LensCulture Critics' Choice 2026
LensCulture Critics' Choice is one of LensCulture's annual competitions. The structural premise distinguishes it from most photo prizes: rather than a single jury voting on a shortlist, 20 leading photography critics and curators each independently select 3 photographers from the entries, producing up to 60 winners — a curated network selection rather than a competitive ranking.
The 2026 panel of 20 critics is drawn from major photography institutions and publications: Anna Planas (Artistic Director, Paris Photo), Alex Pollack (Director of Photography, National Geographic), Claartje van Dijk (Senior Curator, Foam), Crista Dix (Executive Director, Griffin Museum), Darius Himes (International Head of Photographs, Christie's), Fiona Shields (Head of Photography, The Guardian), Jessie Wender (Photo Editor, The New York Times), Jim Casper (Editor-in-Chief, LensCulture), Rhea Combs (National Portrait Gallery), Yuri Yamada (Tokyo Photographic Art Museum), and others.
The Top Ten — a smaller subset selected from the 60 — each receive a $1,000 cash grant plus inclusion in an international group exhibition at Photo London 2027. Up to 60 winners are featured in a LensCulture online gallery and exposed to LensCulture's 3-million-person global audience.
Eligibility is open globally. Submission is through LensCulture with 1–10 images. Fee structure: free for one image, $10 per additional image. The 2026 deadline was April 22; results announced May 1, 2026.
Jury: Alex Kahl, Online Editor, WePresent · Alex Pollack, Director of Photography, National Geographic · Anna Planas, Artistic Director, Paris Photo · Bindi Vora, Curator, Autograph · Cassidy Paul, Managing Editor Digital, Aperture · Claartje van Dijk, Senior Curator, Foam Photography Museum · Crista Dix, Executive Director, Griffin Museum · Darius Himes, International Head of Photographs, Christie's · Enrico Stefanelli, Artistic Director, Photolux Festival · Fiona Shields, Head of Photography, The Guardian · Giulia Zorzi, Founder, Micamera · Hannah Watson, Director, Trolley Books · Jane Yeomans, Senior Photo Editor, Bloomberg · Jessie Wender, Photo Editor, The New York Times · Jim Casper, Editor-in-Chief, LensCulture · Rhea Combs, Director of Curatorial Affairs, National Portrait Gallery · Rose Shoshana, Owner & Director, Rose Gallery · Taous R. Dahmani, Curator, The Photographers' Gallery · Xavier Canonne, Director, Musée de la Photographie · Yuri Yamada, Curator, Tokyo Photographic Art Museum
Organized by LensCulture