Theme.
🌿 Theme: Landscapes & Legends 🌈
An Enchanted Journey Through Ireland’s Eyes
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES:
Midnight Tuesday 31st March 2026
This year, the National School Photography Awards (INSPA) invite primary schools and their pupils across the Republic of Ireland to explore the magic of their surroundings through our new theme: “Landscapes & Legends.” It’s a playful invitation to see Ireland not just as a place, but as a storybook full of mystery, beauty, and imagination.
From whispering woods and stormy skies to hidden hillsides and ancient stone walls, Ireland is a land rich in natural wonder and timeless tales. Through the magic and art of photography, pupils are encouraged to capture both the real and the legendary blending what they see with what they dream.
📸 A tree that might be hiding a fairy world...
📸 A field that looks like a sleeping giant’s bed...
📸 A cliff where sea and sky meet like something from a myth...
📸 Or just a moment of beauty that sparks joy, calm, or curiosity.
This theme is not just about taking pictures; it's about seeing the world differently.
Photography offers a powerful tool for creative learning across the primary school curriculum. Whether used in English lessons to inspire storytelling, in SPHE to explore emotions, empathy, and wellbeing, or in SESE to connect with geography, heritage, and the environment, photography invites expression, reflection, and connection.
It opens conversations in the classroom about place, identity, imagination, and all the emotions that images evoke. “Landscapes & Legends” is a flexible, inclusive theme that encourages every child to find their voice and view the world through both a creative and mindful lens. We also have lots of free, Creative Wellbeing Activities to help get you started, just register/ your school and Image Masters Children’s Photo Club at www.inspa.ie and follow steps on how to participate.
By participating, schools are not only celebrating the magic of Ireland but also supporting pupils’ wellbeing and nurturing a lifelong love of art, nature, and story. In whatever way you choose to respond to this year's theme, be creative, take lots of photos and most importantly have fun.
We look forward to meeting your school community and seeing all your schools’ entries.