Every month we add newly discovered and newly announced photography competitions to our database. Here's what's fresh for April 2026, all vetted for fair rights terms and genuine value to photographers.
Newly Added Competitions
StreetFoto San Francisco
A dedicated street photography competition that has quickly built a reputation for celebrating the genre's diversity. Categories include classic street, abstract, and street portraits. The competition culminates in a gallery exhibition in San Francisco's Mission District.
Entry fee: Free for the first image, then modest fees for additional entries. Deadline: Late May 2026. Rights: Photographer retains copyright. Exhibition usage only.
Environmental Photographer of the Year
Run in partnership with a leading environmental charity, this competition seeks images that document the environmental challenges facing our planet. Categories cover everything from climate change impacts to conservation success stories. Previous winners have influenced environmental policy discussions.
Entry fee: Free. Deadline: June 2026. Rights: Excellent. Photographer retains full copyright. Images may be used for environmental advocacy with credit.
Asia-Pacific Photography Awards
A growing regional competition that showcases photography from across the Asia-Pacific region. Open to photographers worldwide, but subject matter must relate to the region. Strong categories in documentary, landscape, and cultural photography.
Entry fee: Moderate. Deadline: July 2026. Rights: Good. Photographer retains copyright with standard promotional licence.
Mobile Photography Awards Europe
Following the global success of mobile photography competitions, this European-focused contest celebrates the creative possibilities of smartphone cameras. Categories span all genres, with a special category for images shot with computational photography features.
Entry fee: Free. Deadline: August 2026. Rights: Photographer retains copyright. Winner gallery usage only.
Competitions Reopening for 2026
Several annual competitions that we've previously covered are now accepting entries for their 2026 editions:
- International Photography Awards (IPA): Now open with expanded categories for AI-assisted photography alongside traditional categories. Check the updated rights terms — they've improved this year.
- Sony World Photography Awards: The 2026 edition is accepting entries across open, youth, and professional categories. Free to enter.
- Hasselblad Masters: By nomination only, but the open call for nominations is live.
What We're Watching
A few competitions have been announced but haven't opened entries yet. We'll add full listings as soon as terms are confirmed:
- A new collaboration between a major camera manufacturer and a wildlife conservation organisation — could be significant.
- A European museum launching a photography prize focused on migration and identity.
- A tech company's annual photography contest with reportedly improved rights terms after community pushback.
Bookmark our homepage and we'll have full listings as soon as these competitions open. Want to be notified? Sign up for our newsletter for weekly updates on new competitions and closing deadlines.