PhMuseum 2026 Photography Grant

General Info

The PhMuseum Photography Grant is an annual initiative that recognises the importance of photography and visual storytelling.

Over the years it has grown into a leading photography prize, with previous editions having awarded work by photographers like Max Pinckers, Poulomi Basu, Jacob Aue Sobol, Diana Markosian, Alejandro Cartagena, Bieke Depoorter, Salvatore Vitale, Camille Lévêque, and Tomas van Houtryve, among many others. Now in its 14th edition, the initiative is designed to support the production and promotion of visual projects through cash prizes, exhibitions at international festivals, educational activities and exposure on online media.

The theme is open. All approaches are welcome, from traditional documentary photography to experimental ways of telling a story or sharing a concept. Applicants retain full image copyrights. You can see all the prizes and learn how to apply below, while you can check FAQs here.

By applying, you'll also receive a 15% discount on your next one-on-one booking with PhMuseum experts, and a 20% discount on PhMuseum Annual Magazine (subject to availability). Thanks for considering this opportunity and best of luck with your applications!

Prizes

$11,000 in cash prizes

1^st Prize

$5,500,
plus projections at Lodz Fotofestiwal 2026, Kranj Foto Fest 2026 and PhMuseum Days 2026, and promotion on the PhMuseum channels.
2^nd Prize

$2,200,
plus projections at Lodz Fotofestiwal 2026, Kranj Foto Fest 2026 and PhMuseum Days 2026, and promotion on the PhMuseum channels.
3^rd Prize

$1,100,
plus projections at Lodz Fotofestiwal 2026, Kranj Foto Fest 2026 and PhMuseum Days 2026, and promotion on the PhMuseum channels.
New Generation

$2,250,
plus projections at Lodz Fotofestiwal 2026, Kranj Foto Fest 2026 and PhMuseum Days 2026, and promotion on the PhMuseum channels.

Open

A Solo Exhibition at PhEST

PhEST's team will select a work from all the submissions to be granted a solo show during the 11th edition of the festival to be held in Monopoli, Italy in September 2026.

Open

A Solo Exhibition at Getxophoto

Maria Ptqk, head curator of Getxophoto, will select a project from all the submissions to be awarded an exhibition during the 20th edition of the festival, which will be held in Getxo, Basque Country, Spain, in June 2026. In addition to the show production, the winner will receive an artist fee of €400 and accommodation for 2 nights during the Opening Week.

Open

A Solo Exhibition at PhMuseum Lab

PhMuseum's Director Giuseppe Oliverio will select a project among all of the submissions to be exhibited at PhMuseum Lab, Bologna, Italy, in January 2027. The prize includes travel, stay and production costs.

Open

Participation in Photo-Match, Lodz Fotofestiwal

Krzysztof Candrowicz and Mafalda Ruao will invite an artist to join Photo-Match at Lodz Fotofestiwal 2026. The organization will cover travel and accommodation to allow the prize recipient to attend the innovative presentation and portfolio review in Lodz, Poland, in June 2026.

Open

Features in PhMuseum's printed Annual #02

All submissions will be eligible for publication in the second edition of PhMuseum's printed Annual Magazine, which will be launched at PhMuseum Days 2026 in October 2026.

Open

9 Free Online Portfolio Reviews with PhMuseum Mentors

Our team will select 9 photographers from all the applicants, who can select a free 30-minute online portfolio review with a mentor of their choice from the PhMuseum Education individual program.

Open

Projections at International Photo Festivals

All up to 40 shortlisted projects will be screened at Lodz Fotofestiwal 2026, Kranj Foto Fest 2026 and PhMuseum Days 2026.

Open

Past editions

PhMuseum 2025 Photography Grant

Hashem Shakeri claims the Main Prize for his project Staring Into The Abyss. Zekun Wang receives the New Generation Prize for Before Falling Into The Deep Valley.

PhMuseum 2024 Photography Grant

Jaclyn Wright Receives The Main Prize for her project High Visibility. Shelli Weiler receives the New Generation Prize for Techniques Of The Liar.

PhMuseum 2023 Photography Grant

Tara Laure Claire receives the First Prize with the project The Studio By Tara Laure Claire (AKA Tara Sood). Joseph Ladron De Guevara is awarded the New Generation Prize with the project Si El Sol Llegara A Oscurecer (y No Brille Más).

PhMuseum 2022 Photography Grant

Miraj Patel receives the First Prize with the project Do You See What I See, When I Look At Me?. Delali Ayivi is awarded the New Generation Prize with the project TogoYeye.

PhMuseum 2021 Photography Grant

Rodrigo Pinheiro and Gal Cipreste Marinelli receives the First Prize with the project GH, Gal And Hiroshima. Marisol Mendez is awarded the New Generation Prize with the project MADRE.

PhMuseum 2020 Photography Grant

Noelle Mason receives the First Prize with the project X-Ray Vision Vs. Invisibility. David Nana Opoku Ansah is awarded the New Generation Prize with the project AREA BOYS & BROTHERHOOD.

PhMuseum 2019 Photography Grant

Nikita Teryoshin receives the First Prize with the project Nothing Personal. Liza Ambrossio is awarded the New Generation Prize with the project The Rage Of Devotion.

PhMuseum 2018 Photography Grant

Poulomi Basu receives the First Prize with the project Centralia. Panos Kefalos is awarded the New Generation Prize with the project Saints.

PhMuseum 2017 Photography Grant

Salvatore Vitale receives the First Prize with the project How To Secure A Country. Karim El Maktafi is awarded the New Generation Prize with the project Hayati.

PhMuseum 2016 Photography Grant

Rasmus Degnbol receives the First Prize with the project Europe's New Borders. Pierre Liebaert is awarded the New Generation Prize with the project Free Now.

PhMuseum 2015 Photography Grant

Tomas Van Houtryve receives the First Prize with the project Blue Sky. Clémentine Schneidermann is awarded the New Generation Prize with the project I Called Her Lisa Marie.

PhMuseum 2014 Photography Grant

Max Pinckers receives the First Prize with the project Will They Sing Like Raindrops Or Leave Me Thirsty. Kate Smuraga is awarded the New Generation Prize with the project Letter From The Quiet Town.

PhMuseum 2013 Photography Grant

Cihad Caner receives the First Prize with the project Remaining. Diana Markosian is awarded the New Generation Prize with the project Goodbye My Chechnya.

Shortlist

Main Prize Shortlist

*to Die Is To Be Turned To Gold by Akshay Mahajan

For The Leisure Of Working Insects by Alba Ruiz Lafuente

West Of The Birch Trees by Anastasia Miseyko

Loose Fist by Arhant Shrestha

Solar Recordings Of Phone Calls With Family, Friends, And Scammers by Bart Urbanski

Alén Do Lago by Carlos Folgoso Sueiro

To Skip A Sinking Stone by Daniel Dorsa

The Serpent's Thread by Emilia Martin

Pretty In Pink by Francesca Bergamini

Bereitschaft by Ganslmeier & Zibelnik

AMERICANXS by Hector Emanuel

Atlas For L by Henri Kisielewski

'Once Upon A Time' Multiple Protagonists And A Gospel In Racial Time. by Jermaine Francis

DO IT T0 YOURSELF by Joaanna Olichwer

Glimmers, Feathers And Staring Skies by Joel Jimenez

We Will Not Be Stopped by Marcel Top

In The Mountains, The Sun Is Shining by Matevž Čebašek

Tactical Bodies by Meg De Young

Garden by Mehrdad Mirzaie

26/01 by Mehrdad Mosaferi

Frontline Rolls: Photos, Letters & Artifacts From Ukrainian Soldiers by Melnitchenko Sergey

Spark Of A Nail by Morgan Levy

Generation Of War by Mykhaylo Palinchak

Where The Water Flows by Myrto Papadopoulos

The Reinforcements by Qiana Mestrich

Alive In Wonderland by Rohit Saha

Not Really Now (Not Anymore) by Sam Gulliver

A Home With No Roof by Sara Faustino

Called To The Carpet by Sasha Velichko

The Ouroboros Of Faces by Sheung Yiu

LIGHT IN MY POCKET by Tahereh

Alberta Crude by Teo Becher

Crab Pincer by Tianxi Wang

ERA by Tobias Kruse

We Knew The World In Fragments Of Color by Victoria Ruiz

The Dual Gaze Of The Moon by XIANGQI YIN

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