Istanbul Photo Awards Opens for 2026 Entries with $58,000 Prize Pool

Applications are now open for the 12th Istanbul Photo Awards. The deadline for submissions is January 9, 2026. This prestigious international photography contest is organized by Anadolu Agency.

It invites professional photographers worldwide to submit their best work from 2025. The competition will award a total of $58,000 across ten distinct categories. This solidifies its position as a major global event for photojournalism.

Categories and Major Cash Prizes Detailed

The contest features both single image and story-based categories. These include News, Sports, Nature and Environment, Daily Life, and Portrait. Each category has specific entry limits for photographers.

The top prize is the Photo of the Year award. It is given to the best single news image and comes with $6,000. First-place winners in all other categories will each receive $3,000.

Second and third-place finishers get $1,500 and $1,000 respectively. According to contest organizers, nearly 20,000 images are submitted each year. This highlights the event’s significant global reach and competitive nature.

Eligibility and Submission Guidelines for Professionals

The contest is exclusively for professional photographers. Eligibility requires that photography is or was the applicant’s primary source of income. Participants must regularly publish or sell their work.

All submitted photographs must have been taken in the 2025 calendar year. Both published and unpublished work is acceptable. Entries can be made by freelancers or photographers representing an agency.

The final submission deadline is 23:59 UTC+3 on January 9, 2026. Applicants are urged to account for time zone differences. Full details and the application portal are available on the official Istanbul Photo Awards website.

The Istanbul Photo Awards continues to champion powerful visual storytelling from across the globe. With its substantial prize fund and respected platform, this international photography contest offers a premier stage for professional talent. The 2026 edition promises to showcase another compelling year in global photojournalism.

Thought you’d like to know

Who can enter the Istanbul Photo Awards?

The contest is open only to professional photographers. This includes individuals who earn most of their income from photography and regularly publish or sell their work.

What are the main categories?

There are ten categories split between single images and stories. They cover News, Sports, Nature & Environment, Daily Life, and Portrait.

What is the total prize money?

Organizers will distribute $58,000 in total prize money. The top Photo of the Year award in the Single News category wins $6,000.

When were the photos required to be taken?

Every submitted photograph must have been taken during the 2025 calendar year. The contest only accepts work from that specific period.

What is the submission deadline?

The final deadline for all entries is January 9, 2026, at 23:59 Istanbul time (UTC+3). Photographers must account for their local time zone.