May 27, 2026
Deadline for Submission: August 28, 2026
WATERFORD- As the NYS Canal System opens for the year, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is calling for entries for its annual Erie Canalway Photo Contest. Amateur and professional photographers are invited to submit up to three images that capture the canals’ beauty, vibrancy, and character. Winning photos will be featured in the 2027 Erie Canalway Calendar. Entries must be submitted or postmarked by August 28, 2026.
“Our annual photo contest showcases some of the regions' most talented amateur photographers and lets us enjoy their work all year long through the Erie Canalway Calendar. We are looking forward to another year of incredible images that capture the unique sense of place that can only be found in the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
Images will be judged in four contest categories: A Vibrant Connector: Waterways, Parks, and Trails; Past Meets Present; The Canal at Work; and Scenic Beauty. Judges will select first, second, and third place winning images in each category, as well as 12 honorable mentions.
Submitted images must be horizontal format and taken within the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, which spans 524 miles across the full expanse of upstate New York. It encompasses the Erie, Cayuga-Seneca, Oswego, and Champlain canals and their historic alignments, as well as more than 200 canal communities.
Submitted images must be horizontal format and taken within the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, which spans 524 miles across the full expanse of upstate New York. It encompasses the Erie, Cayuga-Seneca, Oswego, and Champlain canals and their historic alignments, as well as more than 200 canal communities.
Download official contest rules and an entry form at www.eriecanalway.org/get-
ABOUT THE ERIE CANALWAY NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR
Two hundred years after its opening, the Erie Canal remains an iconic symbol of American ingenuity and determination. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor preserves New York’s extraordinary canal heritage, promotes the Corridor as a world-class tourism destination, and fosters vibrant communities connected by more than 500 miles of waterway. It achieves its mission in partnership with the National Park Service, New York State agencies, non-profit organizations, local residents, and more than 200 communities across the full expanse of upstate New York. www.eriecanalway.org/
Two hundred years after its opening, the Erie Canal remains an iconic symbol of American ingenuity and determination. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor preserves New York’s extraordinary canal heritage, promotes the Corridor as a world-class tourism destination, and fosters vibrant communities connected by more than 500 miles of waterway. It achieves its mission in partnership with the National Park Service, New York State agencies, non-profit organizations, local residents, and more than 200 communities across the full expanse of upstate New York. www.eriecanalway.org/
Attached Photo: Adam's Basin, Claire Talbot, 2025 Photo Contest Winner
Ashley Quimby-Simoni, Communications & Outreach Manager
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc.
P.O. Box 219, Waterford, NY 12188
518-237-7000, ext. 202
585-406-0388 (cell)
www.eriecanalway.org
www.facebook.com/ErieCanalway/
www.canalwaychallenge.org
Explore more than 500 miles of connected waterways and trails & experience the canals that transformed America.