Open Calls Requiring 18+
Open calls restricted to photographers and artists aged 18 or older. Exhibitions, grants, competitions, and awards with an 18+ age requirement.
THE PORTRAIT · Praxis Photo Arts Center
April 5, 2026 · $35
Exploring depth and complexity of the human subject. All lens-based practices welcome. Minneapolis, MN.
Suboart Magazine — May & June 2026 Issues
April 6, 2026 · Free (€30 if accepted)
Independent Lisbon print magazine seeking emerging visual artists for in-depth interviews and features.
CPA Artist Grants 2026 · Center for Photographic Art
April 7, 2026 · $30
Five $5,000 grants: emerging, mid-career, landscape, LGBTQ+, and Monterey County resident photographers.
reFocus Awards - Black and White Photo Contest
April 7, 2026 · $25–$50
Celebrating black and white photography. Cash prizes and career-enhancing recognition.
Appalachian Nature Art & Photography Competition & Exhibition · Arcadian Gallery
April 7, 2026 · $15
Appalachian nature photography. $500 Best of Show plus landscape and wildlife awards. MD, PA, VA, WV, DC residents.
1839 Awards Color Photography Contest
April 8, 2026 · $25–$50
Celebrating color photography. $4,000 in cash prizes, digital gallery, and global artist directory.
Hiding in Plain Sight · Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts
April 10, 2026 · $35
Exploring the unseen and forgotten. Challenging myths and revaluing overlooked subjects. Providence, RI.
Golden Shot International Photography Awards 2026
April 10, 2026 · $25–$35
International competition across 16 categories including Portrait, Landscape, Street, Fine Art, and Documentary.
Dark Frames III — Carlotta Gallery
April 10, 2026 · Free (£20 if accepted)
Black and white photography virtual exhibition. Absence of colour as a space for deeper perception.
SCAN Tarragona — Talent Latent 2026
April 12, 2026 · Free
International festival open call. Theme: Metamorphosis. €500 fee for selected projects. Exhibition Oct-Nov 2026.
PPA Photo Award 2026 · Pasadena Photography Arts
April 12, 2026 · $42
For emerging US photographers. $2,000 prize, Lenscratch feature, virtual artist talk. Juror: Craig Krull.
Meitar Award for Excellence in Photography 2026 · PHOTO IS:RAEL
April 12, 2026 · $35–$45
International award. 20 finalists exhibited at Tel Aviv festival. Winner gets solo exhibition at 2027 festival.
XVI Concurso Internacional de Fotografía sobre Humanización Asistencial · Hospital San Juan de Dios de León
April 13, 2026 · Free
Photography reflecting humanization, solidarity, and care in healthcare and everyday life. Prizes: €600/€400/€200.
XIX Premio de Fotografía Fundación ENAIRE 2026
April 13, 2026 · Free
Prestigious prize since 2005. Open theme. Winning works join the ENAIRE Contemporary Art Collection.
Louvre Unbound Magazine — Volume 6 Open Call
April 15, 2026 · Free ($39–$139 if accepted)
International contemporary art magazine. Submit up to 6 artworks. Featured in print and promoted across social media.
La Embajada 2026 · El Local
April 19, 2026 · Free
Six Spanish photographers exhibit at Rencontres d'Arles opening week. €1,400 each. Free, supported by Ministry of Culture.
ANIMAL LIFE · Praxis Photo Arts Center
April 19, 2026 · $35
Exploring animal subjects with curiosity, empathy, and imagination. All lens-based work welcome. Minneapolis.
Women in Nature — Artist's Commission · Photo Museum Ireland
April 20, 2026 · Free
€15,000 commission for 12 portraits of women in nature restoration across Ireland. Exhibition + publication.
The Narrative · TCG Gallery
April 20, 2026 · $15
International open call for all forms of two-dimensional images, traditional and non-conventional media.
Flora — Carlotta Gallery
April 20, 2026 · Free (£20 if accepted)
Nature photography exploring the quiet intensity of plant life. Virtual exhibition with catalogue.
La Napoule Art Foundation — Fall Residency 2026
April 20, 2026 · Free
One-month residency at a château on the French Riviera. Accommodation, meals, and private studio included. All disciplines welcome.
Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2026 · National Portrait Gallery
April 21, 2026 · £22/image
Premier international portrait prize. £15,000 first prize. Exhibition at National Portrait Gallery, London, Nov 2026–Jan 2027.
Blank Wall Gallery — Red
April 23, 2026 · Free
Photos featuring red as the dominant color — passion, emotion, vibrant details. Free to submit. Athens.
LSI Women in Photography Grant 2026 · Leica Society International
April 24, 2026 · $35
Theme: Where We Stand. $10,000 grant plus Leica camera and lens. Limited to first 100 applicants.
The Flow 2026 Photo Contest · Flow Trip Magazine
April 24, 2026 · $6/image
Kodak-presented contest. $50,000 in prizes across 5 categories (Film, Surf, Nature, Energy, Oneness). $6/image.
ABSURIA — International Abstract & Surrealist Photography Contest 2026
April 26, 2026 · €20–€50
First international festival for abstract & surrealist photography. Physical exhibition in Tours, France. Trophy + online 3D gallery.
Film Photo Award 2026
April 26, 2026 · $25–$35
Three grants of professional film and processing by Praus Productions. US-based photographers only.
ND Awards 2026
April 26, 2026 · $19–$29
International competition across Architecture, Editorial, Fine Art, Nature, People, and Special categories.
Motion · PH21 Gallery
April 27, 2026 · €25–€50
Curated group show on motion in photography. Physical exhibition in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter. Student rates available.
AAP Magazine #57 Portrait · All About Photo
April 28, 2026 · $30–$35
Portrait photography competition. $1,000 cash prize, publication in AAP Magazine, and global recognition.
reFocus Awards - Color Photography Contest
April 29, 2026 · $25–$50
Celebrating color photography. Cash prizes and digital gallery placement.
Night Aesthetics · Fotografiska
April 30, 2026 · Free
Exploring the visual world of the night — light, movement, atmosphere. Three winners receive €2,500 each.
Life Framer — Colors
April 30, 2026 · $20–$100
Monthly competition judged by Jimmy Marble. Winners exhibited in New York, Tokyo, Milan, and Arles.
Objectif FEMMES 2026 · PARISARTISTES#
April 30, 2026 · €40
Open call for female photographers exploring the bicentennial of photography. Exhibition at Salons Aguado in Paris.
London Photography Awards 2026 · International Awards Associate
April 30, 2026 · $25–$50
International awards across 13 categories. Separate professional and amateur/student divisions.
Landskrona Foto & Breadfield Dummy Award 2026
April 30, 2026 · €30
Photobook dummy competition. Winner receives full publication by Breadfield Press in 2027.
Alpine Fellowship Visual Art Prize 2026
May 1, 2026 · £10
Annual prize on the theme of JOY. All visual art media including photography. No AI.
This Is a Person · Decagon Gallery
May 3, 2026 · $25
Portrait photography exploring interior life over surface identity. ~10-12% acceptance rate.
12th Annual International Open Call · Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts
May 3, 2026 · $40
International open call — no theme. Juried by Crista Dix (Griffin Museum). Exhibition in Providence, RI. Cash prizes.
Exposure One Awards - One Shot Photo Contest
May 4, 2026 · $25–$50
Black and white photography celebration. Cash prizes, digital gallery, and artist directory placement.
XII Premio Internacional de Fotografía Jalón Ángel
May 4, 2026 · Free
Three categories: Portrait, Travel, Migration & Borders. One photo per category. No AI. Zaragoza, Spain.
100 Emerging Artworks of 2026 · Arts to Hearts Project
May 4, 2026 · $35
100 artists selected for a hardcover collector's book distributed globally. $1,000 top prize. All mediums.
Europe — Carlotta Gallery
May 10, 2026 · Free (£20 if accepted)
Exploring Europe as a negotiation between tradition and innovation, memory and experimentation. Virtual exhibition.
The Hopper Prize Grants
May 12, 2026 · $40
$13,000 total: 2 artists x $4,500 and 4 artists x $1,000. All visual art media eligible.
Prix Mustaqbal 2026 — Momentum · Fondation TGCC
May 16, 2026 · Free
Emerging artists 18-35, Moroccan or foreign residents in Morocco. Winner receives Jardin Rouge residency.
Candid — Carlotta Gallery
May 20, 2026 · Free (£20 if accepted)
The art of attention — rooted in presence, patience, and trust in the unfolding moment. Virtual exhibition.
Lisbon Street Photo Fest: Open Call 2026
May 31, 2026 · €10/image, €40/series
2nd edition. Street photography Singles & Series. €4,000 in prizes. Exhibition in Lisbon, Sept 25–27.
No Place Art — Edition Two: MATERIALITY
May 31, 2026 · £24
80 artists exhibited in London. 30+ awards including purchase awards, residencies, and solo exhibitions.
Life Framer — Portraits
May 31, 2026 · $20–$100
Monthly competition judged by Robin Hammond. Winners exhibited in New York, Tokyo, Milan, and Arles.
HIPA Photography Award 2026 · Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
May 31, 2026 · Free
Major international award. 2026 theme: Family. Free entry. Categories include Dreams Through AI and Sports.
Blank Wall Gallery — Best Portfolio 2026
May 31, 2026 · €50
One photographer wins a two-week solo exhibition with 40 prints and international promotion. Valued at €2,200+.
Archifoto 2026 — Architecture & Landscape · La Chambre
June 1, 2026 · €10
European architectural photography award, 8th edition. Theme: Architecture & Landscape. €500 per nominee + exhibition in Strasbourg.
Summer — Carlotta Gallery
June 10, 2026 · Free (£20 if accepted)
Summer experienced differently across the world — intensity, brightness, stillness. Virtual exhibition.
Black and White Photo Awards 2026
June 15, 2026 · €15 per category
International B&W competition — 6 categories incl. Architecture, Street, Landscape. €1,500 absolute winner + €200 per category.
Barbara Spohr Memorial Award for Photography 2027 · Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
June 17, 2026 · $35 CAD
Fully funded month-long photography residency at Banff Centre. $1,000 materials + travel bursary. For mid-career Canadian photographers.
The Shape of a Moment · Exposure Photo Gallery
June 30, 2026 · $5–$20
Capturing fleeting moments. Gold Award winner receives solo exhibition. Juror: Gary Hershorn (Reuters).
Home · Photography 4 Humanity
July 12, 2026 · Free
Exploring home — safety, belonging, dignity. Selected works exhibited at the United Nations HQ in New York.
Fotografiska HOME — Global Open Call
July 12, 2026 · Free
Global open call exploring home. Exhibition at UN Headquarters. Guest curator: James Nachtwey. No AI.
Analog Sparks — International Film Photography Awards 2026
July 31, 2026 · €10–€25
Discovering and promoting analog photographers. Exhibited at House of Lucie in Athens and Ostuni.
Tokyo International Foto Award 2026
August 1, 2026 · €15–€50
International competition introducing photographers to Tokyo's creative community. Winners exhibited in Tokyo.
Exibart Street Photography Contest — 5th Edition
October 15, 2026 · €10–€49
International street contest by Italy's leading art magazine. Leica Q3 grand prize. Five categories.
Annual Photography Awards 2026
December 13, 2026 · $25–$40
8th edition. Five main categories, 25 subcategories. Looking for bold and innovative approaches.
Innovate Grants - Quarterly Grants
Continuous · $35
Quarterly grants: 2 x $1,800 (one photographer, one artist). 12 honorable mentions per cycle.
The Woman Artist Award — 6th Edition · Arts to Hearts Project
March 27, 2026 · $12
Global art prize celebrating emerging and mid-career women artists. Open theme, any medium including photography.
Arty Rat Magazine Open Call
April 1, 2026 · Free (€35–€100 if accepted)
Independent art magazine for contemporary visual work. Two cover features and one free group exhibition in Vienna.
2026 International Portfolio Competition · Soho Photo Gallery
April 3, 2026 · $60
NYC's longest-running cooperative gallery awarding three solo shows. Portfolio of 10-15 images. AI assist OK.