2026 Paris Photo–Aperture PhotoBook Awards

The Paris Photo–Aperture PhotoBook Awards are run by Aperture, the New York photography foundation and publisher founded in 1952, in partnership with Paris Photo, the international fair at the Grand Palais. Since 2012 the awards have functioned as one of the field's defining moments for photography in book form — the shortlist and winners are watched closely by publishers, curators, and collectors each autumn.

The awards recognize three categories: First PhotoBook, for a photographer or artist's debut publicly available book, which carries a $10,000 prize; PhotoBook of the Year, for the best photobook of the year; and Photography Catalog of the Year, for the best exhibition catalog or museum publication. The First PhotoBook category is the one most relevant to emerging artists — a genuine career-maker that has launched many photographers internationally.

Thirty-five books are shortlisted in total — twenty in First PhotoBook, ten in PhotoBook of the Year, and five in Photography Catalog of the Year — presented to the final jury and exhibited during Paris Photo at the Grand Palais before traveling to other venues. Winners are announced at Paris Photo and online on November 13, 2026. Books may be submitted by photographers, artists, publishers, or third parties acting with consent, and must be published between September 6, 2025 and September 4, 2026. Submission is online via Picter, after which a physical copy of each book must be mailed to Aperture in New York to arrive by 5 p.m. EDT on September 4, 2026. Early-bird entry (First PhotoBook $15; other categories $40 for a first project, $15 for each additional) runs through July 10; regular rates ($30 / $60 / $30) apply through the deadline.