WinPhoto
№ 01 · The register

Photo contests open now — 2026

Every major photography competition accepting entries right now — 19 of them — with the deadline, the fee, and the AI/editing rule for each, decoded from the official rules. The same photograph can be eligible at one and disqualified at the next; this is the map.

Read your photo against every open contest — free → No account · about 30 seconds

The verified contests on this page, and those opening later, as a calendar file, a spreadsheet and a PDF: Photo Contest Planner 2027, €9 one-time.

Next editions

Contests we have no full record of yet, each with a page on what its organiser has published about the next edition.

Quick answers

What photography competitions are open right now in 2026?
19 major competitions are open for entry — listed above, soonest deadline first. Each has its own deadline, fee and AI/editing rules, so the same photograph can be eligible at one and disqualified at another.
Which photo contests are free to enter?
3 of the 19 open competitions are free; the rest charge an entry fee per image, per series or for a set number of images. Check the fee against the rules before you submit.
Which photo contests ban AI?
13 of the 19 open competitions ban AI-generated images: 6 with a strict ban, 2 along with composites, and 5 while allowing editing tools.
How do I know which competitions my photo is eligible for?
Read your photograph against each contest's published rules — the editing line, the AI clause, the file it can demand — free and without an account with WinPhoto's eligibility check. It tells you which open competitions your image is actually eligible for, before you pay any entry fee.

Guides from the records