The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced the return of the annual Florida Python Challenge™ for 2026, giving participants the opportunity to compete for $25,000 in prizes while helping remove invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades.
The 10-day competition begins Friday, July 10 at 12:01 a.m. and runs through Sunday, July 19 at 5 p.m. Organizers said the participant who removes the most pythons will receive a $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize.
This year marks the ninth Florida Python Challenge and includes the return of Everglades National Park as one of eight official competition locations. Registration is now open at FLPythonChallenge.org, where participants can complete the required online training and access educational resources about Burmese pythons and the Everglades ecosystem.
FWC officials said the event helps raise awareness about invasive species while encouraging public involvement in Everglades conservation efforts. Last year’s competition resulted in a record 294 Burmese pythons removed, bringing the overall total to 1,406 removed since the competition began. Since 2000, more than 27,000 Burmese pythons have reportedly been removed from Florida’s environment.
SOURCE: FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
