In just over two and a half weeks, the 2026 Florida Python Challenge™ will officially get underway. The 10-day event kicks off at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 10, and runs until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 19.
Jointly organized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District, the annual competition incentivizes the removal of invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades while spreading the word about the ecological damage caused by nonnative species.
This year’s prize pool totals $25,000. The ultimate grand prize sits at $10,000, which goes to the individual who captures the most pythons. Beyond the top spot, competitors can win cash for bringing in the highest number of snakes or the longest single catch within three distinct tracking classes: novice, professional, and military. Notably, Everglades National Park is back as an official partner this year, serving as one of the eight designated competition boundaries.
Those looking to sign up can register all the way through the final day of the contest at FLPythonChallenge.org. To legally participate, everyone has to complete an online training module beforehand. The competition website also provides information on python biology, tips on navigating the Everglades ecosystem, and travel resources for people heading down to South Florida.
Last year’s challenge set a new milestone, with 934 participants from 30 states and Canada capturing a record 294 pythons over the 10-day span. That brought the all-time total of removed constrictors to 1,406 across all iterations of the event. Zooming out further, state records show that over 27,000 pythons have been pulled from Florida’s environment since 2000.
These snakes are a major problem for Florida because they eat native birds, mammals, and other reptiles. They also reproduce incredibly fast, with a single female capable of laying anywhere from 50 to more than 100 eggs at a time. While the July challenge draws the biggest crowds, python removal is actually a year-round effort.
The state allows people to hunt pythons across 32 FWC-managed properties at any time. On private land, the FWC encourages people to humanely kill the snakes whenever possible—no special permits or hunting licenses are required, as long as you have the landowner’s permission.
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