F/262 Photo Book Award 2026

F/262 is the inaugural international photography festival of Caldas da Rainha, a UNESCO Creative City in Portugal. The Photo Book Award is the festival's dedicated photobook track — a sister program to its photography awards, run during the festival's 2026 edition (May 16 – September 13). The festival's curatorial focus for 2026 is Water as ecological, cultural, and symbolic element.

The award honors the best unpublished photobook project of the year. Eligibility is broad: collectives are permitted, and self-published works with print runs of 100 copies or fewer are still considered unpublished for the purposes of the award. There is no per-author entry limit; multiple projects may be submitted with separate fees.

The winner receives full local production of a 262-copy hand-numbered limited edition produced in Portugal, in collaboration with publishing partners and local craftspeople. The prize includes editorial and materials support, ISBN and colophon, a launch event at the F/262 Photo Book Club, and international visibility through the festival programme. The structure prioritizes book-making craft and local production over a cash prize.

Selection is by an independent jury including Jacqueline Tobin (former editor-in-chief, Rangefinder Magazine), Yegan Mazandarani and William Keo of Four Eyes Editions, designer/educator Rúben R. Dias, and designer João Agostinho. Judging considers narrative strength, editing/sequence/design, production feasibility, and sustainability/innovation.

Submission is through the festival website. Entry fee is €35 per project (non-refundable). The 2026 application deadline is July 1, with shortlisted finalists invited to deliver physical dummies by August 5.