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The OD Photo Prize 2026—the sixth edition from Open Doors Gallery—welcomes emerging photographers worldwide to submit a project of 6‒15 images for a chance at a £2,000 award, long-term mentorship and an exhibition in London. Submissions open June 11 and close August 11, 2026, with shortlisted artists announced in October and winners revealed at a November show in Battersea.
As an example of popular photography challenges online, this open-theme competition celebrates all forms of contemporary photographic practice. Entrants must work within the first ten years of their practice and upload JPG or TIFF files on the Picter platform, paying a £17 entry fee. Prizes include cash, profile listing, mentorship awards and the opportunity to sell work through Open Doors Gallery’s network.
With no category restrictions, OD Photo Prize 2026 offers a platform for early-career artists to gain visibility, expert feedback and lasting industry connections. Its blend of substantial monetary support, high-profile exhibition and dedicated profile listing makes it an essential contest for those building a sustainable photography career.
The OD Photo Prize 2026 Prizes
Prizes are designed to support both creative development and professional exposure.
- Grand Prize: £2,000 cash prize supported by Open Doors Gallery; an interview published on 1000 Words Magazine; long-term mentorship through Open Doors Gallery; listing as an OD Artist and Artsy profile for at least one year; and inclusion in the London group exhibition.
- 2 × Runners-Up: Long-term mentorship through Open Doors Gallery; invitation to be listed on the OD Artist page and Artsy platform for at least one year; and inclusion in the London group exhibition.
- Portfolio Reviews: A limited number of one-to-one portfolio review places will be offered to Longlisted artists, with reviews free for the Winner and two Runners-Up.
- Judges’ Picks: Special mentions by each jury member, with exhibition opportunity.
- InCadaqués Award: Solo presentation at next year’s InCadaqués Festival in Spain.
- AJ Page (People’s Choice) Award: Public-voted single image opportunity, with at least one selected artwork included in the group exhibition and online show.
Related Photo Contests
The Categories of the OD Photo Prize 2026
There are no separate entry categories—OD Photo Prize 2026 is entirely open theme. Participants are encouraged to explore any photographic approach, from documentary and conceptual work to experimental and fine art projects, within a unified call for submission.
OD Photo Prize 2026 Dates and Entry Fees
Key dates:
| Submission Opens | June 11, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Submission Closes | August 11, 2026 |
| Shortlist Announced | October 2026 |
| Exhibition in London | November 2026 |
Entry Fee: £17.
How to Enter:
Submit a project of 6–15 images via the Picter platform, upload JPG or TIFF files, include your career start date to confirm eligibility, and pay the entry fee at checkout.
About the Jury
- Paul Cupido: Artist whose work explores nature, transience, love, time and mortality.
- Jennifer Latour: OD Artist based in Vancouver, known for her hand-made Bound Species photographic series.
- Elisa Medde: Art historian, editor, writer and curator; director of the Foto Colectania Foundation in Barcelona.
- Olivia Seigneurgens & Valmont Achalme: Founders and directors of InCadaqués Photo Festival in Spain.
- Tom Page: Founder & Director of Open Doors Gallery.
- Karlijn Bozon & Nadine Van Asbeck: Founders of Homecoming Gallery in the Netherlands.
- Wesley Verhoeve: Photographer, curator and writer based in Amsterdam.
- Robert Morat: Gallerist, curator and owner-director of Robert Morat Galerie in Berlin.
Why Enter the OD Photo Prize 2026?
Participating in the OD Photo Prize 2026 gives emerging photographers a rare blend of financial support, industry mentorship and high-profile exhibition opportunities. As one of the standout online photography challenges with an emphasis on open theme photography, it delivers both practical rewards and lasting career visibility.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the OD Photo Prize 2026 has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.
Rules
- Open internationally to artists working with photography within the first ten years of their practice; include career start date in bio.
- Submit 6–15 original images in project form; JPG or TIFF only.
- Entry fee: £17; bursaries available on request.
- Submissions must be photographic or lens-based; AI or generative tools should be declared when used as part of the process, while fully machine-generated imagery without a lens-based foundation falls outside the scope of the prize.
Copyright and Image Usage
By entering, participants grant Open Doors Gallery and Picter the right to share, exhibit and feature submitted images—with credit—on their platforms and in press or third-party documentation of OD Photo Prize 2026. Entrants retain full ownership of their work.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
