Photo contests open now — 2026
Every major photography competition accepting entries right now — 10 of them — with the deadline, the fee, and the AI/editing rule for each, decoded from the official rules. The same photograph can be a winner at one and a disqualification at the next; this is the map.
Read your photo against every open contest — free →
No account · about 30 seconds
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Tokyo International Foto Awards 2026
Farmani Group
Aug 1
D−0
30.0 EUR
AI allowed
Check terms
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PhotoVogue Global Open Call 2026 — Brave New Visions
PhotoVogue / Condé Nast
Sep 11
D−41
Free
AI edits OK
Check terms
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1839 Awards — Photographer of the Year 2026
1839 Awards
Sep 16
D−46
30.0 USD
No AI
Read fine print
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ND Awards 2026 (Neutral Density Photography Awards)
ND Awards / ND Magazine
Sep 20
D−50
29.0 USD
See rules
Check terms
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Xposure International Photography Awards 2026/27
Sharjah Government Media Bureau (Xposure International Photography Festival)
Sep 20
D−50
Free
AI edits OK
Read fine print
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World Street Photo Awards 2026
World Street Photo
Oct 10
D−70
18.0 EUR
AI edits OK
Check terms
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W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography 2026
W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund
Oct 12
D−72
50.0 USD
No AI
Read fine print
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Travel Photographer of the Year 2026
Travel Photographer of the Year Ltd
Oct 12
D−72
14.0 GBP
No AI
Read fine print
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The Nature Photography Contest 2026
The Nature Photography Contest
Nov 15
D−106
10.0 EUR
No AI rendering
Read fine print
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Sony World Photography Awards 2027
World Photography Organisation (in partnership with Sony)
Jan 12
D−164
Free
AI edits OK
Read fine print
Quick answers
- What photography competitions are open right now in 2026?
- 10 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 10 open competitions are free; the rest charge a per-image or per-series fee. Check the fee against the rules before you submit.
- Which photo contests ban AI?
- 4 of the 10 forbid AI-generated or AI-rendered imagery in the final image — mostly documentary, photojournalism and nature contests. Others allow AI-assisted editing of a real capture; a few run a dedicated AI category.
- How do I know which competition my photo can actually win?
- 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.