THE INTERNATIONAL PHOTO CONTESTS DIRECTORY 2026

• 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

• 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 invites photographers to explore the visual and conceptual possibilities of Shadow and Light in a juried group exhibition focused on contemporary photographic practice. The exhibition considers photography as an art form fundamentally shaped by the relationship between darkness and illumina

• 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 is an open-call program designed to discover and support outstanding photographic and visual artists. Following a jury review, approximately ten finalists will be selected to participate in a group exhibition presented during KYOTOGRAPHIE / KG＋ 2027 in Kyoto. Every selected artist will receive a product

• Rotterdam Photo • Deadline: December 10th, 2026 • Theme: Vibrance, The Pulse of a Living World • Prize: Exhibition at the Rotterdam Photo Festival • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Vibrance is an invitation to look at the world through the lens of movement, intensity, and possibility. At a time when images of crisis and uncertainty frequently dominate public discourse, Rotterdam Photo proposes a different visual approach, one that explores the forces that keep li

• 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 Lives are not defined solely by significant events or major turning points. Instead, they are formed through countless everyday experiences—the familiar streets we walk, the people we cherish, the work that occupies our time, the possessions we hold onto, and the quiet moments that may seem insignificant unti

• 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,

• Arrival Gallery • Deadline: October 10th, 2026 • Category: Contemporary Photography • Prize: Exhibition in Amsterdam + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Artists across a broad spectrum of visual disciplines are invited to apply for Arrival Gallery's exhibition programme in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The gallery welcomes submissions from painters, photographers, sculptors, illustrators, textile artists, mixed media artists, and digital creators whose work de

• 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 Following the jury's evaluation, ten outstanding projects will be selected for inclusion in the festival. These projects will be given prominent visibility through a public exhibition held across the streets of Barcelona, transforming the city into an open-air setting for the presentation of the

• 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

• World Street Photo Awards • Deadline: October 10th, 2026 • Category: Street Photography • Prize: €2,500 Prize Pool + Online Exhibition • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The street is constantly changing. People pass one another, stories intersect, gestures appear and disappear, light transforms familiar places, and extraordinary moments emerge without warning. Street photography is the art of being present for those moments—of recognizing something meaningful in

• 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

• 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 designed for artists who are ready to take the next step in their careers, whether they are emerging creatives looking for their first major international opportunity or established professionals seeking new audiences and greater recognition. More than simply an art competition, the prize

• 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

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• Dusk Photo Gallery • Deadline: October 22nd, 2026 • Theme: Human • Prize: Exhibition in Santa Fe (USA) + Sales • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Photographers are invited to submit images that explore the many dimensions of what it means to be human. This open call seeks photographs that go beyond appearances, capturing the emotions, experiences, and subtle details that shape our everyday lives. From quiet moments of reflection and unguarded expressions to sponta

• 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 excited to present a juried group exhibition dedicated to one of photography's most fundamental and expressive subjects: Shadow and Light. From the earliest days of the medium, photographers have explored the delicate balance between illumination and darkness, discovering how the interac

• 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

• 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 awards competition with a difference: it is run by photographers, for photographers. From the very beginning, TPOTY has been about celebrating the people behind the images and giving photographers from across the

• 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

• 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 invites photographers and travel lovers everywhere to submit outstanding photographs that capture the essence of exploration across every country and region of the world. This competition celebrates the power of travel photography to connect people through stories of discov

• 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

• 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

• 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

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• 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

• 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

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