THE INTERNATIONAL
PHOTO CONTESTS DIRECTORY 2026
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Recommended and Sponsored Calls:

• Freezer Festival • Deadline: August 23rd, 2026 • Theme: The Real • Prize: Solo Exhibition in La Plata (Argentina) • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Are you creating exciting work in photography or publishing? This open call invites photographers, artist collectives, independent publishers, creative businesses, and anyone developing projects connected to photography to take part in a unique event celebrating visual culture and independent production. We are looki

• New York City for Photographic Arts • Deadline: August 16th, 2026 • Theme: Decay, Corrosion, Rust • Prize: $4,000 Prize Pool + Online Exhibition • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE In a world increasingly focused on the new, the polished, and the flawless, there is something profoundly compelling about subjects shaped by time and exposure. Rust, corrosion, decay, and weathering create visual qualities that are impossible to manufacture. As materials age and deterio

Discover top environmental photography awards to enter in 2026, offering valuable opportunities for photographers focused on conservation and climate.

Descubre las convocatorias de fotografía 2026 más importantes en España. ¡No te pierdas las oportunidades de visibilidad y premios!

• PhotoED Magazine • Deadline: September 9th, 2026 • Theme: Real VS Imagined • Prize: Publication (Digital & Print) • Entry Fees: Free for Subscribers • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE What is real? What is imagined? And where do the two begin to overlap? Issue #78 invites photographers from around the world to explore these questions through unique, lens-based photographic work. We are looking for projects that transform reality, invent fictional worlds, or weave together elements

• HONOR

Discover legitimate photo contests for 2026 with our vetted guide. Find 320+ competitions and enhance your chances of winning today!

Descubre cómo participar en concursos de dron en España. Aprende sobre requisitos, consejos y recursos para fotógrafos aéreos.

• Arc'Teryx

• Vogue

• Fujifilm

Descubre cómo participar en los mejores concursos de fotografía de arquitectura en España y mejora tu candidatura con consejos prácticos.

Discover top Chicago photography contests with our curated directory. Find reputable competitions, deadlines, and match your genre for success!

Discover how to succeed in fashion photography competitions for valuable exposure, skill recognition, and industry connections. Enter now!

Descubre cómo inscribirte en concursos de naturaleza. Conoce las convocatorias, bases y requisitos para no descalificarte.

• 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

• Out From The Mist • Deadline: August 28th, 2026 • Theme: Exploring Experiences of Mental Illness • Prize: $1,650 AUD + Exposure + Masterclass • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE We invite photographers, audio producers, and short filmmakers from all backgrounds to submit work that explores personal experiences of mental illness. Your project may be based on your own experiences or on those of a family member, friend, or someone whose story has had a meaningful impa

• Open Doors Gallery (London) • Deadline: August 12th, 2026 • Category: Contemporary Photography • Prize: £2,000 + Exhibition in London + Interview • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Applications are now open for the sixth edition of the OD Photo Prize, Open Doors Gallery's flagship international award dedicated to identifying, celebrating, and supporting the most exciting emerging voices in contemporary photography. Open to artists working within the first ten year

Discover top photojournalism competitions in 2026 that can elevate your photography career. Find your fit and prepare to enter!

Discover the best macro photography competitions to enter now. From scientific to artistic, find the perfect contest to showcase your skills!

• Handicrafts Photo Awards • Deadline: August 31st, 2026 • Theme: Craftsmanship Documentation • Prize: €2,000 + Exhibition + Catalog • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Handicrafts Photo invites photographers from around the world to explore, document, and celebrate the beauty, creativity, and cultural importance of traditional and contemporary craftsmanship through the photographic medium. The project offers an opportunity to look beyond the finished object and dis

Descubre en España concursos de fotografía gratis con grandes premios, como el CEWE Photo Award. Participa y muestra tu talento. ¡Infórmate ya!

Descubre los concursos de fotografía 2026 y no te pierdas las fechas importantes. Participa y gana increíbles premios como cámaras y dinero.

• Freezer Festival • Deadline: August 23rd, 2026 • Theme: The Real • Prize: Solo Exhibition in La Plata (Argentina) • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Photography enthusiasts, artists, collectives, independent publishers, creative entrepreneurs, and organizations working across the photographic arts are invited to apply for this exciting open call. The event welcomes a wide range of photography-related projects, including self-published fanzines, artist books, phot

• PhotoPlace Gallery • Deadline: September 7th, 2026 • Theme: Quiet Landscape • Prize: Exhibition in Middlebury (USA) + Sales • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE PhotoPlace Gallery is inviting photographers from around the world to submit their work for Quiet Landscape, a juried photography exhibition dedicated to celebrating the beauty, serenity, and quiet power of the landscape. This exhibition seeks images that go beyond dramatic scenery, focusing instead on photo

Explore top pet photography contests to enter and gain recognition. Discover tips, juried awards, and community votes for your best shots!

• 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 warmly invites photographers, explorers, and travel enthusiasts from around the world to participate by submitting their most inspiring travel photographs from every corner of the globe. Whether your images capture breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cities, remote wilderness,

• 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 an international monochrome photography competition created to celebrate women, their experiences, and the many stories that shape their lives. Open to photographers from every corner of the world, the award encourages artists to use the timeless language of black and white photography

• All About Photo • Deadline: August 18th, 2026 • Category: Nature Photography • Prize: $1,000 + Online Exhibition + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Nature photography invites us to slow down and experience the world through a fresh perspective. As one of the most inspiring forms of photography, it celebrates the endless beauty and diversity of our planet, capturing everything from vast wilderness and breathtaking landscapes to the smallest details of pl

Discover top portrait photography competitions to enter in 2026. Boost your career with prestigious awards, exhibitions, and cash prizes.

• Arrival Gallery • Deadline: October 10th, 2026 • Category: Contemporary Photography • Prize: Exhibition in Amsterdam + Exposure • Entry Fees: Yes • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Arrival Gallery welcomes submissions from artists working across a wide range of creative disciplines for its exhibition programme in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Open to both emerging and established artists, the gallery invites painters, photographers, sculptors, illustrators, textile artists, mixed media p

• 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 A life is shaped by far more than its defining milestones or major achievements. It is built from the countless small moments that often go unnoticed—the familiar places we return to, the people who remain by our side, the routines that structure our days, the objects that carry personal meaning, and the flee

• Action Contre la Faim • Deadline: August 31st, 2026 • Category: Social / Documentary Photography • Prize: €5,000 Grant + Exhibitions • Entry Fees: Free • REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Action Against Hunger is launching the fourth edition of its Grant for a New Humanitarian Perspective, reaffirming its commitment to supporting visual storytelling that challenges conventions and brings forward more authentic, ethical, and inclusive narratives about humanitarian issues. This year,

Discover the best photography networking events in the U.S. and learn how to connect with fellow photographers to boost your career!

Discover top sites for juried photography exhibitions and actionable tips to enhance your submissions. Elevate your photography today!

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

• Fujifilm

• 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

Discover top opportunities in the call for photographers! Explore LensCulture, SPE, and more for active submissions and competitions.