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US · Nominal entry · 2027 · verified

iPhone Photography Awards 2027 (20th IPPAWARDS)

iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS) ippawards.com ↗

Closes Mar 31, 2027 · D − 136

iPhone Photography Awards 2027 can ask for your RAW or original file (rule). Compare your RAW with the photo you plan to enter, free, on your computer → Small retouching, such as removing dust spots, is almost never marked; HDR, panoramas and focus stacks show as differences.

One email now to confirm, then one reminder on 24 March 2027, 7 days before it closes. Nothing else, and the reminder has a cancel link. Privacy

iPhone Photography Awards 2027 (20th IPPAWARDS) closes on 31 March 2027; the organiser names no time zone, and we read it as New York time (UTC-4). The standard entry fee is 9.5 USD per image. No AI rule in the published terms. The licence covers every entry; it has no end date. Checked against the organiser's rules on 17 October 2026.

Top prize "All photographers compete …
Fee Nominal 9.5 USD per image
AI policy Unknown check rules
Categories 12 11 single · 1 multi-image

Worth entering? Paid entry (nominal) — weigh the jury read and the rights terms below before the fee. Jury read ↓ · Rights & disqualifiers ↓

Submit-Safe · before you pay the entry fee Read the fine print

Read the fine print first — iPhone Photography Awards 2027 (20th IPPAWARDS) has 6 hard disqualifiers and demanding rights terms.

What this contest takes

Standard terms — you keep copyright and full control; the licence is limited to promoting the contest.

  • Copyright stays with the entrant. Terms 3: "By entering the competition, you grant IPPAWARDS a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to reproduce, publish, exhibit, and promote your submitted image solely for purposes related to the competition, including but not limited to announcements, exhibitions, publications, and marketing materials. You retain full copyright ownership of your work." The entry page adds: "Any photograph used by IPPAWARDS shall carry the photographer’s credit line. Use may include publication in any IPPAWARDS media sponsor publication." and that "any image submitted to the competition may be used by IPPAWARDS to use for marketing and promotional purposes including in any media such as exhibitions, print and digital media directly related to the IPPAWARDS competition." "Only winning entries will be kept on file for promotional purposes." Separately, /enter says "All entries are eligible for selection in Masters by IPPAWARDS, an invitation-only fine-art platform", and Masters offers featured artists' work as "museum-quality archival prints". The published terms do not say on what terms Masters prints are sold; the licence above does not mention print sales.
  • Duration: Not stated
  • You keep your copyright
  • Credited when used

What disqualifies you

  • Image format Every photograph must be taken with an iPhone or iPad; photos from DSLR or mirrorless cameras are not eligible. Any iPhone model and iPhone add-on lenses may be used. The organiser may ask for the original image to verify it was taken with an iPhone or iPad, and photos that cannot be verified are disqualified. Keep the original file: /entry-guidelines says "Original capture date and device metadata should be preserved where possible". “All photographs must be taken with an iPhone or iPad. Images from DSLR, mirrorless, cameras are not eligible.”
  • Image format No editing in Photoshop or any other desktop image-processing program; any iOS app may be used. The /entry-guidelines page says instead that "Editing on a mobile or desktop app is permitted; composites and heavy manipulation should not be entered"; /enter and the FAQ both rule out desktop editing, so follow the stricter reading. Whichever page applies, composites and heavy manipulation should not be entered. “The photos should not be altered in any desktop image processing program such as Photoshop. It is OK to use any IOS apps.”
  • Prior publication Photos must not have been published anywhere before; posts on personal social accounts such as Facebook or Instagram are allowed. “Photos should not be published previously anywhere. The posts on personal accounts (Facebook, Instagram etc.) are eligible.”
  • Prior publication The image must not have been submitted to IPPAWARDS before, nor have won an award in another competition that prohibits re-entry. /entry-guidelines adds that photos that won major awards in previous IPPAWARDS are not eligible. “The image has not been previously submitted to IPPAWARDS and has not won an award in any other competition that prohibits re-entry.”
  • Age minimum Entrants must be 18 or over, or have a parent's or guardian's consent. “You are at least 18 years of age, or have obtained parental or guardian consent.”
  • Copyright ownership You must be the sole owner and author of every image, and it must not infringe anyone else's rights. “You are the sole owner and author of the submitted image.”
Closes Mar 31, 2027 · D−136 9.5 USD per image Upload spec: Files: JPG/HEICMin 1080px long edgeUnder 25 MBNo watermarks
Check your file against these file rules, free → No account · type, pixel size and file size, in your browser · it does not judge the photograph
Compare your RAW with the photo you plan to enter → The organiser can ask for your RAW or original files · free · on your device, nothing is uploaded · it does not judge the photograph
№ 02 · The editorial read

What this jury looks for

An unnamed jury. The entry page says "Members of the Jury will review all entries and judge images on the basis of artistic merit, originality, subject, and style and ultimately decide the winners." The about page describes "a panel of photography professionals, curators, designers, and creative directors who evaluate each image for its a…

Categories

Abstract

Single

Abstract photographs taken on an iPhone or iPad.

Animals

Single

Photographs of animals taken on an iPhone or iPad.

Architecture

Single

Architecture photographs taken on an iPhone or iPad.

Children

Single

Photographs of children taken on an iPhone or iPad.

Citylife/Cityscape

Single

City life and cityscape photographs taken on an iPhone or iPad.

Landscape

Single

Landscape photographs taken on an iPhone or iPad.

Lifestyle

Single

Lifestyle photographs taken on an iPhone or iPad.

Nature

Single

Nature photographs taken on an iPhone or iPad.

People

Single

Photographs of people taken on an iPhone or iPad.

Portrait

Single

Portraits taken on an iPhone or iPad.

Series (3 images)

Series · up to 3 photos (min 3)

A series of three iPhone or iPad photographs. The rules do not say how many entry slots a series uses.

Other

Single

Photographs that fit no other category; the FAQ says to choose Other when unsure.

F Format requirements 1 spec

ippawards_entry

  • File types: jpg, heic
  • Min long edge: 1080px
  • Max size: 25.0 MB
  • No watermarks

Check a photo against these file rules, free and in your browser.

E Eligibility 7 rules
  • Every photograph must be taken with an iPhone or iPad; photos from DSLR or mirrorless cameras are not eligible. Any iPhone model and iPhone add-on lenses may be used. The organiser may ask for the original image to verify it was taken with an iPhone or iPad, and photos that cannot be verified are disqualified. Keep the original file: /entry-guidelines says "Original capture date and device metadata should be preserved where possible". hard

    “All photographs must be taken with an iPhone or iPad. Images from DSLR, mirrorless, cameras are not eligible.”

  • No editing in Photoshop or any other desktop image-processing program; any iOS app may be used. The /entry-guidelines page says instead that "Editing on a mobile or desktop app is permitted; composites and heavy manipulation should not be entered"; /enter and the FAQ both rule out desktop editing, so follow the stricter reading. Whichever page applies, composites and heavy manipulation should not be entered. hard

    “The photos should not be altered in any desktop image processing program such as Photoshop. It is OK to use any IOS apps.”

  • No AI-specific rule is published. Entries must be photographs taken with an iPhone or iPad, the organiser may ask for the original image, and photos that cannot be verified are disqualified. /entry-guidelines says "composites and heavy manipulation should not be entered", and entrants warrant that "the Photographs do not convey a false or misleading impression" (/enter and terms 4). Editing with any iOS app is allowed, and AI apps are not addressed: treat generative AI as a grey zone and ask the organiser first. soft

    “In some cases we may ask the original image to verify that it’s taken with an iPhone, iPad. The photos that can not be verified are disqualified.”

  • Photos must not have been published anywhere before; posts on personal social accounts such as Facebook or Instagram are allowed. hard

    “Photos should not be published previously anywhere. The posts on personal accounts (Facebook, Instagram etc.) are eligible.”

  • The image must not have been submitted to IPPAWARDS before, nor have won an award in another competition that prohibits re-entry. /entry-guidelines adds that photos that won major awards in previous IPPAWARDS are not eligible. hard

    “The image has not been previously submitted to IPPAWARDS and has not won an award in any other competition that prohibits re-entry.”

  • Entrants must be 18 or over, or have a parent's or guardian's consent. hard

    “You are at least 18 years of age, or have obtained parental or guardian consent.”

  • You must be the sole owner and author of every image, and it must not infringe anyone else's rights. hard

    “You are the sole owner and author of the submitted image.”

iPhone Photography Awards 2027’s rules let the organiser ask for your RAW or original files. Compare your RAW with the photo you plan to enter, free and in your browser.

Jury context

An unnamed jury. The entry page says "Members of the Jury will review all entries and judge images on the basis of artistic merit, originality, subject, and style and ultimately decide the winners." The about page describes "a panel of photography professionals, curators, designers, and creative directors who evaluate each image for its artistic merit, composition, originality, and emotional impact." The 2026 press release says winners "are chosen by a jury through a multi-step process". No jury has been named for the 20th edition.

Priorities: artistic merit originality subject style

Tone: composition emotional impact

Avoid: non iphone cameras desktop editing previously published images previously submitted to ippawards watermarks borders signatures

Past winners — text notes

The organiser's 1 July 2026 press release on ippawards.com: Robyn Jensen (Cayman Islands) won the 19th edition's Grand Prix for a nature image shot on iPhone 15 Pro; Gellert Gombai (Hungary) won Gold, Arnold Plotnick (USA) Silver and Catherine Wang (USA) Bronze.

These are text-only curatorial observations, never images of past winners.

Prizes

"All photographers compete for the 4 IPPAWARDS Photographers of the Year. Grand Prix, 1st, 2nd and 3rd place." "the top 3 winners will receive each a prize to be announced later." "The 1st place winner of the 12 categories will win a Gold Bar from the most recognizable private mint in the world." "The 2nd and 3rd place winners of the 12 categories will win a Platinum Bar from the most recognizable private mint in the world." Bars are "Subject to market availability"; IPPAWARDS may instead award "an equivalent prize of comparable monetary value". "All 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners from each categories will receive a IPPAWARDS certificate." Winning work "will be publicized on the IPPAWARDS online gallery and in any published IPPAWARDS materials."

  • Photographer of the Year titles (Grand Prix, 1st, 2nd and 3rd place); the top 3 winners each receive a prize to be announced later
  • Gold Bar for the 1st place winner in each of the 12 categories (subject to market availability)
  • Platinum Bar for the 2nd and 3rd place winners in each category (subject to market availability)
  • IPPAWARDS certificate for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each category
  • Honorable Mentions at the judges' discretion

Publication

R Rights & licensing what you grant the organizer
What you grant
Copyright stays with the entrant. Terms 3: "By entering the competition, you grant IPPAWARDS a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to reproduce, publish, exhibit, and promote your submitted image solely for purposes related to the competition, including but not limited to announcements, exhibitions, publications, and marketing materials. You retain full copyright ownership of your work." The entry page adds: "Any photograph used by IPPAWARDS shall carry the photographer’s credit line. Use may include publication in any IPPAWARDS media sponsor publication." and that "any image submitted to the competition may be used by IPPAWARDS to use for marketing and promotional purposes including in any media such as exhibitions, print and digital media directly related to the IPPAWARDS competition." "Only winning entries will be kept on file for promotional purposes." Separately, /enter says "All entries are eligible for selection in Masters by IPPAWARDS, an invitation-only fine-art platform", and Masters offers featured artists' work as "museum-quality archival prints". The published terms do not say on what terms Masters prints are sold; the licence above does not mention print sales.
Duration
Not stated
Exclusivity
none
Attribution
Required
Copyright retained by photographer
Yes

Before you enter — quick answers

Is iPhone Photography Awards 2027 (20th IPPAWARDS) free to enter?
iPhone Photography Awards 2027 (20th IPPAWARDS) is not free: 9.5 USD per image. Check the organizer's page for the full fee rules and any waivers.
Are AI-generated images allowed in iPhone Photography Awards 2027 (20th IPPAWARDS)?
iPhone Photography Awards 2027 (20th IPPAWARDS) has no AI rule in its published terms.
When is the iPhone Photography Awards 2027 (20th IPPAWARDS) deadline?
iPhone Photography Awards 2027 (20th IPPAWARDS) closes on 31 March 2027; the organiser names no time zone, and we read it as New York time (UTC-4).
How do I know if my photo is eligible for iPhone Photography Awards 2027 (20th IPPAWARDS)?
Only the organiser decides whether an entry is eligible. Read iPhone Photography Awards 2027 (20th IPPAWARDS)'s published rules before you enter, in particular the editing line, the AI clause and the file requirements. WinPhoto's free contest file check compares your file's type, pixel size and file size with those file requirements, in your browser and without an account. It does not judge the photograph.