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BBA One Shot Award 2026 puts a single image at center stage. One upload, one chance, one clear brief: show the most compelling shot in your archive and let it speak. The award is run by Berlin’s BBA Gallery and culminates in a week-long exhibition for shortlisted artists, with the winner receiving a cash prize and added visibility on Artsy and BBA’s channels. Entries are open until 1 June 2026, and the submission format is streamlined so applicants can focus on the work rather than the paperwork. If you like planning ahead across many calls, Deartline keeps track of upcoming photo challenges to participate so you can slot this deadline into your calendar.
There are no categories, any subject, technique or approach is welcome, including lens-based, mobile, analogue, digital, collage and even AI imagery. The structure is simple: a paid single-image entry, curation by BBA, a 30-image longlist with online promotion and digital display, a 20-image shortlist that exhibits at BBA Gallery, and one overall winner. The entry fee is 19€ per image. Practical benefits like covered print costs for the exhibition and no shipping are built in, which lowers friction for those submitting from outside Germany. For photographers who want a clear, competitive format with tangible outcomes, the BBA One Shot Award 2026 is straightforward and time-efficient.
Prizes
Shortlisted and winning works receive visibility online and on the wall, with a cash component for the winner. Prizes are attributed as follows.
Winner:
- 300€ cash prize
- An exhibition presentation at BBA Gallery
- Promotion across BBA’s website, newsletter and socials
- An Artsy profile
Shortlist (Top 20):
- Exhibition at BBA Gallery
- Print production covered by BBA
- Online promotion
Longlist (Top 30):
- Featured across BBA platforms
- Displayed digitally at BBA Gallery
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
The BBA One Shot Award is open theme, meaning the single image can fall anywhere on the photographic spectrum (portrait, street, abstract or conceptual work) as long as it represents your strongest single shot. For discoverability, it aligns well with open theme photography contests.
Dates and Entry Fees
Entry deadline: 1 June 2026 (midnight CEST).
Entry fee: 19€ per entry (one image per entry).
How to Enter:
Purchase an entry through the BBA platform, log in with the temporary password sent by email, then complete the application and upload one image (.jpg, .png, or .HEIC) up to 3 MB. After paying the fee, applicants are asked for their name, country and contact information, plus the image title and year of creation. If the application remains editable, use “Submit” to lock it when finished; otherwise it will auto-submit at the deadline.
About the Jury
Curation is managed by BBA Gallery. The jury members listed for the current edition are Vishal Shah, Renata Kudlacek and Jo Schwab. A 30-image longlist is selected first, followed by a 20-image shortlist that exhibits in Berlin. The final decision on the winner is made by the BBA One Shot Award 2026 jury and BBA Gallery.
Why Enter BBA One Shot Award 2026?
It is quick to enter and clear in outcome. A single image can lead to a Berlin exhibition with production handled in-house, plus ongoing online promotion and an Artsy profile for the winner. With 20 shortlisted images exhibited in print, 30 longlisted images shown digitally, and practical benefits like covered print production and no shipping costs, the One Shot format offers a focused route: one file, competitive curation, and a real-world show. For artists weighing visibility across best photo awards, the One Shot format offers a focused route: one file, competitive curation, and a real-world show.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the BBA One Shot Award 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
Applicants must be 18 or older. There are no restrictions based on age, training or nationality. One image is submitted per entry, with multiple entries allowed. Photographers may be represented by a gallery, but should not submit artworks that are exclusively consigned by another gallery. BBA may reject unsuitable work at its discretion. Shortlisted artists are expected to provide high-resolution files, agree to the gallery’s presentation options, including digital display, and make the submitted work available exclusively for sale throughout the exhibition and for three months after if sales are made through BBA Gallery. Sales processed by BBA carry a 50% commission on the retail price, with price consistency requested across sales channels. Relatives of jury members, gallery employees, and artists already represented by BBA Gallery cannot apply. The judges’ decision is final.
Copyright and Image Usage
Photographers retain full copyright. By entering, artists grant BBA a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use submitted images worldwide in all media for the award’s promotion, including social media and paid advertising, with credit where possible. Images from the exhibition and related events may also be used for current and future promotional activities. BBA may make small edits to images to meet social media platform guidelines. Applicants are responsible for protecting their work against third-party misuse, for example by embedding metadata. Email data may be used by BBA and its sponsors for future opportunities, updates and news.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
