Photography+ Emerging Talent 2026

Photoworks is the UK photography agency based in Brighton — a major commissioning, publishing, and development organization for photography in Britain. Photography+ is the agency's online magazine, and the Emerging Talent issue is its annual open-call edition dedicated to early-career image-makers. The 2026 cycle is open to BA and MA graduates and to image-based artists within the first five years of their practice and/or graduation.

Ten awardees are selected. All ten are featured in the next Photography+ issue and included in an evening projection at Kranj Foto Fest in Slovenia. Two additional awards are layered on top: one selected artist receives a one-year Photoworks membership plus curatorial and editorial mentoring; a second receives a £200 printing voucher from Spectrum Photographic and an Instagram takeover.

The 2026 jury is Emma Bowkett (Director of Photography, Financial Times), Louise Fedotov-Clements (Director, Photoworks), Fernanda Prado Verčič (Founding Director, Kranj Foto Fest), Maryam Wahid (Head of Programs and Outreach, Tasweer Photography Festival), and Amin Yousefi (Assistant Curator and Editor, Photography+). The panel mixes editorial, institutional, and festival-side perspectives — useful for emerging photographers thinking about where their work fits next.

Applications are made through Picter: up to 15 images from a single project plus a 200-word artist statement. Only one project per applicant. The call is free to enter. The deadline is June 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Program funding comes from Photoworks, Spectrum Photographic, and Picter.