Whether you’re a seasoned photographer, a beginner just getting started or someone who loves capturing beautiful moments, submitting your images to photo competitions is one of the best ways to gain exposure and recognition.
Entering competitions isn’t just about winning – though prizes and publicity are great bonuses! It’s also a chance to dive into your archives, rediscover your best images and refine your personal style. Many photographers say competitions were the stepping stone that helped them build a name, grow their audience or land their first big feature.
And with so many open calls across all genres – there’s something for everyone. So, here’s a list of photography competitions with open calls that are accepting submissions from May until December 2026. It’s a small selection to spark inspiration, but there are countless others out there…
Irys / Leica competition
Deadline: May 24
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Fee: Free for Premium subscribers
Theme: Portrait
Prize: Leica Q3 43mm
HIPA 2026 (Richest Photography Award)
Deadline: May 31
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Fee: Free
Categories: Families, Dreams Through AI, Sports Photography, Portfolio (Story-telling), General (B&W + Color)
Prizes: Grand Prize: $200,000, Category Prizes: $40,000-$20,000, Portfolio Prize: $50,000-$30,000, Photographer of the Year: $80,000, Content Creator Award: $50,000, Appreciation Award: $100,000
photoED magazine
Deadline: June 15
Open to: Photographers of all levels, worldwide exclusions: Residents of Russia, the Republic of Belarus and sanctioned countries (ie. Cuba, North Korea…)
Fee: Free for members, general submissions CAN$20
Theme: Home VS Away, “Fine art photography projects that present the idea of HOME, an experience of AWAY, or a juxtaposition the two”
Publication: Issue #76 of photoED magazine
Epson International Pano Awards
Deadline: Early bird: June 22, Final: July 13
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Awards: Amateur, Open, VR/360
Fee: Depends on category, $20-$22 per image
Categories: Amateur Awards & Open Awards: Nature/ Landscapes, Aerial, Built Environment. VR/360 Awards: Open VR/360
Prizes: TBA (last year’s prize pool was worth over $50,000)
Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
Deadline: June 30
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Fee: Free
Categories: Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Insects, Fish and other Aquatic Species, Nikon Young Photographer (25 years and under), Nikon Junior (16 years and under), Portfolio, Nikon Video, Photo People’s Choice
Prizes: Nikon Category winners: Nikon gear, category winners: premium ThinkTANK camera bag+ Amazing Internet website, top entrants have the chance to win a safari in the Maasai Mara, Kenya, hosted by Alex Walker’s Serian
Le Prix de la Photographie de Paris (PX3)
Deadline: July 22
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Fee: €30 for single images, €50 for series (professionals), €20 for single images, €40 for series (amateurs and students), discounts for multiple categories
Categories: Advertising, Analog, Architecture, Book, Fine Art, Nature, Portraiture, Press
Prizes: Up to €11,500 in cash prizes, exhibitions in Paris, Athens, Ostuni & Budapest, publication in the PX3 Annual Book, extensive global exposure
The Illume Awards
Deadline: July 31
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Fee: Free
Sports categories: Adventure, Aerial, Bike, Climb, Skate, Snow, Surf, Trail
Themed categories: Close-Up, Emerging, Innovation, Lifestyle, Masterpiece, Playground, RAW, Spirit
Prizes: Leica cameras, Angelbird storage gear, global exhibition tour, photobook feature
Brian Black Memorial Award
Note: The Digital Camera World team will join the judging panel
Deadline: August 30
Open to: Photographers of all levels living in the UK
Fee: Free
Theme: “Our Inspiring Seas”
Categories: Adult photo competition, Article competition, Junior photo competition (under 16 years)
Prizes: £3,000 prize pool – Winning article: £1,500 cash prize, publication in Yachting Monthly (print+online), interview on The Sailing Podcast; Adult photo competition: camera equipment worth £750; Junior photo competition: camera equipment worth £500
Charity contribution: The Black Memorial Award donates £500 to Sea-Changers.
Botanical Photographer of the Year
Deadline: September 30
Open to: Photographers of all levels
Fee: Free
Focus: Britain and Ireland’s wild plants
Categories: Intrepid: Plants in wild, hard-to-reach, or dramatic landscapes, Inquisitive: Close-up shots highlighting the fascinating and minute features that are often used in ID, Inclusive: People interacting with plants, urban botany, or community recording, Open: For entries that fall outside the above.
Special: Young Botanical Photographer of the Yearfor an entry into any category, aged 18 or under
Prizes: To be announced
OPPO Photography Awards
Deadline: December 31
Open to: Photographers and videographers of all levels, shooting with OPPO, OnePlus, or realme devices
Fee: Free
Theme: “Super Every Moment”
Categories: Me, Journey, Video, Zoom, Live, Snap
Prizes: $76,500 prize pool across 38 awards – Gold Award (1): $20,000, Silver Award (2):$8,000, Bronze Award (3): $3,000, Honorable Mention photo categories (15): $1,000, Honorable Mention video categories (3): $1,500, Regional Award (10): $1,000, Audience’s Choice (4): $500
Author: Kim Bunermann
Source: DigitalCameraWorld
Reviewed By: Editorial Team
