Free Open Calls for Artists
Open calls with no entry fee. Free exhibitions, grants, residencies, and submissions for photographers and visual artists.
Urban 2026 · Glasgow Gallery of Photography
May 22, 2026 · Free (£48 if accepted)
Urban-themed photography exhibition — street, cityscape, architecture. Glasgow gallery exhibition Sep 2026, online gallery, catalogue.
Pink 2026 · Glasgow Gallery of Photography
May 22, 2026 · Free (£48 if accepted)
Photography exhibition exploring the colour pink across any genre. Glasgow gallery exhibition Sep 2026, online gallery, catalogue.
VISUAL Carlow 2027 Exhibition Open Call
May 22, 2026 · Free
Major new commission for 2027 exhibition at VISUAL Carlow. Any medium. Artist fee + significant production budget.
Global Peace Photo Award 2026 · Global Peace Photo Award
May 24, 2026 · Free
Free award for photos of peaceful coexistence. €11,000 in prizes, Alfred Fried Peace Medal, Vienna ceremony.
Being Human — Artdoc Magazine Open Call · Artdoc Photography Magazine
May 25, 2026 · Free
Documentary photography open call exploring human presence across cultural contexts. Magazine publication and online exhibitions.
Open Panoràmic 2026 — Burning with Desire · Festival Panoràmic
May 25, 2026 · Free
Free open call from Festival Panoràmic (10th anniv.). 3 categories: still image, audiovisual essay, installation. Theme: Burning with Desire.
Global Ability Photography Challenge 2026 · Not Just Art
May 25, 2026 · Free
Free photography competition exclusively for persons with disabilities — ~$20K in prizes, top 20 exhibited in Ahmedabad.
Candid — Carlotta Gallery
May 26, 2026 · Free (£20–£35 if accepted)
The art of attention — rooted in presence, patience, and trust in the unfolding moment. Virtual exhibition.
Fondation Grantham Residency for Artists in Visual Arts 2027
May 27, 2026 · Free
4-week residency in Quebec for established artists at the intersection of visual arts and environmental issues. CAD $5,000–$10,000 grant.
see-zeen Issue 20 Open Call
May 27, 2026 · Free
Independent online magazine curating contemporary emerging photography. Open theme. Free, worldwide.
War/Conflict Photography in the Time of the Global Changes · Ukrainian House of Photography
May 30, 2026 · Free
Free call from Ukrainian House of Photography for IMPACT KYIV Forum. €300 per category + Kyiv exhibition. Documentary and conceptual.
Passage Art-Residency-Programme 2026 · Polygona Kunstverein
May 30, 2026 · Free
4-week residency in Wittenberg, Germany. €5,000 grant + accommodation. Themes: Ferropolis power station or Reformation archive.
The Emergence Project 2026 · Glasgow Gallery of Photography
May 30, 2026 · Free
Free graduate showcase for UK photography grads (2023–2026). Gallery covers printing and framing. Glasgow exhibition, July.
Passage Art-Residency-Programme 2026 · Polygona Kunstverein / KOBRA
May 30, 2026 · Free
Four-week residency in Wittenberg region for photographers and filmmakers. €5,000 grant + accommodation. Two themed sites.
Lanesboro Early Career Artist Residency 2027
May 30, 2026 · Free
Place-based residency in rural Minnesota. $1,000/week + housing/studio. MN or NYC residents only, 2–10 years of practice. Free.
VAiF26 — Photography Portfolio Open Call 2026
May 31, 2026 · Free
Free open call from Visual Arts International Festival in Thessaloniki. Group exhibition in November 2026. Academic and curatorial jury.
Eliza Moore Fellowship for Artistic Excellence 2027 · Oak Spring Garden Foundation
May 31, 2026 · Free
$10,000 grant + 2–5 week residency at Oak Spring Garden Foundation in Virginia. For early-career artists working with plants or landscapes.
Alt+1000 9th Edition Open Call — Emerging Scene
May 31, 2026 · Free
Outdoor photography festival in the Swiss Alps. 4 emerging Swiss photographers selected. CHF 800 + production. Theme: play and landscape.
Photometria Awards 2026 — Coming of Age · Photometria International Photography Festival
May 31, 2026 · Free / €5
18th Photometria Festival open call. Theme: Coming of Age. Sole judge Alec Soth. Nikon Z30 + solo exhibition for top three.
Outdoor Photography Magazine — Local Landscapes
May 31, 2026 · Free
Submit local landscape images for Outdoor Photography Magazine (UK). Winner receives Sunski sunglasses.
MACK — Debut Photography Book Submissions
May 31, 2026 · Free
MACK's window for first-time photobook authors. One of the world's most prestigious photography publishers.
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.
Queer Nature Photography Awards 2026 · Narwhal Rainbow Alliance
May 31, 2026 · Free
Free-entry award celebrating LGBTQ+ diversity through nature photography. Prizes include exhibitions.
VAiF26 — Photobook Open Call 2026
May 31, 2026 · Free
Free photobook open call at Visual Arts International Festival in Thessaloniki. Group exhibition in November 2026. No thematic restriction.
CCI Fellowships 2026 · Pérez Art Museum Miami
June 1, 2026 · Free
Three CCI fellowships at Pérez Art Museum Miami. WOPHA photography track for women & nonbinary Caribbean photographers.
SHOTS Magazine #172 — The Human Figure
June 1, 2026 · Free for subscribers / $25
B&W photography quarterly since 1986. Issue #172 themed The Human Figure. Up to 8 grayscale images. Free for subscribers.
BLM Canyon Country District Artist in Residence 2026
June 1, 2026 · Free
2–4 week residency in Moab, UT, hosted by the BLM. Photography eligible. Free; $125/week stipend + campsite.
Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award 2026 · FotoDocument
June 1, 2026 · Free
£4,000 grant for female documentary photographers. 10th edition, supported by Nikon. Free entry. Exhibition at POST Brighton.
Flanelle Print No. 47 — July 2026
June 1, 2026 · Free
Montreal fashion and arts magazine. Quarterly print and digital with international distribution. Est. 2012.
Lenscratch Student Prize 2026
June 1, 2026 · Free
Annual prize for student photographers. $2,000 first prize plus mentorship with Aline Smithson.
Working Assumptions Project Grants 2026 · Working Assumptions
June 1, 2026 · Free
Six $10,000 grants for photography projects exploring family. Unrestricted funding for journalistic, artistic, or educational work.
Artadia Awards 2026 — San Francisco Bay Area
June 1, 2026 · Free
Unrestricted $15,000 grants for contemporary visual artists in SF Bay Area. Two-round jury with studio visits.
Mangrove Photography Awards 2026 · Mangrove Action Project
June 1, 2026 · Free
Free conservation photography awards — 6 categories. $1,000 Photographer of the Year + category prizes. Young photographer award.
Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award 2026 · FotoDocument
June 1, 2026 · Free
£4,000 grant for female documentary photographers. 10th edition. For photo essays on social, environmental, or cultural issues.
The Paula Riff Award 2026 · Center for Photographic Art
June 1, 2026 · Free
Award for alternative/experimental photography — lensless, historical processes, physical intervention. $1,000 + Lenscratch feature.
CCI + WOPHA Fellowship 2026 · Pérez Art Museum Miami
June 1, 2026 · Free
Fellowship for women & non-binary photographers from Caribbean and diaspora. Miami residency at El Espacio 23 + production funds.
Transforming Landscapes — 20/20 Photo Festival 2026
June 1, 2026 · Free
Analog-only juried festival exhibition exploring 250 years of American landscapes. Cherry Street Pier, Philadelphia. Juror: Andrew Piccone.
24th DongGang International Photo Festival 2026 Open Call
June 1, 2026 · Free
24th DIPF Yeongwol, South Korea. Theme: The Silence that Shapes. 15–20 artists selected. Artist of the Year solo show + travel.
Humber Portrait Prize 2026
June 5, 2026 · Free
Free open call for the Humber Portrait Prize 2026 from Humberlands Photo Festival in Grimsby. Open and young person categories. Exhibition.
BWP x Nikon Grant Fund 2026 — Quarter 2 · Black Women Photographers
June 5, 2026 · Free
Quarterly grant for Black women photographers worldwide. $2,500 cash + Nikon Z6III kit. Q2 2026 cycle.
LUMINEX 4.0 · NOW Art
June 5, 2026 · Free
Outdoor art and technology exhibition in Los Angeles. $1,000 stipend per artist plus production support based on approved project.
2026 Booooooom Art & Photo Book Award
June 5, 2026 · Free (zines) / $25 (books)
8 projects (6 books, 2 zines) fully published for free. Books 100 copies, zines 25 copies. Free zine entry.
RAK Art Festival 2027 — Lost in Translation
June 5, 2026 · Free
14th edition Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival in UAE. Free entry. AED 12,000 Grand Jury Prize + AED 4,000–6,000 photography category prizes.
Delfina Foundation — Kazakhstan Residency 2026
June 7, 2026 · Free
Fully funded 3-month London residency for contemporary visual artists from Kazakhstan. Autumn 2026 season.
Drone Photo Awards 2026 · Siena Awards
June 7, 2026 · Free
Aerial photography contest. 9 categories, free entry. €500 gear + Pangea trophy + Siena exhibition. Ceremony Oct 10.
Circulation(s) Festival 2027 — 17th Edition Open Call
June 7, 2026 · Free until May 24 / €20 from May 25
Major European festival of young photography at CENTQUATRE-Paris. Free until May 24, then €20. ~15 photographers selected for spring 2027.
FILE NOT FOUND — Archive Residencies 2026 · Goethe-Institut
June 7, 2026 · Free
Ten artist residencies at archives worldwide. €4,000 + travel + final exhibition at BLMK Cottbus 2027. With Gerador.
Near. Prize 2026
June 7, 2026 · Free
Swiss prize from Near. + Galerie Stephan Witschi. CHF 1,000 + solo show + festival exhibition at Fotofestival Lenzburg. Near. members only.
Summer — Carlotta Gallery
June 10, 2026 · Free (£20–£35 if accepted)
Summer experienced differently across the world — intensity, brightness, stillness. Virtual exhibition.
2nd Street Photo Festival 2026
June 10, 2026 · Free (€50 if selected)
Street photography call for Athens festival exhibition Dec 12–20. Free entry; €400/€300/€200 prizes; €50 if selected.
Verzasca Foto Festival 2027 — Exhibition Open Call
June 10, 2026 · Free
Free call for Verzasca Foto's 2027 biennial in Ticino. Photography of peripheral and rural places. Fee + production covered for selected.
Snider Prize · Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia
June 12, 2026 · Free
For emerging artists in final year of graduate study. $3,000 winner. Acquisitions into MoCP permanent collection.
Diane Dammeyer Fellowship in Photographic Arts and Social Issues 2026/27 · Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia
June 12, 2026 · Free
Fellowship for socially engaged photographers partnering with a Chicago-based community organization.
Lenscratch Fatherhood Exhibition
June 13, 2026 · Free
Online exhibition exploring fatherhood as an evolving role shaped by culture, responsibility, and tenderness.
Deloitte Photo Grant 2026
June 14, 2026 · Free
Theme: Proximities. For photographers under 35. €25,000 prize plus solo exhibition at Triennale Milano.
Photography+ Emerging Talent 2026 · Photoworks
June 15, 2026 · Free
10 awardees featured in Photography+ magazine and Kranj Foto Fest projection. BA/MA grads or first 5 years of practice.
PN Awards 2026 — Book Prize & Project Grant · Photography Network
June 15, 2026 · Free
Book prize for innovation in photography scholarship. Project grant for emerging scholars and curators.
Fotografiska Emerging Portfolio Review 2026
June 15, 2026 · Free
Free one-on-one online portfolio review with two senior Fotografiska curators. Apply by June 15; review day July 3, 2026.
Photo Trouvée Magazine Issue 20 — Print Call
June 15, 2026 · Free to submit; $40 if selected
Print Issue 20 for artists working with vintage found or family photographs. Any media. Free submission.
Photography+ Emerging Talent 2026 · Photoworks
June 15, 2026 · Free
Free international call for early-career photographers. 10 awardees featured in Photography+ magazine and Kranj Foto Fest projection.
Jean Giono Photography Contest 2026 · Les Amis de Jean Giono
June 15, 2026 · Free
Free contest by Les Amis de Jean Giono and Regards Alpins. Photos inspired by Giono's Noé. Awards at Rencontres Giono, Manosque.
UNSTAGED Journal — Materiality
June 15, 2026 · Free
Free indie photography journal on authenticity. Theme: Materiality. Guest curated by Francisco Gonzalez Camacho. Print publication.
Fotografiska Emerging Portfolio Review 2026
June 15, 2026 · Free
Free 20-min 1:1 portfolio review with a Fotografiska exhibition director. Sessions July 3, 2026, online in English. Open globally.
LensCulture Street Photography Awards 2026
June 17, 2026 · Free–$45
LensCulture annual street photography awards. $10,000 in prizes, 9 international jurors, exhibition at Photo London 2027. Free single entry.
Lenscratch Fault Lines: America Exhibition
June 19, 2026 · Free
Online exhibition examining tensions and transformations across America. Timed for July 4th.
FiiLTHY GLO Issue 5 — SONDER
June 20, 2026 · Free
Indie zine for the strange and unusual. Issue 5 theme: SONDER. Photography accepted. Free, worldwide.
Denis Roussel Award 2026 · Rfotofolio
June 27, 2026 · Free (donation optional)
For historical and alternative photographic processes including silver gelatin. $2,000 main award.
Photoworks Artist Venturing Labs — EASE: Crete 2026–2027
June 29, 2026 · Free
UK-based artist joins art–science fieldwork lab in Crete. £1,000 stipend, all expenses covered. Climate, landscape, deep time.
Women Photograph + Leica Project Grants 2026
June 30, 2026 · Free
Three $10,000 grants from Women Photograph + Leica for women, nonbinary, trans, intersex documentary photographers. Free, international.
MACK — Photography Submissions
June 30, 2026 · Free
MACK's annual photography window. Prioritizes underrepresented voices in the photobook landscape.
FotoDoc Photo Contest 2026
June 30, 2026 · Free
International documentary contest. Three categories. 25 winners exhibited at FotoDoc Festival, São Paulo.
Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2026
June 30, 2026 · Free
Celebrating the funniest moments in wildlife photography. Free entry. Grand prize: Kenya safari for two.
Embracing Our Differences 2027 Outdoor Exhibition
July 1, 2026 · Free
50 artworks displayed as billboard-sized panels in Florida parks. Themes: diversity, inclusion, kindness.
2027 Artist-in-Residence Program · Light Work
July 1, 2026 · Free
One-month residency in Syracuse for photographers. $7,500 stipend, apartment, 24-hour darkroom/digital access. Published in Contact Sheet.
Light Work Artist-in-Residence 2027
July 1, 2026 · Free
One-month residency with $7,500 stipend and furnished apartment. Published in Contact Sheet. Open worldwide.
Stanley Greene Foundation Emerging Photographers Grant 2026–2027
July 1, 2026 · Free
$10,000 grant for emerging visual storytellers, with emphasis on underserved and diverse communities. Honors Stanley Greene's legacy.
Illuminations Grant 2026 · Queer|Art
July 2, 2026 · Free
Annual $10,000 grant for Black trans women visual artists including photographers. Four finalists get $1,250 each. US-based, early-career.
XVIII Festival di Fotografia a Capri — Viaggi e Miraggi · Fondazione Capri
July 5, 2026 · Free
Free photography festival on Capri. Theme: Journeys and Mirages. Winning project exhibited at Certosa di San Giacomo. Open worldwide.
Joan Wakelin Bursary 2026
July 6, 2026 · Free
£2,000 bursary for overseas documentary photo essays. RPS x The Guardian. Free entry, open worldwide. Named after Joan Wakelin.
F-Stop Magazine Issue #138 — Documentary 2026
July 10, 2026 · Free
Documentary photography issue. Longer-term focus than photojournalism. Up to 12 images with project statement.
Photography 4 Humanity / Fotografiska Global Prize 2026
July 12, 2026 · Free
Theme: HOME. Selected work exhibited at UN Headquarters NYC, curated by James Nachtwey. Free entry.
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.
Chester Photo Festival 2026 — Making Voices Heard
July 15, 2026 · Free entry; £45–£60 per selected work
2nd edition photo festival across Chester venues. Free entry; selection fee only. Exhibition + festival book.
Manipulation & Illusion · Co-Ex Collaborative
July 19, 2026 · Free
Explore perception, belief, identity, and power through illusion and manipulation. All disciplines. Free, open worldwide.
Homo Technologicus · LoosenArt
July 22, 2026 · Free
Exploring humans and technology — social, environmental, and emotional transformations. Exhibition in Rome.
The Illume Awards 2026
July 31, 2026 · Free
Adventure and action sports photography awards (formerly Red Bull Illume). Free entry, 16 categories, Leica prizes, photobook, exhibition tour.
MUUS Collection Research Fellowship 2026
July 31, 2026 · Free
$20,000 grant for a curator or academic to develop an exhibition or publication using MUUS Collection's archives. Travel covered.
Camera Clara Photo Award 2026
July 31, 2026 · Free
Exclusively for large-format camera photographers. Unpublished series of 5-10 images. Prize money + exhibition.
Les Photographiques 2027 — Open Call
July 31, 2026 · Free
Free open call for the 2027 Les Photographiques festival in Le Mans. €500 fee + travel. General + landscape strands (200LUX bicentennial).
Men Asleep — 2026 Book & Exhibition Open Call · Memory Version
August 1, 2026 · Free
Book and exhibition expansion of Jordanna Kalman's 2025 'Men Asleep' zine. One photograph of a man sleeping. Free, open to all.
Eamonn McCabe Bursary 2026 · Royal Photographic Society
August 3, 2026 · Free
£3,000 RPS bursary for photographers under 30 on 'sporting endeavour'. Grassroots, mental health, social issues welcomed. Free entry.
Future Photobook Award 2026 · Coventry University MA Photography & Fast Forward
August 7, 2026 · Free
Inaugural photobook award for HE students and recent grads. Open to any format including zines and handmade books. Free entry.
Lanesboro BIPOC Artist Residency 2026/27
August 10, 2026 · Free
1–2 week residency in rural Minnesota for MN-based BIPOC artists. $1,250/week + $500 supplies + housing. Lottery-based, free.
Brian Black Memorial Award 2026 — Adult Photo Competition · Yachting Monthly
August 30, 2026 · Free
Yachting Monthly + Coppercoat marine environmental photo award on 'Our Inspiring Seas'. UK only. £750 camera equipment prize.
FeelsZine Issue 27 — Belonging
August 30, 2026 · Free
Canadian creative zine's 10th anniversary issue. Theme: belonging. Accepts photography, illustration, collage, and more.
Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant 2026
August 31, 2026 · Free
£10,000 + Giles Duley mentorship for photojournalists 24 or under (or full-time photo students). Patron: Sir Don McCullin.
Recology San Francisco Artist-in-Residence Program 2027
September 1, 2026 · Free
Four-month residency at SF's recycling center — artists make work from discarded materials. Monthly stipend, studio access. Bay Area only.
PhotoVogue Global Open Call 2026 — Brave New Visions
September 11, 2026 · Free
PhotoVogue's 2026 global open call. $12,000 in three grants, festival exhibition, Vogue publication. Free; deadline 11 September 2026.
Immagini e trame d'acqua — Le Stanze della Fotografia Open Call
September 30, 2026 · Free
Free open call from Venice's Le Stanze della Fotografia on water in cultural & landscape heritage. Photography+text or video.
World Cyanotype Day · AlternativePhotography.com
October 2, 2026 · Free
Annual international celebration of the cyanotype process. Submit your cyanotype work to be featured.
XXIV Eurostars Grand Marina Photography Award — Josep Juanpere 2026
October 20, 2026 · Free
24th edition. Theme: Barcelona, World Capital of Architecture. €5,000 first prize. Submit photographic triptychs.
World Anthotype Day · AlternativePhotography.com
October 31, 2026 · Free
Annual celebration of plant-based photographic printing processes. Entries open August through October.
Fotografiska Emerging Artist Platform
Continuous · Free
Multiple open calls for emerging photographers. Exhibitions at Fotografiska museums and the UN Headquarters.
Analog Forever Magazine — Calls for Entry
Continuous · Free
High-quality print magazine for film and analog photography. Also runs themed online group exhibitions.
Tomorrow's Talent - Open Submissions · Booooooom
Continuous · Free
Global platform featuring emerging artists. Potential feature and inclusion in book series.
Zone Magazine — Open Submissions
Continuous · Free
International photography zine. No genre restrictions. Open to all ages worldwide. Year-round submissions.
Burn Magazine — Open Submissions
Continuous · Free
Photography magazine founded by David Alan Harvey (Magnum). Photo essays and multimedia on any subject.
Phases Magazine — Open Submissions
Continuous · Free
International contemporary photography magazine publishing 3 portfolios per issue.