Countryfile fans were left gobsmacked on Sunday night as veteran presenter John Craven unveiled that the Countryfile Calendar for 2026 is now accepting submissions.

The esteemed Countryfile calendar competition has cemented its place as a pinnacle of British photography contests over the past 30 years.

In the previous year, Ursula Armstrong's captivating image titled 'Seal of Approval' clinched the top spot and graced the front page of the 2025 Countryfile calendar.

The beloved BBC programme is currently on the hunt for 12 extraordinary and enchanting photos to showcase in the 2026 edition, all taken by viewers across the nation.

Eligible photographs may depict any subject ranging from birds, insects, flora, fauna, to landscapes, provided they are captured within the UK, reports Gloucestershire Live.

The call for entries was announced in the latest episode of Countryfile (June 29), with presenter Anita Rani commenting: "The weird and wonderful landscape of Spurn Point would certainly make for an evocative photograph that could be entered into our photographic competition."

John chimed in: "Our country is blessed with an incredible array of beautiful settings and opportunities to capture on camera its wonderful wildlife."

He continued with enthusiasm: "So now, with summer upon us and the splendour of nature in full swing, it's my great pleasure to launch our photographic competition. The theme this year is wild encounters."

John concluded: "We'll be looking for photographs that reveal the untamed side of our countryside in all its glory."

The beloved BBC Children in Need calendar, a tradition since 1998, has once again made its annual appearance.

Countryfile fans were taken aback to realise it's that time of year again as the programme launched its campaign for the upcoming calendar.

On the social media platform X, one viewer expressed their surprise: "Can't believe he's started the flipping calendar photo comp already. Only just got over last year's. More squirrel pics #Countryfile."

Another viewer humorously anticipated future campaigns: "#Countryfile calendar 2026 rollout."

Curiosity arose among the audience, with one person inquiring: "#Countryfile has a calendar ever included an entry taken by a mobile phone or a tablet?! Just wondered."

In response to the call for entries, another fan posted a stunning image of birds against a blue sky, captioning it: "If I had a photograph of you...#Countryfile calendar."

Countryfile airs every Sunday on BBC One and iPlayer