THE INTERNATIONAL PHOTO CONTESTS DIRECTORY 2026

• Sublime Photo Awards • Deadline: November 1st, 2026 • Category: Several Categories • Prize: $500 + Exposure • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE A truly sublime photograph is the result of a remarkable combination of artistic vision, technical excellence, thoughtful composition, and the ability to communicate a powerful message. Sometimes, it is a single extraordinary element that transforms an image into something unforgettable; in other cases, it is the perfect b

• Getxophoto International Image Festival • Deadline: November 3rd, 2027 • Category: Contemporary Photography • Prize: €500 + Exhibition in Spain + 2-Night Stay • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The concept of a tide traditionally refers to the natural rhythm of the sea, marked by the continuous rise and fall of water levels. Beyond its physical meaning, however, a tide can also represent the powerful forces that shape landscapes, alter environments, and transform

• SEE:ZEEN Magazine • Deadline: October 18th, 2026 • Category: Contemporary Photography • Prize: Publication + Exposure • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Wherever you are in the world, you are welcome to submit your work. see-zeen** was created for photographers who want to share their vision, their ideas, and their way of seeing. We believe photography is at its most exciting when there are no unnecessary boundaries — no limits on genre, subject, style, technique

• Photora Awards • Deadline: November 27th, 2026 • Category: Several Categories • Prize: €2,700 + Exposure + Certificates • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The Photora Awards offer photographers and visual creators an international platform to showcase their work and gain recognition for their creativity. With 20 categories covering a wide range of photographic genres, including Street, Portrait, Wildlife, Minimalism, Smartphone, Architecture, and Astrophotography,

• Kuala Lumpur Portrait Award • Deadline: November 25th, 2027 • Category: Autoportrait • Prize: €1,000 + Exhibitions in Malaysia and UK • Entry Fees: Yes (Free for Students) • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE KLPA presents the third interim edition of the AUTOPORTRAIT 2026 Open Call, inviting photographers and visual artists to explore the creative possibilities of self-portraiture through the theme of PLAY. For this edition, KLPA is collaborating with the FORMAT International Photog

• 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, and FUJI once defined the landscape of photographic image-making. For generations, photographers followed a familiar sequence: shoot the film, develop the negatives, and make the print. Creating a successful black-and-white photograph was a process that unfolded thro

• The Billboard Creative • Deadline: November 16th, 2026 • Theme: Contemporary Art & Photo • Prize: Exhibitions all over Los Angeles (USA) • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Imagine Seeing Your Artwork on a Billboard in Los Angeles The Billboard Creative is opening submissions for its 13th Annual Los Angeles Billboard Exhibition, inviting artists to bring their work into the heart of the city and experience the extraordinary possibilities of public-scale art. Forget

• Czestochowa Museum + Fujifilm Poland • Deadline: October 31st, 2027 • Category: Street Photography • Prize: 5000 PLN (1275 usd) + Fujifilm Camera • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The FUJIFILM MOMENT STREET PHOTO AWARDS was created out of a genuine passion for street photography and a fascination with the spontaneous, authentic moments that unfold in everyday life. Through this competition, we aim to celebrate this unique photographic genre, promote its artistic

• Decode Gallery • Deadline: October 16th, 2026 • Theme: Southwest • Prize: Exhibition in Tucson + Sales + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Decode Gallery welcomes photographers to participate in a juried exhibition celebrating the visual richness and cultural diversity of the American Southwest. This exhibition aims to showcase photographs that capture the distinctive character of the region, offering viewers a variety of perspectives on its landscapes,

• Arrival Gallery • Deadline: November 1st, 2026 • Category: contemporary Photography • Prize: Exhibition in London (UK) + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Arrival Gallery is excited to open submissions for its upcoming London exhibition programme, inviting artists to share their work, ideas, and individual creative perspectives with a wider audience. This open call celebrates the diversity of contemporary artistic practice and welcomes both emerging tale

• P.M.O.H. • Deadline: October 15th, 2026 • Theme: Open • Prize: €10,000 + Solo Exhibitions in Italy • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The PhMuseum Women Photographers Grant returns for its 10th edition as an international platform supporting the work, visibility, and professional development of female and non-binary photographers. The Grant is open to photographers of all ages and nationalities working across different fields and approaches to photography, offerin

• Seeing Happy • Deadline: October 15th, 2026 • Theme: Images of Peace • Prize: Exhibition in Warsaw (Poland) • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Images of Peace is a global photography initiative inviting participants from all backgrounds to reflect on one simple yet powerful question: What does peace mean to you? Through the submission of a single photograph and a short written reflection, participants are encouraged to share their personal perspective and become

• UNICEF

• 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 a free international open call designed to support photographers and visual artists working at the forefront of contemporary photographic practice. By bringing together artists from diverse cultural and creative backgrounds, the initiative aims to provide a snapshot

• 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, established in honour of the photographic legacy of Takis Tloupas, one of Greece's celebrated photographers. The project is grounded in an exploration of the relationship betwee

• 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 offers photographers from around the world an exciting opportunity to share their creative vision with an international audience. Photographers are invited to submit either a single compelling image or a photographic series, with comp

• Dusk Photo Gallery • Deadline: October 22nd, 2026 • Theme: Human • Prize: Exhibition in Santa Fe (USA) + Sales • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE What makes us human? Is it found in a fleeting glance, an unexpected smile, a moment of vulnerability, or the quiet strength we carry through our daily lives? This photographic open call invites artists to explore these questions through images that capture the complexity, beauty, and contradictions of human existence. W

• PhotoPlace Gallery • Deadline: November 9th, 2026 • Theme: Animalia: Our Shared World • Prize: Exhibition in Vermont (USA) + Sales • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE PhotoPlace Gallery invites photographers to submit their work for Animalia: Our Shared World, a juried photography exhibition dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary diversity of the animal kingdom and the many ways animals enrich our lives. From cherished domestic companions and familiar backyard

• Sony

• Exposure Photo Gallery • Deadline: March 30th, 2027 • Judge: Steve McCurry • Prize: $500 + Exhibitions in Cordoba (Argentina) • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE This open call invites photographers to explore the medium from a wide range of perspectives, encouraging diverse approaches to image-making and visual storytelling. It seeks to bring together photographs that communicate ideas, evoke emotions, and reflect the unique ways in which individuals perceive, int

• Fujifilm

• Narrative International Photography
Awards • Deadline: October 31st, 2026 • Theme: 6 across Wedding, Portrait & Family • Prize: Exposure + Vouchers • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The Narrative International Photography Awards celebrate the creativity, talent, and achievements of professional photographers, providing a platform to showcase their work to a broader international audience. The competition invites photographers to submit their images across six di

• Homiens • Deadline: October 29th, 2026 • Category: Art and Photography • Prize: $24,000 Awarded Annually + Exhibition • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The Homiens Art Prize is an international award created to recognise artistic excellence while providing artists with opportunities for meaningful professional development. Whether an artist is at the beginning of their career and seeking a defining breakthrough or is already established and looking to expand thei

• All About Photo • Deadline: November 10th, 2026 • Theme: Travel Photography • Prize: $1,000 + Online Exhibition + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Photographers are invited to submit a cohesive body of work or a complete portfolio for consideration in AAP Magazine. Submissions must consist of a unified collection of images, as only cohesive photographic projects will be published in the magazine. Photographs that have already appeared in a previous issu

• 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 Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) is an international photography competition with a distinctive identity: it is created by photographers, for photographers. Since its foundation, TPOTY has focused not only on the photographs themselves, but also on the

• P.M.O.H. • Deadline: October 15th, 2026 • Theme: Open • Prize: €10,000 + Solo Exhibitions in Italy • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Celebrating its 10th edition, the PhMuseum Women Photographers Grant continues its mission to empower female and non-binary photographers from around the world, regardless of age, background, or photographic specialization. The Grant is designed to support both emerging talents and established professionals by providing recognition,

• Hotusa Group • Theme: Barcelona, World Capital of Architecture • Deadline: October 20th, 2026 • Prize: €5,000 + 1-Night Stay • Entry Fee: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Hotusa Group invites photographers from around the world—both emerging and established—to participate in the 24th Eurostars Grand Marina Photography Award Josep Juanpere 2026. This year’s edition challenges participants to create photographic triptychs inspired by the theme “Barcelona, World Capital of Arch

• Decode Gallery • Deadline: October 16th, 2026 • Theme: Southwest • Prize: Exhibition in Tucson + Sales + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The American Southwest offers an extraordinary wealth of photographic inspiration, from vast desert horizons and striking natural formations to centuries-old traditions and the diverse communities that call the region home. Photographers are invited to submit their images to this juried exhibition at Decode Gallery,

• SEE:ZEEN Magazine • Deadline: October 18th, 2026 • Category: Contemporary Photography • Prize: Publication + Exposure • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Photographers from anywhere in the world are invited to submit. see-zeen** welcomes photography without boundaries. We are interested in images that come from different perspectives, experiences, cultures, and ways of seeing. There is no single definition of what photography should be here, and no specific genre

• 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 held in Larissa, Greece, celebrating the legacy of the distinguished Greek photographer Takis Tloupas. At its heart, the project is an invitation to look more carefully at the world around us: at the lan

• FotoContest • Deadline: October 31st, 2026 • Category: Black and White Photography • Prize: €500 in Cash + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Photographers are invited to submit their best black-and-white images for this photography competition dedicated to the expressive power of monochrome photography. The theme, Black and White, encourages participants to explore the artistic possibilities of light, shadow, contrast, texture, and composition. From str

• OPPO

• HONOR

• Insta360

• AKC American Kennel Club • Deadline: October 31st, 2026 • Theme: The Great Outdoors • Prize: $1,000 Prize Pool + Online Exhibition • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The 2026 AKC Photo Contest welcomes participation from both experienced photographers and those seeking to further develop their skills. Centered around the theme “The Great Outdoors,” this year’s competition highlights imagery that reflects outdoor landscapes, environments, and moments connected to n

• ILPOTY • Deadline: October 31st, 2026 • Theme: Landscape Photography • Prize: $12,500 Prize Pool + Expo + Publication • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE What makes a great landscape photograph? Is it technical perfection, artistic vision, the perfect moment—or simply an image that stays with you long after you have seen it? In reality, photography competitions are influenced by all of these things, as well as the personal preferences of the judges. When thousands

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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