THE INTERNATIONAL
PHOTO CONTESTS DIRECTORY 2026

Discover top youth photo contests for teens and kids! Learn how to enter, check eligibility, and submit your best work today.

Discover the best free photo contests in 2026! Explore over 300 competitions, updated weekly, and enter today for your chance to shine.

• Black Box Gallery • Deadline: August 7th, 2026 • Category: Color Photography • Prize: Exhibition in Portland (USA) + Sales • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Black Box Gallery announces an open call for a juried group exhibition focused on the endless creative possibilities of contemporary color photography. Color has become one of the most influential visual languages in photography, capable of conveying emotion, building atmosphere, emphasizing narrative, and tr

• British Ecological Society • Deadline: August 31st, 2026 • Theme: Ecological Triumph / Challenge / Survival • Prize: £750 + 12 months BES Membership • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Each year, ecologists, conservationists, and wildlife photographers from across the globe come together to share some of the most powerful, thought-provoking, and visually striking stories about the natural world through this internationally recognized photography competition. From e

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• Dusk Photo Gallery • Deadline: August 20th, 2026 • Theme: Creatures • Prize: Exhibition in Santa Fe (USA) + Sales • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE CREATURES is now accepting submissions, inviting photographers to celebrate the fascinating world of animals through compelling visual storytelling. Hosted by Dusk Gallery, this exhibition seeks images that capture the countless ways creatures inhabit, adapt to, and interact with their surroundings, whether in untouch

• Techo • Deadline: August 31st, 2026 • Theme: The Home I Live in • Prize: $250 + 2 Exhibitions in Guatemala City • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE TECHO Guatemala invites photographers of all experience levels, from passionate amateurs to seasoned professionals, to participate in the international photography competition "The House I Live In." This thought-provoking open call encourages participants from around the world to explore one of the most fundamental ques

• Head On Photo Festival • Deadline: August 16th, 2026 • Theme: Several Categories • Prize: AUD$80,000 + Exhibition in Sydney • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE With an impressive $80,000 prize pool, the Head On Photo Awards invite photographers from around the globe to compete in one of the world's leading photography competitions. Open to participants at every stage of their creative journey, the awards encourage submissions from professionals, amateurs, students,

Explore top Sony photo competitions for 2026! Learn how to enter, find the right contest for your work, and maximize your chances to win.

• Umbra International Photography Awards • Deadline: September 30th, 2026 • Theme: Several Categories • Prize: Statues + Medals + Certificates • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Welcome to the 4th Edition of the Umbra Awards 2026, an international photography competition dedicated to recognizing exceptional talent and celebrating the creative achievements of photographers from around the world. Regarded as one of the leading photography awards, the Umbra Internation

• Illume Awards • Deadline: August 3rd, 2026 • Theme: Surf and Trail • Prize: 200K Prize Pool + Exhibition + Camera Kit • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Photography shaped by waves, wind, and endless horizons, this category celebrates the excitement and artistry of board sports on the water. From classic wave riding to kiteboarding, windsurfing, wing foiling, and foil surfing, these photographs capture the perfect balance of timing, skill, and harmony between ath

Explore exciting Nikon photo contests! Get official rules, entry tips, and details on prizes for every competition. Enter to win today!

• Budapest International Foto Awards • Deadline: August 5th, 2026 • Category: Several Categories • Prize: €3,000 + Exhibition in Budapest (Hungary) • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The Budapest International Foto Awards, known worldwide as BIFA, is a distinguished international platform designed to highlight exceptional photography from artists of all levels—beginners, emerging talents, and established professionals alike. Based in Hungary and engaging audiences a

• Illume Awards • Deadline: August 2nd, 2026 • Theme: Skate and Snow • Prize: 200K Prize Pool + Exhibition + Camera Kit • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE From the streets to the ramps, this category celebrates the creativity, skill, and unmistakable spirit of skate culture. These photographs capture the energy, freedom, and individuality that define skateboarding in all its forms, from urban landscapes and iconic skateparks to hidden local spots. Whether freezing

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• BBA Prizes & Gallery • Deadline: August 3rd, 2026 • Theme: Contemporary Photography • Prize: €300 + Exhibition in Berlin (Germany) • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Some photographs are admired for a moment, while others remain in the viewer's memory long after they have been seen. We are looking for images that possess this lasting quality—photographs that capture attention through creativity, technical excellence, emotional resonance, or a distinctive way of se

• Decode Gallery • Deadline: August 21st, 2026 • Theme: Unposed • Prize: Exhibition in Tucson + Sales + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Real life unfolds in the most powerful and unforgettable ways when nothing is planned. This category celebrates authentic documentary photography that captures genuine, unscripted moments exactly as they happen—without posing, staging, or performance. Whether photographing everyday life, intimate human interactions, cult

• BBA Prizes & Gallery • Deadline: August 3rd, 2026 • Theme: Open • Prize: Cash Prizes + Exhibition in Berlin (Germany) • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE We welcome artwork that demonstrates originality, curiosity, and a strong sense of artistic purpose. Among the qualities we look for are engaging storytelling, innovative visual concepts, imaginative approaches, thoughtful image composition, abstraction, experimentation, and refined artistic sensibilities. Rather

• Decagon Gallery • Deadline: August 3rd, 2026 • Theme: Overcoming • Prize: $1,000 Prize Pool + Online Exhibition • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Life is rarely untouched by hardship. We experience moments of loss, heartbreak, uncertainty, and transformation. Relationships end, health falters, homes are left behind, and familiar worlds can suddenly change. Yet despite these challenges, the human spirit often finds a way to endure. Overcoming — What Remains Standi

• PhotoPlace Gallery and Texas Photographic Society • Deadline: August 3rd, 2026 • Theme: Composed • Prize: $500 + Exhibition in Middlebury (USA) • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE PhotoPlace Gallery, in partnership with the Texas Photographic Society, is pleased to invite photographers to submit work for Composed, a juried exhibition exploring the creative possibilities and visual power of photographic composition. Juried by Brian Finke, this exhibition seeks compe

• Black Box Gallery • Deadline: August 7th, 2026 • Category: Color Photography • Prize: Exhibition in Portland (USA) + Sales • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Black Box Gallery invites photographers from around the world to participate in an upcoming juried group exhibition celebrating the creative impact of color photography. Color is far more than a visual element—it shapes perception, establishes mood, directs attention, and adds depth to photographic storytelli

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• Tokyo International Foto Award (TIFA) • Deadline: August 1st, 2026 • Category: Several Categories • Prize: $3,000 + Exhibition + Trophy • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA) honors excellence in photography by recognizing outstanding work from photographers across the globe. The competition is committed to supporting creative expression and elevating photographic voices through international exposure. By connecting photograp

• Click Live & Click Masters • Deadline: July 31st, 2026 • Category: Several Categories • Prize: Fujifilm XT-5 Camera Kit (Worth £2,000) • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Digital entries must be received by 31 July 2026. Following the initial judging process, shortlisted finalists will be contacted within one week and invited to submit printed versions of their selected photographs for the final stage of judging. The LIVE Print Judging will take place on 28 Septemb