2026 Best Photo Contests, Photography Contests, Competitions & Awards

All About Photo has selected the best photo contests, photography competitions and call for entries. This list of international photo competitions and photo contests is thoroughly curated to help photographers find their next creative breakthrough and keep up with all the current opportunities to gain exposure. Exhibition, cash prize, publication... find the photo contest that is right for you.

Stay up-to-date with call for entries, deadlines and other news about exhibitions, galleries, publications, & special events.

Contests Closing Soon

Deadline: May 14, 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 15, 2026

9th Annual Vicinity Regional Exhibition

Submissions are now open for Perspective Gallery's 9th annual exhibition for Chicago-area photographers, juried by Jan Tichy, Professor at The School of the Art Institute in Chicago. We have an engaging theme for you this year, inspired by the words of Marvin Gaye's iconic song "What's Going On": "We don't need to escalate You see, war is not the answer For only love can conquer hate You know we've got to find a way To bring some lovin' here today Come on talk to me

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Deadline: May 15, 2026

Magic of Light 2026

It’s all about the light! Light and shadow have been the foundation of photography since the beginning. While illumination is important, darkness is an equally compelling component and, together, the elements of a successful photograph. Entering Your Images You can enter your images online at www.SmarterEntry.com For best results, make sure your image is 1200 pixels @72 dpi on the longest side, Images should be in JPEG format, sRGB color space. Please name your files: Aband.Last N

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Deadline: May 15, 2026

Daylight Photo Awards 2026

We are pleased to announce the launch of the 2026 Daylight Photo Awards! The Daylight Photo Awards is an annual awards program originally launched in 2012. This year, one grand prize winner will receive a $2500 cash prize, a digital portfolio and a chance to have their project considered for publication.

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Deadline: May 15, 2026

13th Landscape

TERAVARNA’s 13th LANDSCAPE Juried Art Competition will be rolling submissions soon! Artists worldwide are invited to submit their most captivating portrayals of natural and man-made wonders—whether sweeping mountains, serene seascapes, bustling cityscapes, or imaginative terrains. All styles and mediums are welcome, from realism to abstraction. Winners will receive cash prizes, certificates of excellence, international recognition, and a feature on TERAVARNA’s esteemed platform.

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Deadline: May 15, 2026

Landscape Photography

Landscape photography invites us to pause, explore, and reconnect with the natural world, capturing its beauty through light, scale, and atmosphere. From dramatic mountains and endless deserts to serene coastlines and hidden forests, this genre challenges photographers to translate the grandeur of a scene into a powerful visual experience. Our Landscape Photography Contest celebrates this art by welcoming photographers from around the globe to share their most compelling outdoor image

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Deadline: May 17, 2026

1839 Awards 2026 Color Photography Contest

Join us in distinctive images that celebrate and honor color photography with the Color Photography Contest by 1839 Awards. Winners will receive $4,000 in cash prizes, an immersive, dedicated digital gallery to showcase their work in a global Artist Directory, and much more. Prize Details: Winners of the 1839 Awards enjoy more than just prizes, as both winners and participants are actively promoted and celebrated throughout the year and beyond. • Global Exposure

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Deadline: May 17, 2026

10th Singapore International Photography Festival 2026 Open Call

The Singapore International Photography Festival (SIPF) is an international platform which aims to promote the arts and the appreciation of photography arts, as well as critical thought and academic discourse on photography in Southeast Asia. First launched in 2008, SIPF is now one of the major photography platforms held in Southeast Asia. In each biennale edition, SIPF hosts some of the biggest names in photography, uncovers new talents, and promotes an understanding of the world and society th

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Deadline: May 17, 2026

The Life of Color 2026

Color is said to be three-dimensional because of its three unique aspects. When you seek to define a specific color, there are three properties to consider; Hue, Value, and Saturation. These properties are the building blocks of the poetic and symbolic signification of color in creative photographic expression. Color is a powerful tool in composing a poetic visual statement, and is highly descriptive in developing the imaginative capabilities of the mind’s eye. Certain colors carry

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Deadline: May 17, 2026

2026 Monovisions Photography Awards

9th edition is open now! MonoVisions Photography Awards are an international open call for photographers using black and white medium to express their visual language. Our aim is to discover the best monochrome photographers from all over the world and deliver the best opportunities to be recognized and rewarded for their work. You can compete for $5000 in cash prizes in two categories: Black and White Photo of the Year 2026 and Black and White Series of the Year 2026. Your

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Deadline: May 18, 2026

Photographic Performance 2026

Do you have a body of work or a concept for an exhibition that is photography or photography based? We are looking for compelling solo or cooperative exhibitions to be exhibited in our online gallery. The entry can be photographic images only, photography combined with mixed media, photography as sculpture, photography based installations or….. This is the sixth year of the “Photographic Performance” for 2025. We are hoping once again you can show us what it can be. It is important that

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Deadline: May 18, 2026

Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award 2026

A £4000 prize to showcase positive solutions to global issues through documentary photography is to be awarded to a woman photographer in memory of one of the 20th century’s seminal women photographers. The international prize will be granted through an award founded in honour of renowned photographer Marilyn Stafford. The award is free to enter, and applicants can be working anywhere across the globe. The Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award, which this year celebrates its 10th ed

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Contest

Marisol Mendez named winner of the 2026 Saltzman-Leibovitz Photography Prize

The Saltzman-Leibovitz Photography Prize was founded in 2025 by photographer and philanthropist Lisa Saltzman, through the Saltzman Family Foundation, in collaboration with internationally renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz.

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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

AAP Magazine #58 B&W: International Photography Competition Now Open

AAP Magazine #58 B&W invites photographers worldwide to submit powerful black-and-white photography portfolios for international publication and awards.

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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

CPW Announces 2026 Vision Awards Recipients

CPW is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 CPW Vision Awards. Each of the honorees has had a significant impact on the field of photography, and will be celebrated in person at the CPW Vision Awards gala on May 16, 2026, at CPW’s headquarters in Kingston, New York.

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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

2026 open submission - spotlight award recipients

May 01, 2026 | Source: Belfast Photo Festival
Congratulations to our 2026 Spotlight Award recipients - Louise Desnos with her project ‘Acedia’, and Laura Pannack with her project ‘The Journey Home From School’.

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Contest

On the Block 2nd Edition Winners Announced

Apr 26, 2026 | Source: Lucie foundation
A Street Photography Competition
Lucie Foundation invites you to join us “on the block”, where stories unfold in the open and every corner hides unexpected beauty. ‘On the Block’ celebrates the unposed, unfiltered, and fleeting moments that define the art of documenting everyday life, whether in dense urban streets or sleepy rural towns. From street photography to urban landscape, this competition seeks images that reveal the quiet truths and vivid stories concealed beneath everyday moments. Join us june 13th at house of Lucie los angeles for the opening reception of the winner and finalist group exhibition!

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Contest

Results PhMuseum 2026 Photography Grant

Apr 21, 2026 | Source: PhMuseum
Ukranian photographer Sergey Melnitchenko receives the PhMuseum 2026 Photography Grant Main Prize with the project Frontline Rolls.

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Contest

MFAH Announces Establishment of $50,000 Edelman Impact Award in Photography and First Winner

Apr 20, 2026 | Source: The Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is pleased to announce Yael Martínez as the first winner of the newly established Edelman Impact Award in Photography. Martínez will receive a cash prize of $50,000 in recognition of his achievements in photography.

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Contest

Istanbul Photo Awards 2026 winners

Apr 06, 2026 | Source: Istanbul Photo Awards
Palestinian EPA photographer Haitham Imad wins Photo of the Year award for his work titled ‘Gaza, No Hope’. The image captures a heart-wrenching moment asher mother held 2 year old Sham at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.

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Contest

Raw Photo Fest Announces its 2026 Open Call Winners

Feb 27, 2026 | Source: The Raw Society
The International series winner is Marcus DeSieno (USA), with his powerful project Geography of Disappearance: Migrant Deaths on the US/Mexico Border, while the International Singles Winner, Ryan Murphy (USA), also won with his shocking photograph showing a man being detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents inside a fast-food restaurant under construction. The man sustained injuries to his face while agents wrestled him to the ground after he attempted to ﬂee.

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Best Photo Contests

Featured Competitions

AAP Magazine 58: Black and White

Photographer of the Week 22 - 2026

AAP Solo Exhibition June 2026

PhMuseum Days 2026 Photography Festival Open Call

Contests Closing Soon

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