BredaPhoto Festival Open Call 2026

BredaPhoto exhibits visual stories that inspire, move, confront, raise new questions, and demonstrate that photography is the artistic medium at the heart of society.

The BredaPhoto Festival is a biennial where you get the chance to view the work of national and international photographers and visual artists at unique indoor and outdoor locations in Breda, The Netherlands.

The call for entries for the edition of 2026 is open to professional photographers and visual artists, either graduated from art school or a similar education or self-taught artists with at least 3 years of experience.

No age limits or regional restrictions. Every artist can submit one project.

There are more spots available for projects that can be presented outside than projects that need an indoor location, but both photography as well as audiovisual installations can be submitted.

The BredaPhoto team of both Dutch and international curators that is working on the whole programme for 2026 will also select the artists from the Open Call.

Theme of 2026

The project should fit the theme of the upcoming edition which focuses on solace and resilience, please read the full theme text:

A familiar melancholy tune, a beautiful work of art that stirs the heart, a meal shared with loved ones—sometimes, consolation is found in small things. And its importance is vast.

When the world turns dark and despair threatens to swallow us whole, that bright light will help us rise again. Loss is personal yet also related to crises on a global scale, and through it all we search for solace, for ways to endure.

Consolation doesn’t solve major crises, but it steadies us.

Cultivating togetherness, being with family, friends, and allies, taking care of one another, fiercely advocating for equity and peace, even recharging our batteries alone or in the silence of nature, can all serve as refuge, somewhere to return in times of need.

Art, spirituality, even daily rituals, maintain alive our hope, our shared humanity, and our sense of justice.

What winners receive

Exhibition at the BredaPhoto Festival in Breda, the Netherlands, from 11 September until 25 October 2026
Opportunity to present your work to a broad audience of professionals and art lovers (ca. 15.000 inside and 80.000 outside)
National and international promotion
Artist fee
Accommodation for the opening weekend of the festival
Partly compensation of travel costs depending on your geographic location
Opportunity to participate in the (networking) events, talks, tours and festivities of the opening weekend
Exhibition design and production by BredaPhoto in close collaboration with the artist