2026 Best Photo Contests, Photography Contests, Competitions & Awards

Contests Closing Soon

Deadline: May 02, 2026

Manifest exhibits many kinds of works, from more conceptual and experimental art to the traditional.In fact we think it's important to have such a range in our repertoire.It is something that Manifest is known for.Every year our annual projects allow us to track how artists around the world address a consistent theme, subject, or media over time, or allow us to document the state of art in a particular strata of professional creative activity, and to study and preserve our findings i

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Deadline: May 03, 2026

Pierre and Alexandra Boulat Grant 2026

In order to assist photojournalists struggling with the economic hardships associated with this profession, the Association is promoting an annual Grant of 8,000 euros, endowed for the first time by the Douglas Kirkland Estate The award is presented to a professional photographer of any age, sex or nationality who wishes to cover a social, economic, political or cultural issue in a journalistic manner, on presentation of a dossier. The Award is given in order to allow the winner to pr

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Deadline: May 03, 2026

Exposure One Awards 2026 One Shot Photo Contest

CALL FOR ENTRIES. Join us in celebrating the timeless, eternal nature of black and white photography with the Black & White Photo Contest by Exposure One. Winners will receive career-enhancing cash prizes, an immersive dedicated digital gallery to share their works in a global Artist Directory, and much more. Prize Details: Winners of the Exposure One Awards enjoy more than prizes, as winners and participants are actively promoted and celebrated throughout the year and beyo

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Deadline: May 03, 2026

This Is a Person

Portraiture often records appearance. This exhibition asks what lies beneath it. We invite photographs that suggest interior life rather than surface identity — images that hold psychological tension, ambiguity, vulnerability, or contradiction. We are not seeking likeness alone. We are seeking photographs that imply presence without explaining it. Work that relies primarily on dramatic styling, sentimentality, or literal interpretation of the theme is unlikely to be selec

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Deadline: May 03, 2026

L.A. Photo Curator: From Your Archive

I am the juror for this call. Submit work from your archive--images you believe in. I'm drawn to photographs that feel clear, resolved, and hold over time. This call is open to all photographic styles and approaches with the exception of AI. All submissions are automatically considered for L.A. Photo Curator’s Top 40 Images of the Year and Photographer of the Year. The winning photographer OF THIS CALL will receive a solo online exhibition. What Y

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Deadline: May 03, 2026

Small Wonders

Allora Gallery invites photographers from around the world to submit work for our upcoming online group exhibition, "Small Wonders." Wonder hides in the smallest details — the intricate architecture of a snowflake, the delicate veins mapping an autumn leaf, the unexpected geometry found in weathered wood, the iridescent shimmer on a beetle's wing. When we look closely, the ordinary reveals itself as extraordinary. A dewdrop becomes a universe, a flower's centre transforms into abstr

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Deadline: May 03, 2026

Praxis: Black and White 2026

Half a century after the advent of color film, black and white & monochromatic photography continues to capture our collective imagination. Utilizing tone, contrast, texture and shape, monochromatic photography strips its subject to only the most essential visual elements; revealing a sense of soul, substance and meaning – separate from the shifting sentiments, symbolism and cultural associations of color imagery. Praxis Gallery seeks the submission of photographic works that d

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Deadline: May 03, 2026

Hellerau Photography Award 2026

Welcome to our new edition of the PORTRAITS – Hellerau Photography Award and its new theme, “Escapism”. You are invited to apply either with a series of up to 20 images or with single works. Numerous satellite exhibitions and a variety of public events—including portfolio reviews, artist talks, workshops, and more—revolving around our finalist exhibition complete our award program. The winners will be announced at the vernissage in autumn 2026 (1st priz

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Deadline: May 04, 2026

Michael P. Smith Fund for Documentary Photography

The Michael P. Smith Fund for Documentary Photography (MPS Fund) was created to honor the life and work of Michael P. Smith, one of New Orleans’ most legendary and beloved documentary photographers. The MPS Fund awards cash prizes and exhibition opportunities to Gulf Coast photographers whose work combines artistic excellence and a sustained commitment to a cultural documentary project. Both emerging and established photographers residing in the Gulf Coast states of Texas, Louisiana

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Deadline: May 04, 2026

Jalón Ángel Photography Awards 2026

The Jalón Ángel Photographic Archive, guarded by the San Jorge University (San Valero Group), is organising the 12th Jalón Ángel International Photography Prize. Ángel Hilario García de Jalón Hueto (1898-1976), better known as Jalón Ángel, was one of the most prominent figures of portrait photography in Spain during his 50 years of professional career. This photographer, of great social and human impact, began his earliest training in Logroño and perfected it in the first de

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Deadline: May 04, 2026

PhotoPlace Gallery: After Dark

A portal suggests passage. It invites us to look through, step beyond, or imagine what lies on the other side. For Portals: New Perspectives, we invite photographs that explore openings, thresholds, and points of transition. Windows, doorways, mirrors, gates, archways, reflections, and frames within frames may serve as literal portals, while shifts in light, shadow, or perspective can transform familiar spaces into something unexpected. We also welcome more interpretive app

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Deadline: May 04, 2026

Camille Lepage Award 2026

The association "Camille Lepage – On est ensemble" (Camille Lepage – We are together) was created on September 20, 2014, a few months after the death of photojournalist Camille Lepage in the Central African Republic while she was working on a report. The association was set up by her family (her parents Maryvonne & Guy Lepage and brother Adrien) to commemorate Camille, her work and commitment, to provide assistance and protection for photojournalists working in conflict areas, to

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Contest

Separated by ICE by Carol Guzy Wins World Press Photo 2026

When Carol Guzy was announced as the winner of the World Press Photo of the Year 2026, it was not just a recognition of visual excellence. It was an acknowledgment of the enduring power of photojournalism to confront, to reveal, and to hold systems accountable. Her image, Separated by ICE, does not rely on spectacle or ambiguity. It is devastatingly clear: a family, shattered in real time, inside a government building meant to deliver justice.

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Contest

All About Photo Awards 2026: Winners Selected by Steve McCurry

The 11th edition of the All About Photo Awards – The Mind’s Eye reaches a powerful crescendo with the unveiling of its top five winning images, selected by renowned photographer Steve McCurry. Known for his deeply humanistic and visually striking work, McCurry brings his singular vision and decades of experience to this year’s selection, confirming the competition’s place among the most respected global platforms for contemporary photography.

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Contest

World Press Photo Reveals 2026 Contest Winners

The World Press Photo organization has unveiled the winners of its 2026 World Press Photo Contest, once again spotlighting the most compelling visual storytelling from across the globe. This year’s selection underscores the organization’s enduring mission: to connect audiences worldwide with stories that matter through the lens of exceptional photojournalism and documentary photography.

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Contest

AAP Magazine 57 Portrait Photography Contest – Call for Entries

Enter the AAP Magazine #57 Portrait Photography Contest, an international call for entries celebrating powerful portrait photography. Submit your work to gain global exposure, win cash prizes, and be published in AAP Magazine.

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Contest

The Powerful Winning Images of AAP Magazine 55 Women

AAP Magazine #55 explores women in photography through the work of 25 winning photographers—17 women and 8 men—representing 12 countries across 3 continents. From fine art to street photography and documentary, this global selection highlights diverse perspectives and celebrates the strength, creativity, and evolving representation of women in contemporary photography.

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Contest

Gomma Photography Grant 2025 Winners

The Gomma Photography Grant 2025 results bring into focus a compelling range of contemporary photographic practices, reaffirming the medium’s role as a tool for nuanced storytelling and cultural observation. This year’s selection reflects a strong commitment to personal vision, where photographers engage closely with themes of identity, belonging, and the shifting realities of modern life.

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Contest

AAP Magazine 56 Shadows - International Photography Competition Now Open for Entries

Photography has always been a dialogue between light and darkness. When light fades, shadows emerge, revealing hidden narratives, sculpting forms, and transforming ordinary scenes into evocative visual stories. With its latest international call for entries, AAP Magazine invites photographers from around the world to explore this timeless relationship in AAP Magazine #56: SHADOWS.

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Contest

Zanele Muholi: 2026 Hasselblad Award Laureate

Hasselblad Foundation has announced that Zanele Muholi is the recipient of the 2026 Hasselblad Award, widely regarded as one of the most prestigious honors in international photography. The award includes a SEK 2,000,000 prize, a gold medal, and a Hasselblad camera, recognizing Muholi’s profound contribution to contemporary visual culture

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Contest

Sridhar Balasubramaniyam Winner of the 2026 CPW Saltzman Prize

Center for Photography at Woodstock (CPW) is pleased to announce that Sridhar Balasubramaniyam is the recipient of the 2026 Saltzman Prize for Emerging Photographer. Selected by a distinguished jury from a shortlist of ten international candidates, Balasubramaniyam is a Chennai-based visual artist whose work in photography and video explores the complex relationship between body and land.

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Best Photo Contests

Featured Competitions

AAP Magazine 58: Black and White

Photographer of the Week 20 - 2026

AAP Solo Exhibition June 2026

PhMuseum Days 2026 Photography Festival Open Call

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