If “Paris Photo” is on a photographer’s wish list, the Kamira Photo Award 2026 is one of those deadlines worth circling early. This third edition of the award is built around a simple idea with a big stage: submit up to ten images on a free theme, and the selected work heads to Paris for an exhibition timed with Paris Photo in November 2026. The winners’ prints and framing are produced by the organizers, and the award ceremony is planned to take place during the exhibition, in the presence of jury members and industry guests.
Submissions are accepted online from January 20 to March 5, 2026, with a €39 entry fee. Photographers are asked for 1 to 10 photographs, plus a short biography and an artist statement. Images can be in color or black and white. Beyond the exhibition opportunity, the prizes include grants of €1,000 for the first and second prizes and €500 for the third, with the first prize also highlighting a month-long photography residency in Paris.
For photographers who track opportunities through a photo contest calendar, this one is easy to evaluate on facts: a defined submission window, clear deliverables, an in-person exhibition during a major week on the Paris photography calendar, and a jury presented publicly by the organizers.
Contents
Prizes
The Kamira Photo Award 2026 is structured around four prize outcomes, each tied to visibility in Paris and, for the top winners, direct financial support. The exhibition component is scheduled during Paris Photo (November 2026) and is presented at TALMART gallery in Paris, with production (prints and framing) handled by the award organization.
- 1st Prize
A month-long Kamira Photography Residency in Paris focused on creation, research, and artistic immersion. The winner also receives a €1,000 grant to support project development and exhibits during Paris Photo (November 2026) in Paris. - 2nd Prize
A €1,000 grant to develop a photographic project, plus a month in Paris dedicated to creating and deepening the work. The project is exhibited in Paris during Paris Photo (November 2026). - 3rd Prize
A €500 grant to support a photographic project, with the opportunity to create and develop the work with professional guidance in Paris. The award includes exhibition in Paris during Paris Photo (November 2026) alongside other awardees. - Shortlist
A selection of 15 photographers chosen by the jury to exhibit in Paris, sharing the exhibition space with the three winners and benefiting from professional mentorship. The shortlisted work is shown during Paris Photo (November 2026).
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
The Kamira Photo Award 2026 does not present category divisions on its official call. Instead, it operates as an open theme photo contests style award. The organizers state that the theme is free, and entries may be submitted in color or black and white, which may appeal to photographers searching for black and white photography contests as well as broader, concept-driven bodies of work.
Dates and Entry Fees
The contest is run on a fixed submission window, followed by jury review and selection notifications.
Key dates
- Submissions open: January 20, 2026
- Submission deadline: March 5, 2026
- Jury meets: first week of April 2026
- Selected candidates notified: no later than the end of May.
Exhibition timing
Winners and selected works are scheduled to be presented in Paris during Paris Photo in November 2026, with an award ceremony planned during the exhibition in fall 2026.
Entry fee: €39 per application
How to Enter:
Applications are submitted online only. Entrants prepare 1 to 10 photographs, a short biography, and an artist statement, then complete payment of the €39 registration fee through the available online payment options. Selected candidates are expected to provide high-definition files of their photographs by the deadline requested by the organizers, and missing materials can lead to disqualification.
About the Jury
The members presented are Dimitri Beck, Laura Serani, Lucie Moriceau-Chastagner, Raed Bawayah, Marie Robert, and Krzysztof Candrowicz. The jury is composed of professionals from the world of photography and meets for deliberations in early April, according to the stated timeline.
Why Enter Kamira Photo Award 2026?
The Kamira Photo Award 2026 is built around a few concrete elements that may matter when weighing where to submit a body of work. The most visible of these is the exhibition in Paris during Paris Photo, a moment when the city becomes a focal point for galleries, editors, and photography professionals. Having work shown in that context, with production handled by the organizers, can make participation logistically simpler for photographers coming from outside France.
Beyond the exhibition, the structure of the awards combines financial support with time dedicated to developing a project in Paris, particularly through the residency linked to the first prize and the month of creation noted for the second. The absence of categories and the free theme also means the contest is well suited to cohesive series rather than single standout images. For photographers browsing the best photography competitions to enter, Kamira Photo Award 2026 stands out for its clear format and its emphasis on project-based work rather than isolated photographs.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Kamira Photo 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
Entry is submitted online only, and the organizers specify that applicants must be 18 or older. Each applicant can submit up to 10 photos along with a short biography and an artist statement. The registration fee is €39 and is stated to be non-refundable. If an entrant does not provide the requested information, the application can be disqualified. If selected, entrants are expected to provide high-definition image files when requested.
Copyright and Image Usage
Entrants retain permanent copyright in their photographs. However, entrants whose entries are accepted grant KAMIRA the right to use the photographs for promotional purposes related to the exhibition and associated communications, including media coverage, display on the Kamira website, and other communication materials connected to the event. If selected for exhibition, entrants undertake to ensure their photographs do not infringe third-party rights and accept responsibility for that assurance.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
