THE INTERNATIONALPHOTO CONTESTS DIRECTORY 2026

• Global Lens • Deadline: September 30th, 2026 • Category: Several Categories • Prize: $1,000 + Exhibition + Publication • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Global Lens Photography Awards 2026 celebrates photographic excellence across virtually every genre of contemporary photography, inviting emerging and established photographers from around the globe to share their most compelling work. The competition features an extensive category system designed to accommodate

• Le Stanze della Fotografia • Deadline: September 30th, 2026 • Theme: Stories related to the theme of water • Prize: Exhibition in Venice (Italy) • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The Le Stanze della Fotografia Foundation, in partnership with the Association for the Heritage of the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, presents a new project centered on the relationship between cultural heritage and visual storytelling. As part of the initiative, a free

• All About Photo • Deadline: September 29th, 2026 • Theme: Street Photography • Prize: $1,000 + Online Exhibition + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The street never stops speaking. Its stories appear in a fraction of a second and disappear just as quickly: a face reflected in a shop window, a shadow crossing an unfamiliar street, two strangers sharing an unexpected moment, the intensity of a crowded afternoon or the stillness of the city after midnight.

• BBA Prizes & Gallery • Deadline: September 28th, 2027 • Theme: Contemporary Photography • Prize: €300 + Production + Exhibition in Berlin • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The BBA One Shot Award Autumn Edition places a simple idea at the centre of its format: one photograph can carry significant artistic impact. Rather than requiring photographers to submit extensive portfolios or developed series, the award focuses on the ability of a single frame to communicate

• FotoContest • Deadline: September 30th, 2026 • Category: Black and White Photography • Prize: €500 in Cash + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The contest is dedicated to black-and-white photography, inviting photographers to submit their strongest monochrome images. The theme focuses on the visual possibilities of working without colour, highlighting elements such as light, shadow, contrast, texture, composition, atmosphere, and subject matter. Entries

• Umbra International Photography Awards • Deadline: September 30th, 2026 • Theme: Several Categories • Prize: Statues + Medals + Certificates • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The 4th Edition of the Umbra Awards 2026 welcomes photographers of all backgrounds to take part in an international celebration of photographic excellence. Recognized as one of the world's respected photography competitions, the Umbra International Photography Awards™ honor artists whose ima

• PhotoPlace Gallery • Deadline: October 5th, 2026 • Theme: The Human Experience • Prize: Exhibition in Vermont (USA) + Sales • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE What does it mean to be human? It can be found in a fleeting glance between strangers, a family gathered around a table, a worker finishing a long day, a celebration shared by a community, or the quiet traces someone leaves behind. It can emerge through moments of joy, grief, resilience, uncertainty, connect

• Fabula Works • Deadline: November 15th, 2026 • Category: Lines • Prize: Exhibition in Rome (Italy) + Sales • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The organisers are currently seeking two photographers to be selected for inclusion in their first exhibition of 2027. For this open call, photographers are invited to interpret the theme “Lines” freely and from any artistic or conceptual perspective. The theme is intentionally open-ended, allowing participants to explore th

• SEE:ZEEN Magazine • Deadline: October 18th, 2026 • Category: Contemporary Photography • Prize: Publication + Exposure • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Anyone, from anywhere in the world, can submit. see-zeen** is open to every kind of photographic expression. There are no restrictions on theme, style, genre, or visual language. Whether your work is rooted in portraiture, landscape, documentary, fashion, street photography, conceptual practice, abstraction, or s

• Homiens • Deadline: October 29th, 2026 • Category: Art and Photography • Prize: $24,000 Awarded Annually + Exhibition • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Whether you are an emerging artist looking for a significant opportunity to establish your career or an established professional seeking greater international recognition, the Homiens Art Prize offers a prestigious platform designed to support artistic careers and connect outstanding artists with a wider professio

• Seeing Happy • Deadline: October 15th, 2026 • Theme: Images of Peace • Prize: Exhibition in Warsaw (Poland) • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Peace means something different to everyone. It can be a moment of silence, the warmth of a familiar place, the presence of someone we love, a landscape untouched by noise, or simply the hope of a better tomorrow. Images of Peace is an international photography showcase created to explore these countless interpretations th

• Black Box Gallery • Deadline: October 9th, 2026 • Category: Shadow and Light • Prize: Exhibition in Portland (USA) + Sales • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Black Box Gallery is pleased to announce a juried group photography exhibition exploring the theme of Shadow and Light. At the heart of photography lies the relationship between darkness and illumination: the ways in which light reveals, conceals, defines and transforms the subjects within an image. Through

• Tloupas Path • Deadline: October 15th, 2026 • Category: Renaissance • Prize: Exhibition in Greece + Gift + Exposure • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE TLOUPAS PATH – Photography Award of Thessaly's Heritage is an international photography competition and festival based in Larissa, Greece, created to honour the enduring legacy of the renowned Greek photographer Takis Tloupas. Rooted in the rich cultural heritage of Thessaly, the initiative brings together photogra

• KYOTOGRAPHIE + KG + • Deadline: October 10th, 2026 • Theme: Open • Prize: JPY 500,000 Grant + Exhibition in Kyoto • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE KG＋SELECT 2027 offers photographers and visual artists a unique opportunity to bring their work to Kyoto and become part of an internationally celebrated photography festival. Open to artists ready to share their vision with a wider audience, the program will select approximately ten finalists through a professional j

• TPOTY • Deadline: October 12th, 2026 • Category: People, Wildlife, Underwater, Street, B&W, Landscape, Adventure, Color... • Prize: Total Prizes £50K (£10K Cash) + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The Travel Photographer of the Year Awards (TPOTY) is a truly global photography competition created by photographers, for photographers. It celebrates the incredible diversity of travel photography and welcomes photographers from every corner of the world. W

• BCNDH / Mas Retina • Deadline: October 9th, 2026 • Theme: Human Rights and Global Justice • Prize: €3,000 + 3x€400 + Exhibition in Spain • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The ten projects selected by the jury will have the opportunity to be presented to the public during the festival through an exhibition in the streets of Barcelona. This outdoor exhibition will allow the selected works to become part of the city’s cultural landscape and to reach both festival vi

• Dusk Gallery • Deadline: September 24th, 2026 • Theme: Open • Prize: Exhibition in Santa Fe (USA) + Sales • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Dusk Gallery invites photographers to submit their work for an upcoming curated group exhibition celebrating the art of photographic storytelling through series. We are searching for three distinct photographic voices whose work demonstrates originality, consistency, and a strong sense of artistic direction. Rather than focus

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• BBA Prizes & Gallery • Deadline: September 28th, 2027 • Theme: Contemporary Photography • Prize: €300 + Production + Exhibition in Berlin • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE One image.The award is centred around a single photograph rather than an extensive portfolio or complete series. A large body of work is not required to participate, allowing one strong image to serve as the central artistic statement. Open internationally.The BBA One Shot Award welcomes photog

• Memorial Maria Luisa • Deadline: December 1st, 2026 • Category: Nature / Adventure Photo & Video • Prize: €4,000 + Exhibition + Accommodation • Entry Fees: Yes (Free under 19yo) • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Some places are meant to be contemplated. Others are meant to be experienced, felt, and remembered. And then there are those rare moments when a landscape, a gesture, a fleeting encounter, or a beam of light comes together perfectly — and a camera has the power to preserve

• Arrival Gallery • Deadline: October 10th, 2026 • Category: Contemporary Photography • Prize: Exhibition in Amsterdam + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Arrival Gallery is accepting applications for its upcoming exhibition programme in Amsterdam, inviting artists from around the world to showcase their work in a dynamic contemporary gallery setting. The open call welcomes submissions from painters, photographers, sculptors, illustrators, textile artists,

• Vital Impacts • Deadline: November 30th, 2026 • Theme: Environmental Photography • Prize: $20,000 Grant + Mentorship + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Vital Impacts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of journalism and visual storytelling to amplify the work of communities and individuals protecting people, wildlife, and ecosystems around the world. Through photography, reporting, mentorship, and financial support, the or

• PhotoPlace Gallery • Deadline: October 5th, 2026 • Theme: The Human Experience • Prize: Exhibition in Vermont (USA) + Sales • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE PhotoPlace Gallery invites photographers from around the world to submit their work to The Human Experience, a juried exhibition dedicated to exploring the richness, complexity, and extraordinary diversity of human life. This exhibition seeks to bring together photographs that reflect the many ways we experi

• Decagon Gallery • Deadline: October 10th, 2026 • Theme: The Shape of a Life • Prize: $1,000 Prize Pool + Online Exhibition • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The story of a life is rarely told through its greatest accomplishments alone. More often, it is revealed through everyday moments, familiar places, lasting relationships, personal rituals, treasured belongings, and experiences that may seem ordinary at first but later become deeply meaningful. Photography ha

• Pispa • Deadline: November 30th, 2026 • Category: Street Photography • Prize: $3,000 + Exhibition + Publication • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The Paris International Street Photo Awards (PISPA) 2026 is an international photography competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating exceptional work in the field of street photography. The competition invites photographers from around the world to submit either individual photographs or cohesive photo series t

• Castelfiorentino For the Arts • Deadline: October 15th, 2026 • Theme: Contemporary Photography • Prize: €3,000 + Exhibition in Italy + Publication • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE "Raccont'arti" is an international open call, free of charge, dedicated to photographers and visual artists whose practices engage with the expanding possibilities of contemporary photography. More than a competition, the initiative serves as a platform for mapping current artistic re

• BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)

• Decagon Gallery • Deadline: November 17th, 2026 • Theme: Self • Prize: $1,000 Prize Pool + Online Exhibition • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Some photographs are created to show us something about the world around us. Others turn the camera inward, becoming a way to search, question, and discover something about the person behind the lens. SELF is an exhibition dedicated to the second kind: photographs born from introspection, vulnerability, and the often compl

• All About Photo • Deadline: September 29th, 2026 • Theme: Street Photography • Prize: $1,000 + Online Exhibition + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The streets are constantly changing. People pass one another without knowing that their movements, expressions and gestures may become part of a story lasting only a few seconds. Light shifts across buildings, crowds appear and disappear, and unexpected moments emerge without warning. Street photography is a

• New York Center for Photographic Arts • Deadline: October 18th, 2026 • Category: Monochrome Photography • Prize: $4,000 Prize Pool + Online Exhibition • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE KODAK. ILFORD. FUJI. For many photographers, these names evoke an entire era of image-making—rolls of film carefully loaded into cameras, exposures thoughtfully considered, negatives developed by hand, and prints brought to life beneath the glow of a darkroom safelight. Shooting, d

• Musa Award • Deadline: November 21st, 2026 • Theme: Reclaiming • Prize: €200 + Production & Exhibitions in Italy • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The Musa Award is an international photography award dedicated to supporting and promoting the creation of photographic portfolios. Open exclusively to female photographers, the award welcomes participants at every stage of their careers, with no distinction between amateur and professional photographers. Submissions a

• Chennai Photo Biennale Powered by Sigma • Deadline: October 31st, 2026 • Theme: Open • Prize: Exhibition in Chennai (India) + Promotion • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The Chennai Photo Biennale International Photography Open Call welcomes photographers from across the globe to submit their work for an opportunity to participate in an internationally recognized platform for contemporary photography. Artists can enter either a single photograph or a cohesive pho

• Fotografia Calabria Festival • Deadline: November 15th, 2027 • Theme: Open • Prize: €2,000 + €1,000 + Publication + Exhibition • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE For the first time, the competition does not impose a specific theme, opening the field to the photographers’ individual perspectives, interests and creative visions. Rather than directing participants towards a particular subject, we wish to create a space in which each photographer can define the focus

• Form Photography • Deadline: October 31st, 2026 • Category: Contemporary Photography • Prize: Exhibition @ UNSEEN during Art Rotterdam • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Supported by UNSEEN, Picter, and Form Magazine, we are proud to present the Form Photo Award x UNSEEN 2027—an annual international award dedicated to discovering and championing the next generation of contemporary photographers. Created to celebrate bold artistic vision and thoughtful photographic

• Arrival Gallery • Deadline: November 1st, 2026 • Category: contemporary Photography • Prize: Exhibition in London (UK) + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Arrival Gallery is delighted to invite artists to submit their work for consideration in its upcoming London exhibition programme, offering a platform for a diverse selection of contemporary creative voices. The gallery welcomes submissions from both emerging and established artists who bring a distinc

• Most Traveled People • Deadline: September 30th, 2026 • Category: Travel Photography • Prize: MTP Ticket + €800 Travel Voucher • Entry Fees: Free for MTP Registered Members • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE MTP welcomes photographers of all experience levels, along with passionate travelers and adventurers, to showcase their finest travel photography from countries across the world. The competition celebrates the spirit of exploration, encouraging participants to share images that

• Umbra International Photography Awards • Deadline: September 30th, 2026 • Theme: Several Categories • Prize: Statues + Medals + Certificates • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The Umbra Awards 2026 return for their fourth edition, inviting photographers from across the globe to participate in an international competition that celebrates creativity, innovation, and excellence in photography. The Umbra International Photography Awards™ recognize photographers whose

• Le Stanze della Fotografia • Deadline: September 30th, 2026 • Theme: Stories related to the theme of water • Prize: Exhibition in Venice (Italy) • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The Le Stanze della Fotografia Foundation, together with the Association for the Heritage of the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, has launched a new cultural initiative that includes a free competition open to everyone. The project invites participants to explore the many

• Evi Mono • Deadline: October 1st, 2026 • Theme: Two Generations. One Story. Women. • Prize: Online Presentation + Exposure • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Photographers worldwide are invited to participate in the EVI MONO AWARDS, an international photography competition dedicated exclusively to monochrome images that explore the many facets of women's lives. Established to highlight authentic storytelling and distinctive artistic voices, the award provides a p

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• Sony

• Global Lens • Deadline: September 30th, 2026 • Category: Several Categories • Prize: $1,000 + Exhibition + Publication • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Global Lens Photography Awards 2026 celebrates photographic excellence across virtually every genre of contemporary photography, inviting emerging and established photographers from around the globe to share their most compelling work. The competition features an extensive category system designed to accommodate