Photo contests
A directory of open photography contests from around the web. Looking for fotoclub.md's own community contest?
Monochrome Awards 2026
An annual international competition dedicated exclusively to black and white photography across a wide range of genres.
The Monochrome Awards 2026 celebrate black and white photography as an art form, welcoming both professional and amateur photographers worldwide. Entrants can submit work across a broad set of categories and interpretations of monochrome imagery, with winners receiving cash prizes, publication in an annual book, and international exposure. Photographers of all levels of expertise are eligible, and copyright of submitted images remains with the photographer.
Deadline: November 15, 2026
Country: International
Entry fee: 22 USD
Theme: Abstract, Architecture, Black and White, Cityscapes, Conceptual, Documentary, Fashion, Fine Art, Film, Landscape, Macro/Micro, Nature, Nudes, Open Theme, People, Portrait, Photomanipulation, Photojournalism, Seascapes, Street, Travel, Wildlife
Prize: $3000 cash total: $2000 for Monochrome Photographer of the Year, $1000 for Monochrome Discovery of the Year, plus publication in the Monochrome Photography Awards annual book
SPECTRA International Digital Circuit 2026
An international digital photography circuit run by Enprint (India) with five sections spanning three FIAP/FIP/APS-patronized salons.
FIAPFIPAPSOpen to photographers worldwide, SPECTRA 2026 accepts digital entries across five sections: Open Color, Open Monochrome, General Nature, Photo Travel (World in Focus), and Photojournalism. Entries are judged by an international jury panel across three salons, with awards including FIAP Gold, FIP Medals, APS medals/ribbons, Chairman's Choice, and Best Club/Entrant honors. Entry fees vary by number of sections entered, with an early-bird discount available until 1 November 2026.
Deadline: November 15, 2026
Country: India
Entry fee: 32 EUR
Theme: open color, open monochrome, nature, travel, photojournalism
Prize: FIAP Gold, FIP Medal, FIAP/FIP Ribbons, APS Gold/Ribbon, Club Gold/Silver/Bronze medals, Chairman's Choice, Best Entrant (FIAP Blue Pin & SBCF Medal) and Best Club awards
The Portrait
An open call for portrait photography, from classic to contemporary, juried by artist and educator Aline Smithson.
Open to photographers of all skill levels and locations, this call for entries welcomes portraits made through any process — analog, digital, antique, or digitally manipulated — in monochrome or color. Submissions are juried by Aline Smithson, founder of LENSCRATCH and an educator at institutions including ICP and the Los Angeles Center of Photography. The contest is hosted by the SE Center for Photography.
PEOPLE – Virtual 3D Exhibition
A virtual 3D group exhibition inviting artists worldwide to present work on the theme of People, in any medium including photography.
Open to artists from all backgrounds and career stages, in any medium including painting, drawing, collage, digital art, photography, and sculpture. Works may approach the theme through portraiture, figurative art, abstraction, symbolism, or experimental forms. There is no application fee, but selected artists pay a €30 processing fee to cover presenting the work in the virtual exhibition.
Deadline: November 15, 2026
Country: International
Entry fee: Fee not listed
Theme: people, portrait, figurative, abstract, conceptual
Prize: Five prizes awarded at the close of the exhibition, with certificates and featured placement in the exhibition's video guide; all selected artists are featured on the organizer's Instagram account.
privirea
International digital photography salon hosted by PC Nistru in Moldova, with nine themed sections and a closing date of 15 November 2026.
Open to digital works in nine sections: OPEN COLOR, OPEN MONOCHROME, FLORA, FAUNA, EMOTION, SHADOWS, MOTION, PHOTOJOURNALISM and MINIMALISM, with up to 4 works per section. Fees are listed by section, from EUR 6 to 18, and the fee mode is member_50. The salon is judged by a three-member international jury.
photographer - brooklyn 2026
International digital photography salon with ten judged sections, from open colour to motion and red.
IAAPOpen to digital works in sections A to J (Open Colour, Open Monochrome, Nature, Portrait, Life, Travel, Minimal, LightShadow, Motion, Red), with up to 4 works per section. The entry fee is tiered by the number of sections entered, from EUR 0 to EUR 25. Results come with Master of Light and IAAP-related awards.
Deadline: November 15, 2026
Country: Serbia
Entry fee: Fee not listed
Theme: colour, monochrome, nature, portrait, life, travel, minimal, light and shadow, motion, red
Prize: Master of Light Digital Gold, Silver and Bronze E-Medals, IAAP and Salon digital medals, Backlight Group digital medals and ribbons, and IAAP and DIPA digital diplomas, awarded per section.
photosummit
International digital photo contest with nine sections, organised by Kamera Kollektiv Photo Club.
IAAPOpen to digital entries in nine sections: Open Color, Open Monochrome, Sport, Architecture, Nature, Woman, Travel, Photojournalism and Contrast, with up to 4 works per section. The flat entry fee is EUR 20, with a fee mode of member_50. Awards are e-certificates at IAAP, Club and Salon levels.
wow photo
Digital open salon with 12 photo sections, from open colour and monochrome to themed categories, hosted by OZ MLBM in Slovakia.
IAAPOpen to digital entries in 12 sections (A–L), with up to 4 works per section. Sections include open colour and monochrome plus birds-animals, trees, nude art, architecture, travel, symmetry, landscape, portrait and lines. Fees are set per section, from EUR 6 (section A) to EUR 24 (sections K and L).
Deadline: November 15, 2026
Country: Slovakia
Entry fee: Fee not listed
Theme: open, color, monochrome, birds, animals, trees, nude art, architecture, travel, symmetry, landscape, portrait, lines
Prize: E-certificates at IAAP, national, club and salon levels (Gold, Silver, Bronze and Honorable Mention) for each section; no cash prize stated.
copper autumn salon
Digital salon with 10 sections, including open colour and monochrome plus nature, travel, portrait and journalism, run by Photo club Copper in Serbia.
IAAPPIPCDIPAOpen to digital entries in 10 sections (A–J), with up to 4 works per section. Section A (Open Color) is free, and the other sections are priced between EUR 5 and EUR 25 each. Judging is done by a three-member international jury.
Deadline: November 15, 2026
Country: Serbia
Entry fee: Fee not listed
Theme: open, color, monochrome, nature, travel, portrait, water, people, landscapes, woman, journalism
Prize: Master of Light Digital Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, IAAP, DIPA and PIPC medals, ribbons and diplomas for each section.
art zrok: personas
Digital salon with four sections on colour, monochrome, persona and candid street, hosted by Art Zrok in Belarus.
IAAPBAPOpen to digital entries in four sections: Color Grace, Brut Monochrome, Timeless Persona and Candid Street, with up to 4 works per section. A flat entry fee of EUR 20 applies. The jury is made up of four international judges.