The Beauty in Decay 2026 is built for photographers who like tension in an image: elegance paired with wear, polish interrupted by time, and beauty that feels a little uneasy. Run by The Chateau Gallery as an online exhibition, this open call asks for work that depicts or challenges the very idea of beauty, with “decay” as the conceptual spark. The listed submission deadline is January 20, 2026, and selected work is scheduled to be shown online from February 1 to March 1, 2026.
This call welcomes two-dimensional images with an analog or digital photographic base, including traditional and non-conventional media, and both conventional and alternative photographic processes. The gallery states that approximately 35 images will be selected for exhibition in its online gallery, with notifications listed for January 27, 2026. Entry costs $15 per submission, with up to three images per entry and the option to submit multiple entries. A fee waiver option is also mentioned for merit-based and hardship cases.
For photographers scanning photography competitions to enter, this one stands out for its focused theme and its online exhibition format. It is also positioned as a “blind” juried process, meaning selections are intended to be based on the image and title, not the photographer’s identity.
Prizes
The contest page emphasizes selection for exhibition and promotion.
Exhibiting selection: Approximately 35 images are expected to be selected for display in The Chateau’s online gallery as part of the scheduled exhibition (February 1 to March 1, 2026).
Catalog and promotional use: Selected images may be reproduced in an exhibition catalog, on the gallery’s website, and across social media promotion, with attribution whenever possible.
Optional sales channel: Participants may mark work as not for sale, but if priced, the gallery notes it may facilitate inquiries, retaining a 30% commission on any sale made through the gallery and its agents.
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
The Beauty in Decay 2026 by The Chateau Gallery revolves around a single central theme: “The Beauty in Decay”, interpreted broadly as work that depicts or challenges beauty, especially where beauty intersects with change, deterioration, imperfection, or time.
Dates and Entry Fees
The contest page lists the following timeline and fees.
- International submission deadline: January 20, 2026
- Submission deadline: January 20, 2026
- Juror notifications: January 27, 2026
- Exhibition dates: February 1, 2026 to March 1, 2026
Entry fee: $15 per entry.
Fee waivers: Merit-based and hardship waivers are referenced for citizens in a state of war or unrest and those living in a country with a low economic index (requests are made via the organizer’s contact channels).
How to Enter:
Entrants can submit up to three images per entry and may submit more than one entry. File preparation requirements include a minimum of 1200 pixels on the longest side and a minimum file size of 500kb. The organizer also asks entrants to name image files using the format firstname_lastname_title-01.jpeg and to list print dimensions in inches or centimeters (not required if the work is not for sale). Image descriptions are optional but described as highly encouraged.
Why Enter The Beauty in Decay 2026 by The Chateau Gallery?
For photographers who want a clear prompt without being boxed into rigid categories, this call is designed around a single idea and leaves room for interpretation, process, and presentation. The organizer explicitly welcomes conventional and alternative photographic processes, as well as traditional and non-conventional media, as long as the work has an analog or digital photographic base. It is also positioned as an online exhibition with an expected selection size (about 35 images), which is useful for entrants who want to weigh the exhibition opportunity against the entry fee.
It may also appeal to artists who track popular photo challenges but want something more specific in concept, where the title and framing of the work can matter as much as the image itself. As an open call described as international, it also aligns with photographers browsing international photography contests that culminate in an exhibition format.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the The Beauty in Decay 2026 by The Chateau Gallery 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
- Entrants attest that submitted images are their own work and do not infringe copyright of any artist, living or deceased.
- Submissions must be original and completed by the artist’s hand.
- Work created by or altered with artificial intelligence is stated as strictly prohibited.
- Up to three images per entry are allowed, and multiple entries are permitted.
Copyright and Image Usage
- Artists retain all rights to their work at all times.
- By entering, artists grant the organizer a non-exclusive right to reproduce images in the exhibition catalog, on the website, and for promotion on social media, with attribution whenever possible.
- The organizer states that the permission can be rescinded in writing at any time.
- If work is offered for sale, the organizer notes a 30% commission on sales made through the gallery and its agents.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
