create a comprehensive visual record of the World Championship.

Each participant is responsible for the content submitted and for securing the necessary publication rights.

The ICF and the Organizing Committee reserve the right to reject or withdraw content that violates these regulations, third-party rights, or applicable law.

8. Judging Criteria

The jury will evaluate entries according to the following criteria:

Artistic and aesthetic value.

Technical quality.

Originality.

Dynamism and intensity of the moment.

Connection between human and dog.

Representation of the spirit of Canicross.

Composition and use of space.

Narrative and storytelling.

Overall production quality.

Compliance with copyright regulations and the lawful use of music and visual elements are mandatory conditions of participation.

Evaluation will be based on the overall quality, creativity, originality, and emotional impact of each entry.

The type and commercial value of the equipment used will not influence the evaluation. Works created with smartphones will be assessed according to exactly the same criteria as works produced using professional equipment.

9. Jury

The entries will be evaluated by an official jury appointed by the Organizing Committee following the conclusion of the World Championship.

The number and composition of the jury will be officially announced before the evaluation process begins.

To ensure objectivity and impartiality, entries will be evaluated anonymously wherever practicable, without disclosing the identity of their creators to the jury members.

10. Submission of Entries

Entries must be submitted electronically within the specified deadline.

All prospective participants must first complete the official online entry form using the following link:

[OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM LINK]

After completing the form, participants must send their photographic files and/or video from their personal email address to:

marketing@canicross.international

If the total file size prevents submission by email, participants may use WeTransfer and send the corresponding download link to the same email address.

An entry will be considered complete only after both the online registration form and the corresponding files have been received within the specified deadline.

The official entry form must include:

Participant’s full name.

Country of origin.

Age or date of birth.

Contact email address.

Title of each photograph or video.

Declaration of acceptance of the contest rules.

For minors, the required consent of a parent or legal guardian.

The email address entered in the registration form must match the email address used to submit the files, allowing the entry to be properly identified.

File Naming Convention

Files must follow the naming structure below:

icf-(yourname)-(number).jpg

Example:

icf-johny-1230.jpg

The same naming convention applies to video files, using the appropriate file extension.

Each participant is responsible for submitting their material on time and ensuring compliance with all technical requirements.

Entries exceeding the permitted number of files, maximum file size, duration, or other required specifications may be rejected.

11. Use of Submitted Material

Creators retain the copyright to their original works.

By entering the contest, participants grant the ICF and the Organizing Committee a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use, reproduce, publish, display, and present their submitted photographs and videos for purposes related to:

Promotion of the ICF World Championship.

Promotion of Canicross and the ICF.

Social media and digital communications.

Official websites and online photo and video galleries.

Printed and digital promotional materials.

Historical documentation and archival records of the event.

This licence does not constitute a transfer of copyright ownership.

Reasonable efforts will be made to credit the creator in each publication.

12. Disqualification

An entry may be disqualified if it:

Exceeds the permitted number of photographs or videos.

Exceeds the maximum file size or video duration.

Does not comply with the mandatory landscape orientation.

Was not created during the World Championship, from 2 to 8 November 2026.

Infringes copyright or third-party rights.

Contains inappropriate, offensive, or unlawful content.

Includes music or visual elements without the necessary licences.

Was created or modified in violation of the rules prohibiting the use of AI.

Contains false or misleading information.

Violates any other provision of these regulations.

13. Final Decision

The jury’s decision regarding artistic evaluation and final rankings is final.

The Organizing Committee reserves the right to clarify or supplement these regulations where necessary to ensure the smooth, fair, and objective conduct of the contest, without unjustifiably affecting participants’ rights.

Participation in the contest constitutes acceptance of its official rules and regulations.

14. Competition Schedule

2–8 November 2026

The World Championship takes place in Poland. Photography and audiovisual material may be created during the event.

Until 25 November 2026, 23:59 Paris time

Final deadline for electronic submission of entries.

26 November – mid-December 2026

Eligibility verification, evaluation of entries, and selection of winners.

25 December 2026 – 1 January 2027

The winners will be officially announced during this period.

Results will be published on the ICF’s official website and through its official communication channels.

15. Publication of Entries and Award-Winning Works

Following completion of the evaluation process, selection of the winners, and verification of compliance with the contest regulations, the ICF reserves the right to publish selected photographs and videos on its official Facebook and Instagram pages and through other official communication channels.

The selection of a work for publication does not necessarily imply that it has received an award.

The three highest-ranked entries in the photography category and the three highest-ranked entries in the video category will be officially announced at the end of the year and presented on the ICF website and its official social media channels.

The award-winning works will become part of the contest’s official digital archive, subject to the applicable terms of use and the relevant licences granted by their creators.

THE SPIRIT OF THE CONTEST

The contest is not simply about selecting the most technically accomplished photograph or the most impressive video.

It is about the moment that tells a story.

The moment that captures the bond between human and dog.

The intensity of the effort.

The joy of victory.

The anticipation and challenge of the course.

The atmosphere of the event.

And above all, the spirit of Canicross.

The best photograph or video should have the power to make someone who was not there feel as though they had been.