Copenhagen Photo Festival 2026 Open Call

Selected photographers will receive a solo exhibition in the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark, a fee, and financial support to travel and accommodation.

Overview

Copenhagen Photo Festival 2026 is showcasing an artistic and conceptual programme that celebrates creativity and experimentation within photography and lens-based art, and aims to build bridges between fine art and documentary photography.

The festival takes place in the center of Copenhagen as well as at collaborating galleries, museums and cultural institutions in Copenhagen and southern Sweden. Throughout the festival, photography is on the agenda through exhibitions, networking programs, workshops, talks, photobook market and more. In 2026 they will consolidate their presence at The Royal Danish Theatre as their new festival centre in the city center of Copenhagen.

The open call is for artists and photographers who want to break new ground and challenge the idea of what photography is and can be, now and in the future. Selected photographers will get the opportunity to present a solo exhibition at Copenhagen Photo Festival 2026, under the theme Forestillinger | Scenarios.

The festival invites artists and photographers to engage with unknown agendas and unpredictable terrains. To find new paths and give space to playfulness and imperfection – where serendipity and new narratives can emerge. This is crucial in a world where we are daily confronted with war, inequality, hidden agendas, and a looming climate crisis. Here, 'scenarios' is not an escape – but a necessary place to begin.

Practical Info

Submissions must include a biography and a CV, a minimum of 10 images, a project description of up to 3,000 characters that explains the finalized concept, the project description that outline the concept of their project (the expected number of works, the format and material of the works, if AV equipment is needed and if the project has been exhibited before). 
Applicants are requested to reflect on and propose how the materiality of the work can be presented, produced or designed in a sustainable way.

Selected artists will have a solo show in the heart of Copenhagen, a €537 fee as a festival participant., a €400 support for travel to and accommodation in CPH (for international photographers), and a €134 support for food and local transport. Plus, Copenhagen Photo Festival will cover the expenses for the exhibition.

Copenhagen Photo Festival’s featured solo exhibitions aim to expand the boundaries of exhibiting photography and focus on sustainable development, not least in relation to the specific place the festival is situated, but also with regards to the materiality of displaying photography, as well as presenting new perspectives and emerging talents.

The selected artist will work in close collaboration with the curatorial team on the planning of the exhibition. Shortlisted artists are invited for an interview with the CPF curatorial team in the fall of 2025 before the final selection of the headliners for 2026.

Additionally, the festival also aims to create an on-site activity program that revolves around the selected work through relevant activities, e.g. workshops, guided tours and/or talks.

The exhibition will be placed indoors at the festival centre or outdoors in the surrounding area depending on the project and the overall curatorial strategy. In line with festival values the artist should be prepared to think creatively and experimentally in terms of the hangings and/or installations of the works, as it is a core value for the festival to create exhibitions that are true to the festival format and interact engagingly or even surprisingly or contrastfully with the theme, the project itself and the surroundings it will be presented within.

About Copenhagen Photo Festival

Copenhagen Photo Festival is a non-profit organisation and the largest festival for photography in the Nordic countries. The festival has existed since 2010 and today they are also a year-round platform that works to shine light on camera and lens-based art via events, exhibitions, digital formats, and cross collaborations.  Through their activities, the festival aims to create a community around photography by inspiring, exchanging and advocating for the relevance of photography in an ever-evolving world.

Each year in June, their endeavors all come together for the 11 day festival celebration of photography with exhibitions, networking activities, talks, parties and events in their festival center on Refshaleøen as well as with their festival partners across the region.