THE INTERNATIONAL PHOTO CONTESTS DIRECTORY 2026

• 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

• Rotterdam Photo • Deadline: October 4th, 2026 • Theme: Vibrance, The Pulse of a Living World • Prize: Exhibition at the Rotterdam Photo Festival • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Vibrance, the theme of Rotterdam Photo, invites photographers to explore a different perspective on the contemporary world, moving beyond narratives dominated by crisis, uncertainty, and conflict. Rather than overlooking the challenges that shape our time, the festival seeks to highlight

• 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

• Decode Gallery • Deadline: October 16th, 2026 • Theme: Southwest • Prize: Exhibition in Tucson + Sales + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Photographers are invited to submit their work for this juried exhibition dedicated to exploring the diverse landscapes, cultures, and stories of the American Southwest. The exhibition seeks to bring together a wide range of photographic perspectives, celebrating the region’s distinctive natural beauty, cultural heri

• 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

• Evi Mono • Deadline: October 1st, 2026 • Theme: Two Generations. One Story. Women. • Prize: Online Presentation + Exposure • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The EVI MONO AWARDS is a new international award dedicated to monochrome photography that places women and their stories at the center of its vision. Open to photographers from around the globe, the competition encourages artists to use black and white photography as a powerful medium for exploring the richn

• 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 chosen by the jury will become an integral part of the festival programme and will be showcased throughout Barcelona during the event. Selected works will be exhibited in public spaces and on the streets of the city, giving participants the unique opportunity to present their id

• 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

• 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

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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