Eamonn McCabe Bursary 2026

The Eamonn McCabe Bursary is a £3,000 award administered by the Royal Photographic Society in partnership with the family of Eamonn McCabe and The Guardian, supporting a new body of photographic work on the theme of sporting endeavour. The bursary was established in 2024 in memory of the British photographer and picture editor Eamonn McCabe (1948–2022), who built his name shooting sport for The Observer in the late 1970s and 1980s before moving into wider editorial work, including a long tenure at The Guardian.

The theme is interpreted broadly. Professional sport is eligible, but the brief is explicit that projects engaging with grassroots and community sport are particularly welcome — including photographic work that addresses mental health, displaced communities, gender, disability, race, or other social issues through the lens of sport. Creative reinterpretations of the theme are encouraged.

Eligibility is open to photographers aged 30 or under at the time of application, internationally. Submitted work should be a new body of work suitable for publication and must not have been previously exhibited or published elsewhere. The winner receives the £3,000 cash bursary, mentoring from an industry specialist, and a solo exhibition.

There is no entry fee. The 2026 deadline is August 3 at 23:30 BST. Applications are made through the RPS's awards platform, where applicants submit a project proposal and supporting materials.