Huygens Image & Movie Contest 2026
The Huygens Image Contest has been well-known for showcasing high-quality images and movies for over 15 years.
We value not only the beauty of the images, but also the quality of the science and experiments behind them.
Do you dare to take part?
Submission deadline: December 31st, 2026 - Winners announced: Before January 15th, 2027
Prizes:
1st prize: A one-of-a-kind portable 1 TB SSD with a print of the winning image, plus either a six-month Huygens Everywhere license or three Huygens options of the winner’s choice for one year.
2nd and 3rd prizes: A similar SSD, plus either a three-month Huygens license or one Huygens option of the winner’s choice for one year.
4th and 5th prizes: Either a three-month Huygens license or one Huygens option of the winner’s choice for one year.
Note: Winners can choose between adding options for one year to their existing Huygens license OR a Huygens Everywhere license with two deconvolution (microscopy) options, 2/3D visualization, and (AI) segmentation and analysis. If your existing license is not under a valid maintenance contract you can only choose for a Huygens Everywhere license (2nd choice).
How to Enter
Submit your favorite image and/or movie created with Huygens to contest@svi.nl (If your files are too large, use our Upload Site).
Please include:
- Your name, institute, and postal address
- A short description of the imaged object and how Huygens was used
- Confirmation that you are the copyright holder and allow SVI to use the data for marketing and educational purposes
Need access to Huygens ?
We like to offer any researcher the possibility to join this competition. If you are in need for Huygens on your personal computer or for Huygens advanced visualization options that are not in your current license, contact us for a free trial.
We can't wait to see your image(s) and movie(s)!
The SVI team
1st Prize Winner of the Huygens Image Contest 2025
Movie from Dr. Ana Andjelković and Dr. Rolando Berlinguer Palmini, Faculty of Medical Sciences and BioImaging Unit, Newcastle University, UK
Last year's winner was selected because it combines a wonderfully difficult feat of microscopy with Huygens' powerful restoration, and is given form in an effective visualization. The movie shows live-cell STED microscopy of localization and quantity of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) under conditions of perturbed mitochondrial gene expression in the SH-SY5Y cell line, the aim being to capture these structures at high spatial and temporal detail, while minimally affecting live cells. The captured images were deconvolved with Huygens, realigned for Z and XY drift if needed and rendered with the Huygens Surface Renderer. ''