F/262 Photography Awards 2026

F/262 is the inaugural international photography festival of Caldas da Rainha, a UNESCO Creative City in Portugal — the festival's name combines the photographic 'F' (Focus, F-Stop, Family, Fun, Friendship, Freedom) with the city's area code, 262. The 2026 edition runs May 16 – September 13, with the year's curatorial focus on Water as ecological, cultural, and symbolic element. The festival is produced by Associação F/SOS – Fotografia, Solidariedade e Obras Sociais.

The Photography Awards run as a single-image competition across four parallel tracks. The main F/262 Photography Award gives Gold, Silver, and Bronze. The ZÉ Award is a Creative Award for unconventional approaches. The NextGen Award is reserved for emerging photographers. The Thematic Award 'Moldar as Margens / Shaping Shores' ties to the 2026 Water focus.

Selected work is shown as outdoor public installations across Caldas da Rainha during the festival run, with each selected photographer receiving a 50×70 cm fine-art print on Fuji paper, festival programme inclusion, and press/digital visibility. Gold takes a 2028 solo exhibition plus a €500 KOYLAB voucher, BlackRapid Sport X, Outex Camera Pro Kit, and 1-year SmartAlbums bundle. Silver and Bronze receive €400 and €300 vouchers respectively plus gear and software. Other category winners receive €250 vouchers and accessories.

Selection is by an independent international jury of photographers, editors, curators, and cultural leaders, including National Geographic and Pulitzer-winning practitioners. Judging is blind, on narrative strength, visual impact, originality, technical/conceptual coherence, and contemporary relevance.

Submission is through the festival website. Entry fee is €15 per image with no quantity limit; series are not accepted (each image is judged separately). Eligibility is open worldwide with no nationality, age, theme, or equipment restrictions; original work only, and images must not have previously received a major international award. The 2026 deadline is May 31; finalists are announced July 18.