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Call for Maps

Maps tell powerful stories that inspire, unite, and excite us through the lens of geography. Share your work with the GIS community and be featured in the Map Gallery.

Maps must be submitted by January 15, 2027

  • Eligibility and requirements

    Map Gallery entries must showcase projects developed using Esri software. Please review the eligibility and submission requirements carefully to ensure your entry aligns with the program guidelines. For additional guidance, review best practices for map submissions.

    Review eligibility and requirements
    Review map best practices

  • Recognition and awards

    All accepted submissions will be featured in the Map Gallery. Entries received by January 15, 2027, qualify for award consideration, and winners will receive an acrylic award.

    Esri Partners are not eligible for awards, but customer submissions built with partner-supported solutions are welcome. Partner contributions may be acknowledged through software credits, data sources, author attribution, or project descriptions.

    Review the award categories
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Eligibility and requirements

Map Gallery submissions must showcase projects that used Esri software, and include the following:

  • Title of map
  • Author’s name
  • Primary contact information (email address and phone number)
  • Organization’s name
  • Esri products used
  • Data sources
  • Brief description of the map
  • A web-optimized digital map image file or URL (must be publicly accessible)
  • Image file: Minimum width and/or height of 1920 pixels; PDF, JPG, or PNG only

All maps will be reviewed. Accepted entries will be displayed at the event and in the permanent online gallery.

Submit your map
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How it works

  • During the conference

    All accepted map submissions will be displayed in both the Interactive Map Gallery on-site and the Virtual Map Gallery on the conference website. Participants whose submissions are accepted will receive an email with a link to their map in the Virtual Map Gallery closer to the event date.

  • Post-conference

    Accepted map submissions will continue to be featured in the Virtual Map Gallery. After the conference has ended, votes for your map will still count towards its ongoing ranking. You can review submissions from previous years to see what others in the national government community are working on.

    Go to the Virtual Map Gallery

  • Plenary Session consideration

    Maps that are accepted may also be considered for use in Jack Dangermond’s Plenary Session at the Esri FedGIS and in Esri marketing materials.

    Learn more about the Call for Images
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Map best practices

The following best practices will highlight your map's storytelling, geographic insights, and project impact.

  • Use the Esri technology that best supports your story, analysis or project.
  • Ensure your URL is publicly accessible and test it across different devices before submitting.
  • Use map interactivity intentionally to enhance understanding and engagement.

To keep the focus on the map, geographic analysis, compelling storytelling, and innovative project work, please follow the guidelines below.

  • Do not include marketing language, sales messaging, or promotional branding.
  • Links to storefronts, online shops, or product purchases are not permitted.
  • Avoid including contact forms (e.g., “Contact Us,” “Learn More,” or “Shop Now”).

Awards

  • Map with a Message

    Maps in this category focus on a specific theme or topic to inform a community, encourage action, and support decision-making. Presented either online or in print, these maps should deliver a focused story or message—ranging from positive outcomes to information that challenges existing norms—using an economy of words, images, and maps.

  • Place Perspective

    These maps focus on a specific location(s) and provide essential information about it. Since these maps are typically printed, they aim to fit as much information as possible within the available space. A thoughtful visual hierarchy with balanced composition and content is critical. Before the internet, maps like this helped readers understand the features and characteristics of a particular place.

  • Interactive Ingenuity

    Maps must be interactive, meaning the reader's input is required to convey important information. Examples include dashboards, web apps, mobile apps, and certain StoryMaps. While the map component delivers spatial context, the app provides additional context and uses interactivity to create understanding. Clear, intuitive layouts of the maps, graphics, and infographics should convey spatial trends and dynamic patterns.

  • Mapper’s Choice Award

    All map submissions are eligible for the Mapper’s Choice Award. Attendees can vote for their favorite entry in the Map Gallery at the Esri Federal GIS Conference. Voting closes on Wednesday, February 10, at 5:00 p.m.

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Submit a map

Submit a map

Get your questions answered

Send a message

Email mapgallery@esri.com

Call us

888-377-4576
Outside the United States

Upcoming date and location

February 9–10, 2027

Walter E. Washington Convention Center

801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW | Washington, DC 20001

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