Decode Gallery - "Southwest" Photo Contest & Exhibition 2026

• 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, history, traditions, and contemporary communities. Photographers working across different genres and approaches are encouraged to submit images that tell compelling stories about this part of the United States. Whether focusing on the dramatic colors and textures of desert environments, documenting historic sites, exploring regional cultures, or portraying the people and everyday experiences of the Southwest, submissions should reflect the photographer’s individual vision. Eligible photographs must have been taken in one of the following states: California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, or New Mexico.

A minimum of 26 photographs will be selected by the exhibition juror and displayed at Decode Gallery. The gallery will provide complimentary printing for every accepted submission, allowing selected photographers to exhibit their work without incurring printing expenses. All exhibition photographs will be professionally printed on Ilford Pearl paper using an Epson printer. Only one physical exhibition print will be made for each accepted image. After the exhibition closes, these prints will be stored in the gallery’s flat file archive, where they will remain for two years.

Presentation is an important part of the exhibition. Each selected photograph will be displayed in a museum-quality white frame measuring 22 × 22 inches, with a choice of precut white mats available in several sizes. These include 11 × 11, 10 × 15, 11 × 15, and 12 × 15 inches, among other options. The gallery will select the appropriate mat and adjust the dimensions of each submitted high-resolution digital image to achieve a balanced, professional presentation. All adjustments will be made without cropping, ensuring that the original composition and every detail of the photograph are preserved.

Participation in the exhibition also offers photographers the opportunity to make their prints available to interested buyers. Artists can choose whether to list their exhibition prints for sale, and any inquiry from a potential purchaser will be communicated to the photographer immediately. Photographers retain all rights to their original images and maintain ownership of both their digital files and physical prints. If an exhibition print is sold, the proceeds will be shared equally between the photographer and Decode Gallery, with each receiving 50% of the sale price.