2026 Best Photo Contests, Photography Contests, Competitions & Awards

Contests Closing Soon

Deadline: May 06, 2026

Artist Space: Still Life Art Competition 2026

We are pleased to announce our 3rd Still Life online Art Competition for the month of May 2026. Artists are invited to submit still-life artworks featuring either natural items (e.g., food, flowers, plants, rocks, shells) or man-made objects (e.g., books, vases, jewelry, coins, pipes). Still-life compositions depicting dead animals or human skulls will not be accepted. All artistic styles and mediums are welcome for consideration. In addition to the selected artists, the jury wi

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Deadline: May 07, 2026

Sunrise and Sunset 2026

We are proud to announce the upcoming Sunrise & Sunset Landscape Photography Competition, a celebration of the fleeting moments when light transforms the natural world.This competition invites photographers to capture the quiet anticipation of dawn and the reflective calm of dusk—those brief windows when color, shadow, and atmosphere converge to create something extraordinary. We seek images that go beyond dramatic skies to reveal a deeper sense of place.Whether through expa

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Deadline: May 07, 2026

Guest Room: Auronda Scalera & Alfredo Cramerotti

Theme for Guest Room We live in a time when the ground beneath us, political, social, technological, ecological, and even perceptual, feels in constant motion. Borders shift, narratives fracture, and the coordinates through which we orient ourselves are repeatedly unsettled. In such conditions, images often register these transformations before language can fully articulate them. Like seismographs of the present, images capture subtle tremors of displacement: movements of people, identities,

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Deadline: May 07, 2026

YICCA 2026 – International Contest of Contemporary Art

YICCA 2026 International Contest of Contemporary Art is a global art competition created to support emerging and established contemporary artists and increase their visibility in the international art scene. Organized by the cultural association Aps Moho, the contest aims to connect artists with galleries, curators, critics, and art professionals while offering a platform where creative talent can be discovered. By encouraging participation from artists around the world, YICCA promotes artistic

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Deadline: May 07, 2026

Prix Virginia 2026

The Virginia Prize, an international award given to a female photographer, has been presented every two years since 2012 to a professional photographer of any age or nationality for a photographic work, excluding press and advertising commissions, that is original and has not been published in France. The 2026 Virginia Prize, worth €10,000, will be awarded to its winner in November 2026. Recognizing, supporting, and mentoring women photographers Born into a family of

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Deadline: May 07, 2026

6th Faces

Grey Cube Gallery proudly presents the sixth "Faces" online art contest for the month of May 2026. Contest is open to all artists worldwide over 18 years of age. Only the face of a person or animal should be visible (single person, a group, or self-portrait). All wining artists (Merit Award & Honorable Mention) will receive a digital award certificate. The application fee is $20 for the 2 images of artwork, $30 for the 4 images, $42 for the 6 images, and $60 for up to 10 images.

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Deadline: May 08, 2026

Camera Work: Shadow and Light

The Black Box Gallery invites photographers to submit work for a juried group exhibition exploring the interplay of shadow and light.At its core, photography is shaped by patterns of illumination and darkness.Shadows define form, create depth, and influence how we perceive relationships within an image.From the bold contrasts of black-and-white photography to the subtle, atmospheric qualities found in color work, the balance of light and shadow offers endless creative possibilities.<

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Deadline: May 08, 2026

The Hasselblad Foundation Nature Photography Grant 2026

The aim of the grant is to support photographic explorations of nature, landscape and environment that advance the field of nature photography. The grant is open to all photographers. The applicant must be a citizen of a Nordic country (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland), or a citizen of another country who is permanently resident in a Nordic country. Applications can be submitted by individuals or groups. The grant amounts to SEK 100,000. In the evalu

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Deadline: May 09, 2026

F-Stop Magazine - Open

Issue #137 will have no theme. All photography welcome. We are looking for work that captures the photographer's connection to their space, whether it's the outside world or the details within one's own four walls. How does the space you inhabit shape your life? How do you interact with it? Please include titles to help convey this meaning. Issue #137 will have an expected publication date of June 1, 2026.

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Deadline: May 10, 2026

Europe

Europe presents a continuous negotiation between tradition and innovation, memory and experimentation, particularity and universality. Its archives, works of art, and built environments testify to centuries of intellectual endeavour, cross-cultural exchange, and social inquiry. This collection seeks to trace these continuities and disruptions, highlighting the networks of ideas and practices that underpin European history. In doing so, it encourages a sustained engagement with questions of be

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Deadline: May 10, 2026

Encontros da Imagem Award 2026

The goal of the call The goal of this open call is to give participants the opportunity to see their work exhibited at a renowned international photo festival and, consequently, promote their visibility. For the 36th edition of the Encontros da Imagem festival, the organisation intends to present different proposals for contemporary photography, highlighting the diversity and richness of the different approaches, from documentary projects to those that want to explore the l

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Deadline: May 11, 2026

Bourse du Talent 2026

Since 1998, Bourse du Talent has been rewarding the talent of young artists in the field of photography by supporting emerging photography every year.This event, organised by Photographie.com and Picto Foundation, has over the years become a key event dedicated to the recognition of emerging talent.In 2023, after 25 editions that have brought to light and encouraged numerous photographers who are now well known, the time has come to update the programme with a view to constantly brin

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Contest

AAP Magazine #56: Shadows - Striking Award-Winning Photography

All About Photo is proud to reveal the winners of AAP Magazine #56: Shadows, a compelling new edition dedicated to one of photography’s most essential—and most evocative—elements.

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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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Best Photo Contests

Featured Competitions

AAP Magazine 58: Black and White

Photographer of the Week 21 - 2026

AAP Solo Exhibition June 2026

PhMuseum Days 2026 Photography Festival Open Call

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