International Photography Awards 2026

The International Photography Awards (IPA) was founded in 2003 and is now in its 23rd edition — one of the longer-running international photography competitions. The IPA is the sister organization of the Lucie Foundation, which administers the Lucie Awards.

Submissions are split between Professional and Non-Professional tracks across 11 categories: Advertising, Analog/Film, Architectural, Editorial, Event, Fine Art, Nature, People, Sports, Photography Book, and Special Category. Total prize pool is $60,000 across the program.

Top awards: International Photographer of the Year (Professional, $10,000) and Discovery of the Year (Non-Professional, $5,000). Each Professional Category winner receives $1,000 cash plus a $500 travel allowance; each Non-Professional Category winner receives $500 plus $500 travel. Beyond cash, IPA category winners receive an IPA Trophy, two tickets to the IPA Awards Gala, inclusion in the Best of Show exhibition, screening at House of Lucie Galleries worldwide, publication in the IPA Annual Book, and press coverage to the program's 130,000+ member network.

The 2026 jury includes Anne Morin (curator at diChroma Photography), Caroline Metcalfe (Photography Director), Giovanna Calvenzi (photo editor and curator), Kirk McKoy (photojournalist), Michael Pritchard (Director-General of the Royal Photographic Society), Paris Chong (Leica Gallery LA), and others. Entry fees are tiered between $20 and $40 depending on category and submission tier. The 2026 deadline is June 30; results announced October 2026.