Photography Open Calls
Competitions, awards, and call for entries for photographers worldwide. Submit your work to juried exhibitions, contests, and portfolio reviews.
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.
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.
reFocus Awards - Black and White Photo Contest
May 25, 2026 · $25–$50
Black and white photography contest with $4,000 in prizes. Trophy, press coverage, artist directory. 19 categories.
BBA One Shot Award - Spring 2026
May 25, 2026 · €19
Single-image photo prize. 20 images exhibited at BBA Gallery Berlin. €300 + Artsy listing. Production covered.
2026 Black & White Award · The Independent Photographer
May 31, 2026 · $15–$45
Black & white photography competition. $2,700 prize pool, PBC Gallery London exhibition. Judge: Monica Denevan.
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.
10th Singapore International Photography Festival 2026 Open Call
May 31, 2026 · $30–$45
10th biennial SIPF Open Call. Portfolio + photobook categories. 3× SGD $2,000 prizes. Showcase in Singapore Oct–Nov 2026.
The Photo Review 41st Annual International Photography Competition
May 31, 2026 · $40
41st edition. Juried by Dr. Sarah Kennel (VMFA). Exhibition at Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia. $1,000 purchase prize.
Life Framer — Portraits
May 31, 2026 · $20–$100
Monthly competition judged by Robin Hammond. Winners exhibited in New York, Tokyo, Milan, and Arles.
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.
Natural Landscape Photography Awards 2026
May 31, 2026 · $17–$113
Celebrating realistic landscape photography. No AI or compositing. RAW file checks for finalists.
Queer Nature Photography Awards 2026 · Narwhal Rainbow Alliance
May 31, 2026 · Free
Free-entry award celebrating LGBTQ+ diversity through nature photography. Prizes include exhibitions.
Better Photography Magazine Photographer of the Year 2026
May 31, 2026 · AUD $20/image
19th edition. Four categories judged by AIPP Grand Masters with individual feedback. AUD $5,000 total prizes.
F/262 Photography Awards 2026
May 31, 2026 · €15/image
Single-image awards from the inaugural F/262 Festival in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal. Public outdoor installations + 2028 solo show.
Lenscratch Student Prize 2026
June 1, 2026 · Free
Annual prize for student photographers. $2,000 first prize plus mentorship with Aline Smithson.
Archifoto 2026 — Architecture & Landscape · La Chambre
June 1, 2026 · €10
European architectural photography award, 8th edition. Theme: Architecture & Landscape. €500 per nominee + exhibition in Strasbourg.
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.
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.
Minimalist Photography Awards 2026
June 2, 2026 · €20–€35
International award for minimalist photography. €2,000 grand prize, book publication, and exhibition. 12 categories.
Nature Photographer of the Year 2026
June 2, 2026 · €34
International nature competition with 12 categories plus young photographers and portfolio awards.
Guest Room: Annet Dekker & Margriet Schavemaker · Der Greif
June 6, 2026 · PWYC
Theme: "The Brilliance of the Mundane" — everyday, accidental, and overlooked imagery as digital folklore.
Read Against the Machine — Arles 2026 · Der Greif
June 7, 2026 · PWYC
Der Greif × MRO Arles 2026 workshop & 1:1 portfolio reviews. Group screening at MRO Foundation. PWYC; deadline 7 June 2026.
British Wildlife Photography Awards 2026
June 7, 2026 · £35–£40
UK wildlife photography awards — 12 categories. Winners in Collection 14 book + UK touring exhibition. Youth entry free.
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.
Rarefied Light 2026 · Alaska Photographic Center
June 10, 2026 · $15–$30
Statewide juried exhibition with Nevada Wier (Nat Geo). Travels to four Alaska galleries from October 2026.
Bowness Photography Prize 2026
June 14, 2026 · $55 AUD
Australia's richest photography prize. $50,000 AUD winner. 21st year. Australian citizens/residents only.
Queer Quintessential 2026 · Der Greif
June 15, 2026 · PWYC
Pride Month open call for LGBTQIA+ lens-based artists. Online exhibition + Face-to-Face critique. PWYC; deadline 15 June 2026.
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.
Hariban Award 2026 · Benrido
June 15, 2026 · $40–$50
International collotype competition. Grand Prize: two-week residency in Kyoto with master collotype printers.
Black and White Photo Awards 2026
June 15, 2026 · €15 per category
International B&W competition — 6 categories incl. Architecture, Street, Landscape. €1,500 absolute winner + €200 per category.
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.
Color 2026 · Grid Photo Gallery
June 15, 2026 · €7
Grid Photo Gallery's call exploring color as structure, signal, or atmosphere. Online exhibition. €7 per image, unlimited submissions.
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.
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.
The Print Center 101st ANNUAL International Competition
June 18, 2026 · $45
Annual international competition for photography and printmaking. Solo exhibitions + museum acquisitions (PMA, WVU) + cash awards.
Photo of the Season — Worth a Thousand Words · The Image Flow
June 20, 2026 · $15
Seasonal competition for narrative-driven images. $150 first prize. The Image Flow gallery, San Anselmo, CA.
Der Greif Issue 19 — I Am Because of You, Mother Earth · Der Greif
June 20, 2026 · €13/€15
Print issue guest-edited by Zanele Muholi. Theme: "I Am Because of You, Mother Earth" — environment as inseparable from body and breath.
Denis Roussel Award 2026 · Rfotofolio
June 27, 2026 · Free (donation optional)
For historical and alternative photographic processes including silver gelatin. $2,000 main award.
Berlin Photo Awards 2026
June 27, 2026 · €25
International competition with 30 categories. Winners exhibited at ERSTERERSTER Gallery Berlin.
Rotlicht Festival 2026 — Anthropocene: Hybrid Realities
June 30, 2026 · €20
Open call for analog photography festival in Vienna. Theme: Anthropocene. 20 winners exhibited; €250 honorarium + €150 travel.
International Photography Awards 2026
June 30, 2026 · $20–$40
One of the most prestigious annual competitions. 23rd edition. $60,000 prize pool across eleven categories.
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.
Life Framer — Street Life
June 30, 2026 · $20–$100
Monthly competition judged by Shana Lopes (SFMOMA). Winners exhibited in New York, Tokyo, Milan, and Arles.
Critical Mass 2026 · Photolucida
July 1, 2026 · $65 early bird / $75 regular; +$200 if Top 200 finalist
Photolucida's annual review by 200 photography pros. Top 50 designation, book awards, exhibition opportunities. AI not accepted.
Alpine Fellowship Visual Art Prize 2026
July 1, 2026 · £10
Annual prize on the theme of JOY. All visual art media including photography. No AI.
Apparently in America — Artist Award 2026
July 4, 2026 · $10
Photography award on American identity. $500 prize. Fee waivers available. Founded by curator Francesca Hummler.
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.
Epson International Pano Awards 2026
July 13, 2026 · $20–$22
World's largest panoramic photography competition. $50K+ prizes incl. $15K cash. New Aerial category. Open, Amateur, VR/360.
Monochromatic Awards 2026 · Dodho Magazine
July 15, 2026 · €30 (3) / €45 (6) / €60 (12)
5th edition. All interpretations of monochromatic photography. Finalists in a 30×30 cm annual printed book.
Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize — MPB Photography Award 2026
July 17, 2026 · $40
Representational photography. $3,000 first prize + exhibition at Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco. No AI.
PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris 2026
July 22, 2026 · €20–€50
One of Europe's most prestigious awards. Categories from Analog to Advertising. Exhibited in Paris.
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.
Analog Sparks — International Film Photography Awards 2026
July 31, 2026 · €10–€25
Discovering and promoting analog photographers. Exhibited at House of Lucie in Athens and Ostuni.
Camera Clara Photo Award 2026
July 31, 2026 · Free
Exclusively for large-format camera photographers. Unpublished series of 5-10 images. Prize money + exhibition.
Roma E'Festival — Street Photography Awards 2026 · Effe4.0 Street Photography
July 31, 2026 · €20–€70
Five categories including Smartphone and AI-Generated. Finalists exhibited in Rome. Leica-sponsored prizes.
Life Framer — Planet Earth
July 31, 2026 · $20–$100
Monthly competition judged by Myrtille Delamarche (GEO Magazine). Winners exhibited in New York, Tokyo, Milan, and Arles.
Tokyo International Foto Award 2026
August 1, 2026 · €15–€50
International competition introducing photographers to Tokyo's creative community. Winners exhibited in Tokyo.
Source Graduate Photography Online 2026 — MA/MFA
August 7, 2026 · £33 / €38
MA/MFA graduate showcase from Source magazine for UK/Ireland 2026 grads. 8 images. Featured online + in printed supplement.
Milano Photo Awards 2026 · TheStreetSoup
August 15, 2026 · €20–€80
Exhibition and contest in Milan with Sebastiao Salgado tribute. Street, portraits, reportage, nature. Nikon Italia.
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.
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.
World Cyanotype Day · AlternativePhotography.com
October 2, 2026 · Free
Annual international celebration of the cyanotype process. Submit your cyanotype work to be featured.
Fine Art Photography Awards 2026/2027
October 11, 2026 · $19–34
13th edition — 20 categories from landscape to street. $3K professional / $2K amateur grand prizes. 15 international jurors.
Exibart Street Photography Contest — 5th Edition
October 15, 2026 · €10–€49
International street contest by Italy's leading art magazine. Leica Q3 grand prize. Five categories.
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.
Chromatic Photography Awards 2026
October 25, 2026 · $17–$27
International color competition across 20 categories. Separate Professional and Amateur divisions.
World Anthotype Day · AlternativePhotography.com
October 31, 2026 · Free
Annual celebration of plant-based photographic printing processes. Entries open August through October.
Monochrome Awards 2026
November 15, 2026 · $17–$27
International B&W competition with 14 categories. Professional and amateur divisions. Annual book.
Annual Photography Awards 2026
December 13, 2026 · $25–$40
8th edition. Five main categories, 25 subcategories. Looking for bold and innovative approaches.
Fotografiska Emerging Artist Platform
Continuous · Free
Multiple open calls for emerging photographers. Exhibitions at Fotografiska museums and the UN Headquarters.
Open Doors Takeovers
Continuous · £17
Discovery account featuring artist takeovers. Connected to UNSEEN art fair and Approche.