Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Lonely Planet Entry Title: Lonely Planet's New York City shorts Entry Credit: Max Dickson, Annie Greenberg, Rachel Lewis, Deepa Lakshmin Judge Comment: These NYC shorts deliver a masterclass in immersive, bite-sized travel storytelling. With snappy visuals, rich sound design – from the crunch of a perfect pizza slice to the rhythm of subway buskers – and sharply written captions, the series brings the city’s hidden gems and local culture to life. Every post is tightly edited and deeply engaging, showing how even a Reel can offer both discovery and delight. It’s a brilliant example of how to use Instagram to inform, surprise and inspire wanderlust.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Juliana Broste Entry Title: Turkish Delights Entry Credit: Juliana Broste Judge Comment: “Turkish Delights” is a flavorful, visually rich journey into one of Türkiye’s sweetest cultural traditions. The posts combine vibrant imagery, behind-the-scenes access and thoughtful storytelling to spotlight lesser-known facets of a well-known destination. It’s a beautiful blend of education and immersion, inviting audiences not just to see, but to understand and savor.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Nneya Richards Entry Title: Fly into Milan and Explore Northern Italy Entry Credit: Nneya Richards Judge Comment: This Northern Italy series is a vibrant and well-researched guide that brings fresh perspective to a familiar region. Through a mix of Reels and photo carousels, Richards uses elegance and clarity to spotlight more obscure spots and experiences. Her content offers useful travel advice, striking visuals and a narrative voice that is knowledgeable and inviting.
Place Name: Honorable Mention Contestant Name: Lina Stock Entry Title: Ross Sea, Antarctica Entry Credit: Lina Stock, David Stock Judge Comment: Here readers get a rare and visually striking look at one of the world’s most remote regions. The Antarctica series captures the isolation, wildlife and scale of the Ross Sea using dramatic imagery and clear, informative captions. The Instagram posts balance personal perspective with useful travel context, making an inaccessible destination feel vivid and real.
