HIPA Photography Award 2026

The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) is one of the largest photography prizes in the world by total prize pool. Named after Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the 2026 cycle is HIPA's 15th season. Total prize pool: $1,000,000 USD across all categories.

The 2026 main theme is "Family." Submissions are accepted across multiple categories: Family ($40K/$30K/$20K for 1st/2nd/3rd), Dreams Through AI ($40K/$30K/$20K), Sports Photography ($40K/$30K/$20K), Portfolio/Story-Telling ($50K/$40K/$30K), General Color ($40K/$30K/$20K), and General Black & White ($40K/$30K/$20K). The Grand Prize Winner from any category receives an additional $200,000.

Special Awards add further prize money: Photography Appreciation ($100,000), Content Creator ($50,000), and Photographer of the Year ($80,000). AI-generated images are only accepted in the dedicated Dreams Through AI category and are excluded from all other categories.

There is no entry fee. Eligibility is open globally to photographers aged 18 and over. The judging process runs in four stages with typically nine judges; jurors remain anonymous until the season concludes — an unusual policy intended to keep selection insulated from external pressure.

Winners grant HIPA perpetual worldwide publication and promotional rights to winning photographs. The 2026 deadline is May 31 at 11:59 PM UAE local time.