A Guide To August 2026 Photo Awards & Open Calls

Paris Photo–Aperture PhotoBook Awards, The Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant, Preus Museum Open Call, Copenhagen Photo Festival Open Call, and Marco Pesaresi Award are among the opportunities we selected this month.

2026 Paris Photo–Aperture PhotoBook Awards

Deadline 5 September / Entry fee €26-53

Open to photographers, artists, publishers, and institutions worldwide, the awards celebrate excellence in photobook publishing and photographic storytelling across three distinct categories: First PhotoBook, PhotoBook of the Year, and Photography Catalog of the Year.

A jury composed of Alejandro Cartagena, Alexandra Cunningham Cameron, Michael Famighetti, Anna Planas, and Anshika Varma will select a total of thirty-five shortlisted projects to be showcased at Paris Photo, followed by an international exhibition tour accompanied by jury statements. The First PhotoBook category awards a $10,000 (€8,700) top prize to the artist of the best debut publication while displaying twenty shortlisted titles. Meanwhile, the PhotoBook of the Year and Photography Catalog of the Year categories feature ten and five shortlisted works, respectively, honoring outstanding achievement in trade photobooks and museum exhibition catalogues.

You can apply until 5 September. More information on their website.

The Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant 2026

Deadline 1 September / No entry fee

The Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant supports young and emerging photojournalists aged 24 or under – as well as students enrolled in full-time photography programs – to develop an original documentary project.

The grant recipient will receive a £10,000 (€11,670) award, a loan of Canon equipment, a year-long mentorship with photojournalist Giles Duley, and publication by The Guardian. Additionally, the award offers eligibility for the Hamburg Portfolio Review and the VII Mentorship Programme, along with further opportunities such as the Gentex Corp Personal Safety Award and a potential Save the Children commission for a finalist.

Learn more on their website.

Preus Museum Open Call 2026

Deadline 15 August / Entry fee €10

Organized in collaboration with Preus Museum, Oslo Negativ invites artists and collectives to submit single images or series exploring the theme Passion. Submissions should engage with the creative force and emotional intensity of passion – spanning themes from love and devotion to conflict and polarization – to reflect on how emotions shape perception and behavior. Application fees are waived for students and Norwegian photographers.

The selected project receives a NOK 20,000 (€1,800) cash prize, acquisition into the Preus Museum collection, full production of the exhibition, and travel support to attend Oslo Negativ Photo Festival 2026 in Oslo, Norway, held at the historic Old National Gallery.

Read more on their website.

Copenhagen Photo Festival 2027 Open Call

Deadline 1 September / Entry fee €29

The Copenhagen Photo Festival is looking for photographers to be exhibited in its 2027 edition surrounding the theme Free Hands (Frie hænder). The theme explores freedom as both a social and artistic condition, examining human agency, responsibility, and technological influences on automated image-making.

A curatorial team will shortlist 10 projects before selecting three to five artists for solo exhibitions across central Copenhagen and southern Sweden, while the remaining shortlisted artists will be featured as digital Selectees. Solo exhibitors receive a €537 artist fee, exhibition production, web features, promotion, and up to €534 in travel, food, and accommodation support. Selectees receive a €200 fee, a digital screening presentation at the festival center, website promotion, and free access to the festival's opening days.

Learn more on the festival's website.

Marco Pesaresi Award 2026

Deadline 17 August / No entry fee

Organized by the Municipality of Savignano sul Rubicone alongside the Municipality of Rimini and Savignano Immagini, the Marco Pesaresi Award for Contemporary Photography honors the legacy of Italian photographer Marco Pesaresi by supporting innovative, concept-driven projects. Open to photographers worldwide, the award seeks original, unpublished photographic research projects – or significant developments of existing work – that can be completed using the grant.

The prize recipient will receive a €5,000 award to develop their proposed body of work in collaboration with Savignano Immagini. The selected photographer will be announced during the opening weekend of the 35th SI FEST edition in September 2026, and the completed project will be showcased in a dedicated exhibition at SI FEST 2027 in Savignano sul Rubicone.

OD Photo Prize 2026

Deadline 12 August / Entry fee €20

The sixth edition of the OD Photo Prize invites emerging artists within the first ten years of their practice to submit an open-themed photographic project, welcoming all artistic approaches. The Grand Prize recipient receives a £2,000 (€2,300) cash award, long-term mentorship, an interview with 1000 Words Magazine, and online exposure via Artsy and the OD Artist platform. Additionally, at least 20 shortlisted artists will be featured in a group exhibition in London, with further opportunities including Runners-Up and Judges' Picks awards, the InCadaqués and AJ Page Awards, portfolio reviews, and ongoing representation through Open Doors Gallery’s collector network.

The jury is composed of Paul Cupido (Artist), Jennifer Latour (OD Artist), Elisa Medde (Art Historian | Editor, writer, curator), Olivia & Valmont (InCadaques Festival), Tom Page (Open Doors Gallery), Karlijn Bozon & Nadine Van Asbeck (Homecoming Gallery), Wesley Verhoeve (Photographer, Curator & Writer), Robert Morat (Robert Morat Gallery).

Applications are open until 12 August. Find out more on their website.

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Visit our awards page or download our iOS awards app to get a complete view of the best photography opportunities that are currently open for entry.