Photo Competitions

Find a competition that fits your photography. Explore the prizes, themes and entry requirements, with upcoming deadlines listed first.

Photo Contests: Are They Worth It?

I have to admit, I have a complicated relationship with photo contests.

A good one can put your work in front of people who might never otherwise see it. A bad one takes your entry fee, sends you a PDF certificate, and moves on to the next photographer.

I've won some and lost many. But there was a time in my career when contests played an important role simply because they gave me another reason to get the work out into the world.

There was also an unexpected benefit.

A lot of the contests I entered had deadlines toward the end of the year, which meant contest season became a kind of forced annual edit. I would go back through months of photographs, make selects, reconsider pictures I had overlooked and try to decide what was actually strongest.

The preparation could be a blessing and a curse. It took time. A lot of time. But by the end of it, the year's work was usually better organized and I had a much clearer sense of what I had accomplished.

More importantly, I could see where I was going.

Had the work improved? Where was I repeating myself? What wasn't working? What surprised me? What had changed in the way I was seeing?

And maybe the most useful question of all: what had I learned that could help make the work better in the coming year?

So are contests worth it?

In my experience, yes, if you choose carefully and enter for the right reasons.

Here's how I think about it.

The upside

The best thing a contest may give you is a deadline. Nothing forces a ruthless edit quite like having to choose ten pictures, or one, by Friday at noon.

It makes you edit. You look back at your work and decide what is truly your best. That exercise alone can be worth the price of admission, and often admission is free.
Your work gets seen. The better contests can lead to exhibitions, books, online features and press. Judges may include editors, curators and photographers you would genuinely like to have looking at your pictures.
It can open doors. A win or shortlist in a respected competition can strengthen a bio and sometimes lead to new opportunities, assignments, exhibitions or introductions.
There are real prizes. Cash, equipment and grants can help fund the next chapter of a personal project.
You learn. Looking closely at the finalists and winners, and asking yourself why certain photographs rise to the top, can be an education in itself.

Continue reading: the downside, what to watch for, and how to prepare →

Upcoming deadlines, nearest first. Awards awaiting a new call follow below. Entries are submitted on the organizer’s website.

LensCulture Black & White Photography Awards 2026

Grand Prize
US$10,000 total cash awards and London exhibition

Deadline: October 14, 2026

Entry Fee: One image free; US$35 for five singles / US$45 series
Theme: Black-and-white photography, all genres

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PhMuseum Women Photographers Grant 2026

Grand Prize
US$5,500 first prize; US$11,000 total cash awards

Deadline: October 15, 2026

Entry Fee: Current displayed fee: US$40 per project
Theme: Projects by female and non-binary photographers

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HIPA — Water: Our Shared Story 2026

Grand Prize
US$10,000 first prize

Deadline: October 15, 2026

Entry Fee: Free
Theme: Water: Our Shared Story

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Raccont’Arti Contemporary Photography Award 2026

Grand Prize
€3,000 Open winner; €500 Student winner

Deadline: October 15, 2026

Entry Fee: Free
Theme: Beyond the visible: the image of absence

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Wellcome Photography Prize 2027

Grand Prize
£10,000 for each category winner

Deadline: October 21, 2026

Entry Fee: Free
Theme: Health, science and human experience

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Pride Photo 2027

Grand Prize
€500 per photographer included in the exhibition

Deadline: October 31, 2026

Entry Fee: Free
Theme: LGBTQIA+ lives and experiences worldwide

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International Landscape Photographer of the Year 2026

Grand Prize
US$5,000 Photographer of the Year; US$12,500 total cash

Deadline: October 31, 2026

Entry Fee: US$25 per image; every fifth free through October 24
Theme: Landscape photography

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Getxophoto Open Call 2027

Grand Prize
Funded exhibition and €500 artist fee for three winners

Deadline: November 03, 2026

Entry Fee: €22 per project
Theme: Tide

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World Sports Photography Awards 2027

Grand Prize
Sponsor-provided prizes and international recognition

Deadline: November 23, 2026

Entry Fee: Free
Theme: Sports photography across 24 categories

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Sony World Photography Awards 2027 — Student Competition

Grand Prize
Sony equipment; approximately €30,000 in equipment for the winning institution

Deadline: November 27, 2026

Entry Fee: Free
Theme: Journeys

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Fotofestiwal Open Program 2027

Grand Prize
Six exhibitions with €1,000 artist fees

Deadline: November 30, 2026

Entry Fee: €15 per project; fee waivers considered
Theme: Open theme; photographic projects

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Vital Impacts Environmental Photography Fellowships 2027

Grand Prize
One US$20,000 fellowship; six US$5,000 fellowships

Deadline: November 30, 2026

Entry Fee: US$25; hardship and developing-country waivers available
Theme: Long-term environmental documentary projects and conservation solutions

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Sony World Photography Awards 2027 — Youth Competition

Grand Prize
Sony Digital Imaging equipment plus London awards ceremony travel

Deadline: January 05, 2027

Entry Fee: Free
Theme: Open call — your best single images

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Sony World Photography Awards 2027 — Single Image Competition

Grand Prize
US$5,000 plus Sony Digital Imaging equipment

Deadline: January 05, 2027

Entry Fee: Free
Theme: Standalone photographs across multiple categories

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Sony World Photography Awards 2027 — Series Competition

Grand Prize
US$25,000 plus Sony equipment and a solo exhibition

Deadline: January 12, 2027

Entry Fee: Free
Theme: Photographic storytelling — series of 5–10 images

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Wex Human Impact Awards 2026

Grand Prize
£5,000 Professional first prize; Sony Student prizes

Deadline: January 31, 2027

Entry Fee: Free
Theme: How people shape, affect and respond to the world

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CEWE Photo Award 2027

Grand Prize
€17,500 package: travel, photography equipment and CEWE products

Deadline: May 31, 2027

Entry Fee: Free
Theme: Our world is beautiful

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Tom Stoddart Award for Excellence

Grand Prize
Previous round: GOST photobook plus £5,000 expenses grant

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Previous round: £50 per project
Theme: Long-form documentary projects ready for a photobook

Arnold Newman Prize

Grand Prize
Previous round: US$20,000 first prize

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Previous round: US$65; selected waivers available
Theme: New directions in photographic portraiture

Aperture Portfolio Prize

Grand Prize
Previous round: US$5,000 plus US$1,000 gear gift card

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: A current Aperture print subscription is required
Theme: A coherent body of contemporary photographic work

Close-up Photographer of the Year

Grand Prize
Previous round: £2,500 plus macro equipment

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Previous round: £22 / £33 / £44; youth £5
Theme: Close-up, macro and micro photography

Epson International Pano Awards

Grand Prize
Previous round: over US$50,000 in prizes

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Previous round: US$22 Open / US$20 Amateur and VR
Theme: Panoramic photography

Natural Landscape Photography Awards

Grand Prize
Previous round: US$5,000 Photographer of the Year

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Previous round: US$18–US$117 for 1–18 images
Theme: Landscape and nature with faithful representation

Underwater Photographer of the Year

Grand Prize
Underwater photography titles and sponsor prizes

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Previous round: £20–£45 image packages; free categories
Theme: Underwater photography and marine conservation

Siena International Photo Awards

Grand Prize
Festival exhibition and international recognition

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Previous round: first image free; three-image bundle €30
Theme: People, places, nature, news and sports

Pictures of the Year International

Grand Prize
Previous round: US$1,000 for selected major awards

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Next-round fee not confirmed
Theme: Photojournalism and visual storytelling

ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year

Grand Prize
Previous round: £10,000 overall prize

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Previous round: £10 adult; young and special prizes free
Theme: Space, skyscapes and astrophotography

Winston Taylor Photo Portrait Prize (formerly Taylor Wessing)

Grand Prize
Previous round: £15,000 first prize

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Previous round: £22 per image; next fees to be announced
Theme: Contemporary photographic portraiture

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Grand Prize
Previous round: £10,000 and touring exhibition

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Previous round: £35 for up to 25 images; waivers available
Theme: Wildlife, nature and conservation

Weather Photographer of the Year

Grand Prize
Previous edition: £1,500 main prize

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Free in the previous edition
Theme: Weather and climate photography

Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Grand Prize
Previous edition: Kenya safari and category prizes including Nikon equipment

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Free in the previous edition
Theme: Humorous wildlife photography

Nikon Film and Photo Contest

Grand Prize
Previous photo edition: ¥500,000 plus Nikon Z8 and lens

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Free in the previous edition
Theme: Previous edition: Inspire

Istanbul Photo Awards

Grand Prize
Previous edition: US$6,000 Photo of the Year award

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Free in the previous edition
Theme: Professional news and documentary photojournalism

Leica Oskar Barnack Award

Grand Prize
2026 main award: €40,000 plus Leica camera and lens

Nomination only

Entry Fee: No entry fee; nomination only
Theme: People and their environment

HIPA — International Photography Award

Grand Prize
Previous season: US$200,000 grand prize; US$1 million total awards

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Free in the previous edition
Theme: Previous season: Family

Hasselblad Masters

Grand Prize
Previous edition: €5,000 creative fund plus Hasselblad camera and lenses

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Free in the previous edition
Theme: Art, landscape, portrait, architecture, street and wildlife

World Press Photo Contest

Grand Prize
Next edition’s prize details to be announced

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Free in the previous edition
Theme: Photojournalism and documentary photography

Xposure Independent and Freelance Photojournalist Award

Grand Prize
Previous edition: US$5,000 for each of three category winners

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Free in the previous edition
Theme: Spot News, Environment and Solutions photo essays

College Photographer of the Year

Grand Prize
Previous edition: Nikon equipment, workshops and category awards

Next deadline not announced

Entry Fee: Free in the previous edition
Theme: Student photojournalism and documentary storytelling