Contest Gallery documentation

Create your first Contest Gallery

Create a gallery, add entries and publish a responsive contest on a WordPress page.

Contest Gallery 33.xFREEPROBeginner

Before you start

Install and activate Contest Gallery, then open Contest Gallery in the WordPress administration. A gallery stores entries, form fields, display settings and voting rules under one gallery ID.

Recommended first test: Use a private browser window after publishing. This shows the gallery as a visitor sees it and avoids administrator login exceptions.

Create and fill the gallery

Create a gallery

Select Create new gallery. The new gallery receives its own ID and default configuration.

Add sample entries

Use the backend file upload to add a few images or supported media files. Add clear titles and categories so sorting and search can be tested.

Activate the entries

Confirm that each entry is active. Inactive entries remain available in the backend but are not shown publicly.

Copy the gallery shortcode

Open the shortcode area and copy the shortcode for the view you need, normally [cg_gallery id="123"].

Publish on a WordPress page

Add a Shortcode block, paste the shortcode and update the page. Open the public page in a second browser session.

Contest Gallery WordPress backend showing the gallery overview and New gallery button — **Create new gallery.** The current Create new gallery control and the new gallery ID.

Contest Gallery backend showing Add files and media, Contest Gallery Network publishing and category controls — **Add files and media.** Add files, social embeds or OpenAI images, then manage categories and frontend visibility.

Contest Gallery backend showing active photo contest entries with titles and categories — **Add and activate entries.** Backend entries with the activation state and title fields visible.

Contest Gallery shortcode overview with the cg_gallery shortcode for gallery 566 — **Copy the shortcode.** The current shortcode selector with cg_gallery highlighted.

Verify the published gallery

Check the gallery at desktop and mobile width. Confirm that entries load, the intended controls appear and clicking an entry opens the configured view.

WordPress Shortcode block containing the Contest Gallery cg_gallery shortcode — **WordPress Shortcode block.** A WordPress page containing the gallery shortcode without unrelated editor panels.

Published Contest Gallery photo contest with search sorting categories and entries — **Published gallery.** The final frontend gallery at desktop width with controls and entries visible.

Recommended next steps

Build the frontend participation form.
Select a voting type and voter recognition method.
Configure entry pages and social sharing.
Test emails with a non-personal example address.