All About Photo Awards 2026 | © Steve McCurry

All About Photo Awards 2026 Call for Entries

All About Photo Awards 2026

A Rare Opportunity: Get Your Photos Reviewed by Steve McCurry!

Final Deadline is January 27, 2026

Hurry! Early Bird savings end after January 08, 2026—don't miss out!

"To take photographs means to recognize - simultaneously and within a fraction of a second - both the fact itself and the rigorous organization of visually perceived forms that give it meaning. It is putting one's head, one's eye, and one's heart on the same axis."
Henri Cartier-Bresson

Calling All Visionaries! Unleash Your Creativity at All About Photo Awards 2026 - The Mind's Eye!

Step into a world of creativity and recognition with the 11th edition of the All About Photo Awards – The Mind’s Eye. For over a decade, we have provided photographers from around the world with a global platform to showcase their work, gain international exposure, and compete for over $100,000 in prizes awarded to date.

Why Submit Your Work?

This year, we are honored to have Steve McCurry as the sole juror for the All About Photo Awards 2026. This is a unique opportunity for photographers to have their work reviewed and recognized by one of the most iconic and influential photographers in the world.

Our jury has previously included photography legends such as Frank Horvat, Sabine Weiss, Ed Kashi, Ami Vitale, Keiichi Tahara, Aline Smithson, Liu Bolin, John Rankin, Henry Horenstein, Laurent Baheux, Denis Dailleux, Alison Wright, Stefano De Luigi, Stephan Vanfleteren, Claudine Doury, Hiroshi Watanabe, Ian Berry, Manfred Baumann, Lisa Kristine, Harvey Stein, Baldwin Lee, and many more.

With the guidance of gallery directors, editors, curators, and photography writers, every submission receives the attention, critique, and recognition it deserves. Submit your work now to gain global exposure, professional feedback, and the chance to be recognized among the best photographers worldwide.

Prizes and Recognition:
Grand Prize: $2,500
2nd Prize: $1,000
3rd Prize: $750
4th Prize: $500
5th Prize: $250
Total Cash Awards: $5,000

All winners will also receive:
Extensive international press coverage
Publication in the All About Photo Winners Gallery
Feature in the printed AAP Magazine “Special Edition All About Photo Awards 2026”
Promotion on our website and social media
Additionally, a selection of photographers with notable merit will be invited to showcase their portfolios.

Why enter All About Photo Awards - The Mind's Eye?

Elevate Your Photography Career
A single opportunity can change your path. Gain exposure to a wide audience of editors, gallery owners, curators, book publishers, festival directors, creative directors, and, of course, the influential juror Steve McCurry, who could propel your career to new heights.

Permanent Online Exhibition
All About Photo is a leading photography platform showcasing both renowned and emerging photographers. Winners are permanently featured in our online gallery, accessible to an international audience.

Publication in AAP Magazine Special Edition
All 50 winners will have their winning images published in our printed magazine, distributed worldwide, giving your work professional exposure and credibility.

International Press Exposure
Past winners have been featured in The Times, National Geographic, The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Washington Post, L’Oeil de la Photographie, Digital Camera, Der Standard, PetaPixel, South China Morning Post, and many more. Gain the chance for your photography to reach global audiences and potentially go viral.

Follow in the footsteps of Julien Chatelin, Marco Gualazzini, Tariq Zaidi, Mustafa Hassona, Monica Denevan, Tom Price, Marcus Yam, Priyo Widdi, Roberta Vagliani and Marijn Fidder and become the Photographer of the Year for All About Photo Awards 2026!

Expert Juror

Steve McCurry

Photographer

www.stevemccurry.com | @stevemccurryofficial

Steve McCurry has been one of the most iconic voices in contemporary photography for more than forty years, with over twenty books, and numerous exhibitions around the world.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; McCurry studied fi lm and fi ne art photography at the Pennsylvania State University. After several years of freelance work, McCurry made his fi rst of what would become many trips to South Asia. Traveling with little more than a bag of clothes and another of fi lm, he made his way across the subcontinent, exploring the region with his camera.

It was after several months of travel, he met a group of refugees from Afghanistan, who smuggled him across the border into their country, just as the Russian Invasion was unfolding. Emerging after weeks embedded with the Mujahideen, McCurry brought the world some of the fi rst images of the confl ict in Afghanistan.

Since then, McCurry has gone on to create stunning images. His work spans confl icts, vanishing cultures, ancient traditions and contemporary culture alike - yet always retains the human element.

McCurry has been recognized with some of the most prestigious awards in the industry, including the Robert Capa Gold Medal. The Minister of French Culture has also appointed McCurry a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters and most recently, the Royal Photographic Society in London awarded McCurry the Centenary Medal for Lifetime Achievement.

McCurry has published books including The Imperial Way (1985), Monsoon (1988), Portraits (1999), South Southeast (2000), Sanctuary (2002), The Path to Buddha: A Tibetan Pilgrimage (2003), Steve McCurry (2005), Looking East (2006), In the Shadow of Mountains (2007), The Unguarded Moment (2009), The Iconic Photographs (2011), Untold: The Stories Behind the Photographs (2013), From These Hands: A Journey Along the Coffee Trail (2015), India (2015), and On Reading (2016), Afghanistan (2017), A Life in Pictures (2018), Animals (2019), In Search of Elsewhere (2020), Stories & Dreams: Portraits of Childhood (2021), and Devotion (2023).

Get International Exposure and Connect with Industry Insiders, Art Collectors and Potential Buyers

Permanent Portfolio and promotion of your work on All About Photo

Winner's artwork will be featured in our Photographer's pages with link to their website, social media and representing gallery and/or agency. Winning artists will also be marketed and promoted extensively through All About Photo website (home page and photographer top stories, featured photographer and article sections).

Your Work Showcased To Our Social Media Community

The winners will be promoted on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts, with links to their website and social media. The winning photographers will also be featured in a newsletter sent to thousands of artists, friends and industry experts giving them the opportunity to share their work with a wide audience and potentially seize new opportunities.

International Visibility and Extensive Press Exposure

The winning artists receive press coverage from publications and media outlets around the world. Past winners have been featured in major publications including The Times UK, National Geographic Espana, The Sun, The Daily Mail, The Eye of Photography, Digital Camera World, Lenscratch, Competences Photo and many more.

Awards & Benefits

Photo Contest All About Photo Photographer of the Year 2026

1^st Place Winner

Cash Prize: $2,500 (US Dollars)

Title: All About Photo Photographer of the Year 2026.

– Exclusive interview featured on All About Photo.
– Permanent portfolio exhibition on All About Photo.
– Winning work will be highlighted in a special newsletter and featured across all social media channels.
– Winning work displayed in the All About Photo online Winners Gallery.
– Winning work printed in AAP Magazine: Special Edition All About Photo Awards 2026.
– Award winners receive worldwide press coverage in various publications and media outlets.

2^nd Place Winner

Cash Prize: $1,000 (US Dollars)

Title: Second Place Winner.

– Portfolio featured on All About Photo.
– Work displayed in the All About Photo online Winners Gallery.
– Winning work will be highlighted in a special newsletter and featured across all social media channels.
– Winning work printed in AAP Magazine: Special Edition All About Photo Awards 2026.
– Award winners receive worldwide press coverage in various publications and media outlets.

3^rd Place Winner

Cash Prize: $750 (US Dollars)

Title: Third Place Winner.

4^th Place Winner

Cash Prize: $500 (US Dollars)

Title: Fourth Place Winner.

5^th Place Winner

Cash Prize: $250 (US Dollars)

Title: Fifth Place Winner.

Particular Merit Mention

The next forty-five winners (ranked 6 through 50) will have their winning photograph(s):

– Displayed in the All About Photo online Winners Gallery.
– Featured in the printed AAP Magazine: Special Edition All About Photo Awards 2026.
– Included in an invitation to display their portfolios on All About Photo.
– Promoted through international press coverage in various publications and media outlets.
– Featured in dedicated social media posts across all channels, giving each winner global exposure.

Final Deadline is January 27, 2026

Early Bird Special – Reduced Fees until January 08, 2026

Simple, straight forward pricing.

$35

$30

for the 3 first images

Exclusive Early Submission Rebate!

for each additional image

^* In US dollars | Up to 57 images.
Photographs will be judged individually and not as a unified group of photos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can enter?

All About Photo Awards, The Mind's Eye is open to all individuals age 18 and older. It is open to professional and amateur photographers alike.

Is there a theme?

Open. The competition is open to all genres and subject matter will be considered. All types of photography, from digital to analog to alternative processes and beyond are encouraged to enter. All works must be original.

How many photos can I enter?

Up to 57 images. Photographs will be judged individually and not as a unified group of photos.

What is the cost of participation?

Early Deadline Fees - valid through January 08, 2026 (inclusive): $30 (US Dollars) for the 3 first images. $5 (US Dollars) for each additional image.

Regular Deadline Fees: $35 (US Dollars) for the 3 first images. $5 (US Dollars) for each additional image.

What is the schedule?

Competition opens: December 13, 2025.

Competitions closes: January 27, 2026.

Judging process starts: February 04, 2026.

Judging process ends: May 03, 2026.

Winners will be notified by email around May 04, 2026.

The winning images will be available online at www.all-about-photo.com after May 04, 2026.

How do I send my images?

If you have not already a profile on All About Photo, you have first to register on our website. Then you will be able to log in and to upload your photos in your gallery. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EDIT YOUR SUBMISSION NOR TO ADD MORE IMAGES AFTER THE PAYMENT HAS BEEN PROCESSED. PLEASE REVIEW YOUR COMPLETED ENTRIES BEFORE PROCEEDING TO PAYMENT.

What size and format should I upload photos in?

No Watermarks.

Saved as JPEG or JPG.

Resolution of 72 dpi.

Grayscale or RGB profile.

Layers must be flattened.

Digital file should not exceed 2 MB.

Longest dimension should not exceed 1,200 pixels, with a minimum size of 200 pixels.

What about copyright?

All About Photo recognizes you, the author of the image, retain full ownership of the copyright in each Entry.

Who pays taxes?

The winner is responsible for paying any taxes in his/her country.