THE INTERNATIONAL PHOTO CONTESTS DIRECTORY 2026

• Rotterdam Photo • Deadline: November 4th, 2026 • Theme: Vibrance, The Pulse of a Living World • Prize: Exhibition at the Rotterdam Photo Festival • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Rotterdam Photo presents Vibrance, a theme that challenges conventional ways of representing the contemporary world and encourages photographers to look beyond the prevailing narratives of crisis. The project focuses on the energy, creativity, and connections that persist despite social

• Dusk Photo Gallery • Deadline: October 22nd, 2026 • Theme: Human • Prize: Exhibition in Santa Fe (USA) + Sales • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE This open call invites photographers to explore the human experience through images that capture genuine emotions, personal stories, and the moments that define our lives. We are interested in photographs that look beyond appearances to reveal the personalities, feelings, and experiences that make each individual unique.

• 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 welcomes artists from every stage of their creative journey. For emerging artists, it can provide an important opportunity to gain visibility and establish a presence within the international art scene. For established professionals, it offers another platform through which to present their w

• The Black & White Gallery • Deadline: November 10th, 2026 • Category: Black & White Photography • Prize: Exhibition in Miami (USA) + Sales • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The Black & White Gallery is pleased to announce that submissions are now open for its international juried artist search for Red Dot Miami 2026, one of the prominent contemporary art exhibitions taking place during Miami Art Week. Scheduled for December 2–6, 2026, the event will coincide with

• Narrative International Photography
Awards • Deadline: October 31st, 2026 • Theme: 6 across Wedding, Portrait & Family • Prize: Exposure + Vouchers • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The Narrative International Photography Awards aim to recognize outstanding professional photography and bring exceptional photographic work to the attention of a wider audience. Photographers are invited to participate by submitting their best images across six different categories,

• 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 leaves the choice of subject entirely open. Without a predetermined theme, photographers are invited to follow their own interests, questions and creative instincts, bringing forward projects that reflect their individual ways of seeing the world. This openness is an in

• New York City for Photographic Arts • Deadline: November 22nd, 2026 • Theme: Architecture • Prize: $4,000 Prize Pool + Online Exhibition • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The New York Center for Photographic Art (NYC4PA) invites photographers from around the world to participate in its photography competitions by submitting images created through a wide range of photographic techniques and processes. Artists are encouraged to explore their creativity and present

• PHotoESPAÑA

• Fujifilm

• Sublime Photo Awards • Deadline: November 1st, 2026 • Category: Several Categories • Prize: $500 + Exposure • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE A truly sublime photograph is the result of a remarkable combination of artistic vision, technical excellence, thoughtful composition, and the ability to communicate a powerful message. Sometimes, it is a single extraordinary element that transforms an image into something unforgettable; in other cases, it is the perfect b

• Getxophoto International Image Festival • Deadline: November 3rd, 2027 • Category: Contemporary Photography • Prize: €500 + Exhibition in Spain + 2-Night Stay • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The concept of a tide traditionally refers to the natural rhythm of the sea, marked by the continuous rise and fall of water levels. Beyond its physical meaning, however, a tide can also represent the powerful forces that shape landscapes, alter environments, and transform

• SEE:ZEEN Magazine • Deadline: October 18th, 2026 • Category: Contemporary Photography • Prize: Publication + Exposure • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Wherever you are in the world, you are welcome to submit your work. see-zeen** was created for photographers who want to share their vision, their ideas, and their way of seeing. We believe photography is at its most exciting when there are no unnecessary boundaries — no limits on genre, subject, style, technique

• Photora Awards • Deadline: November 27th, 2026 • Category: Several Categories • Prize: €2,700 + Exposure + Certificates • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The Photora Awards offer photographers and visual creators an international platform to showcase their work and gain recognition for their creativity. With 20 categories covering a wide range of photographic genres, including Street, Portrait, Wildlife, Minimalism, Smartphone, Architecture, and Astrophotography,

• Kuala Lumpur Portrait Award • Deadline: November 25th, 2027 • Category: Autoportrait • Prize: €1,000 + Exhibitions in Malaysia and UK • Entry Fees: Yes (Free for Students) • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE KLPA presents the third interim edition of the AUTOPORTRAIT 2026 Open Call, inviting photographers and visual artists to explore the creative possibilities of self-portraiture through the theme of PLAY. For this edition, KLPA is collaborating with the FORMAT International Photog

• 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, and FUJI once defined the landscape of photographic image-making. For generations, photographers followed a familiar sequence: shoot the film, develop the negatives, and make the print. Creating a successful black-and-white photograph was a process that unfolded thro

• The Billboard Creative • Deadline: November 16th, 2026 • Theme: Contemporary Art & Photo • Prize: Exhibitions all over Los Angeles (USA) • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Imagine Seeing Your Artwork on a Billboard in Los Angeles The Billboard Creative is opening submissions for its 13th Annual Los Angeles Billboard Exhibition, inviting artists to bring their work into the heart of the city and experience the extraordinary possibilities of public-scale art. Forget

• Czestochowa Museum + Fujifilm Poland • Deadline: October 31st, 2027 • Category: Street Photography • Prize: 5000 PLN (1275 usd) + Fujifilm Camera • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The FUJIFILM MOMENT STREET PHOTO AWARDS was created out of a genuine passion for street photography and a fascination with the spontaneous, authentic moments that unfold in everyday life. Through this competition, we aim to celebrate this unique photographic genre, promote its artistic

• Arrival Gallery • Deadline: November 1st, 2026 • Category: contemporary Photography • Prize: Exhibition in London (UK) + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Arrival Gallery is excited to open submissions for its upcoming London exhibition programme, inviting artists to share their work, ideas, and individual creative perspectives with a wider audience. This open call celebrates the diversity of contemporary artistic practice and welcomes both emerging tale

• 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 offers photographers from around the world an exciting opportunity to share their creative vision with an international audience. Photographers are invited to submit either a single compelling image or a photographic series, with comp

• Dusk Photo Gallery • Deadline: October 22nd, 2026 • Theme: Human • Prize: Exhibition in Santa Fe (USA) + Sales • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE What makes us human? Is it found in a fleeting glance, an unexpected smile, a moment of vulnerability, or the quiet strength we carry through our daily lives? This photographic open call invites artists to explore these questions through images that capture the complexity, beauty, and contradictions of human existence. W

• PhotoPlace Gallery • Deadline: November 9th, 2026 • Theme: Animalia: Our Shared World • Prize: Exhibition in Vermont (USA) + Sales • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE PhotoPlace Gallery invites photographers to submit their work for Animalia: Our Shared World, a juried photography exhibition dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary diversity of the animal kingdom and the many ways animals enrich our lives. From cherished domestic companions and familiar backyard

• Sony

• Exposure Photo Gallery • Deadline: March 30th, 2027 • Judge: Steve McCurry • Prize: $500 + Exhibitions in Cordoba (Argentina) • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE This open call invites photographers to explore the medium from a wide range of perspectives, encouraging diverse approaches to image-making and visual storytelling. It seeks to bring together photographs that communicate ideas, evoke emotions, and reflect the unique ways in which individuals perceive, int

• Fujifilm

• Narrative International Photography
Awards • Deadline: October 31st, 2026 • Theme: 6 across Wedding, Portrait & Family • Prize: Exposure + Vouchers • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE The Narrative International Photography Awards celebrate the creativity, talent, and achievements of professional photographers, providing a platform to showcase their work to a broader international audience. The competition invites photographers to submit their images across six di

• 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

• 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

• 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

• OPPO

• Insta360

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)

• 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

• 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

• 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