XPS - International Photography Awards 2025

• XPS

• Deadline: September 15th, 2025

• Prize: $3,000 + Travel and Exhibition in UAE

• Category: Visual Storytelling

• Entry Fees: Free

• REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE

The Xposure International Photography Awards have earned a global reputation as one of the most inclusive and respected photography competitions in the world today. Designed to celebrate the art of visual storytelling, the Awards offer photographers of all experience levels—whether amateur, emerging, or professional—a prestigious platform to showcase their talent on an international stage.

Organized by Xposure, the renowned photography festival held annually in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, the competition welcomes image submissions across a wide and diverse range of categories. These include Nature and Landscape, Architecture, Portraiture, Street Photography, Sport, Night Photography, Mobile Photography, Photo Manipulation, and Artificial Intelligence, along with a Junior category specifically created to encourage and recognize the work of younger participants.

What makes the competition particularly accessible is its free-to-enter format, ensuring that photographers from all corners of the globe can participate without financial barriers. Each category yields a winner, a runner-up, and five nominees, with one standout among the category winners being crowned the Xposure International Photographer of the Year—the highest honor awarded.

Winning or being nominated grants photographers the incredible opportunity to have their work exhibited at the Xposure Festival, attended by a wide array of global industry leaders, including curators, editors, collectors, and art directors. Travel and accommodation are fully covered for all main award recipients, adding significant value to the recognition.

The judging process is conducted in two thorough phases by an independent panel of respected professionals in the photography industry. The first round evaluates creativity, originality, and visual storytelling, while the second round looks more closely at technical skill, composition, and how well the image fits within its selected category’s theme. Entrants must submit only their original work, and images must be free from any offensive or inappropriate content.

With over $60,000 in total prizes, international acclaim, and career-defining opportunities, the Xposure International Photography Awards are more than just a competition—they are a launchpad for photographers seeking to make a lasting impact in the global photography community.