2026 National Juried Photography Exhibition

The Academy Center of the Arts in Lynchburg, Virginia (600 Main Street) runs an annual National Juried Photography Exhibition open to photographers across the United States. The 2026 cycle is juried by Kiera Hight, a photographer and filmmaker based in Asheville, North Carolina, who specializes in editorial, documentary, and creative work.

Cash prizes include the Best in Show award of $1,000, with additional cash awards given at the juror's discretion based on the installed exhibition. Selection is unusual: rather than judging from digital files alone, the juror selects work after installation — the physical hang influences the awards.

Selected work is exhibited September 4 through 25, 2026, with an opening reception on September 4. The Academy Center provides insurance coverage during the exhibition period and includes selected work in a full-color exhibition catalog. Sales are processed through the gallery, which retains a 35% commission.

Eligibility is restricted to U.S. residents aged 18 or over. Submitted photographs must be original work completed after January 1, 2021 and cannot have been previously exhibited in a Lynchburg juried photography show. The entry fee is $45 per artist for up to three submissions. Submissions are JPEG at 300 DPI, minimum 4×6 inches, accepted via email or flash drive. The 2026 deadline is June 30; results announced July 14.