Encontros da Imagem Portfolio Reviews 2026

Encontros da Imagem is one of Europe's longest-running photography festivals — a non-profit cultural association founded in 1987 that has run an International Photography and Visual Arts Festival in Braga, Portugal, every year since. The 2026 edition is the 36th, with the festival theme Territory and Identity.

The Portfolio Reviews program runs in parallel to the festival's main prize tracks and is structured in two stages. Stage one is an open online pre-selection through the Picter platform, requiring up to three projects per applicant with 15–20 images each. Stage two brings 32 selected photographers to Braga in person on October 8–9, 2026. Each gives a 10-minute public presentation followed by eight 10-minute one-on-one review appointments with the jury.

The top award — the Portfolio Review Prize — carries a €3,000 cash prize, a solo exhibition at the 2027 edition of the festival, and publication in KATALOG, the festival's magazine. Three Honorable Mentions are featured in a video projection during the 2026 festival.

Fees are tiered to the two stages: a €30 application fee for the open pre-selection, and an additional €80 second-stage fee paid only by selected photographers attending the in-person Braga review. Eligibility is open globally to photographers aged 18 or older. Deadline for the open stage: extended to 13 June 2026.