Singapore International Photography Festival (SIPF) 2026

Singapore International Photography Festival (SIPF) 2026 opens a significant route into one of Southeast Asia’s major photography platforms. Now in its 10th biennale edition, the SIPF Open Call is looking for image-based works and photobook projects from artists worldwide, with no thematic restrictions. For photographers comparing a photo competition online, this call stands out for its direct connection to a physical festival showcase in Singapore.

The submission deadline is May 17, 2026. Shortlisted projects will be presented in the SIPF Open Call Showcase during the 10th Singapore International Photography Festival, which runs in Singapore from October 16 to November 22, 2026. The open call has two main categories: Portfolio, for photography and image-based bodies of work, and Photobook, for both published and dummy photobooks. The programme is independent of the festival theme, which gives artists room to submit work across documentary, conceptual, experimental, personal, and other image-led practices.

Selected recipients may also be considered for the SIPF Open Call Award. Three awards are listed: Best Portfolio Award, Best Published Photobook Award, and Best Dummy Photobook Award, each with a cash prize of SGD$2,000, approximately $1,570. Shortlisted artists also receive visibility through festival programming, SIPF marketing channels, and the Open Call Showcase, positioning the call within the wider field of international photography contests with a clear exhibition context.

Prizes

The SIPF Open Call centres on exhibition, professional visibility, and three cash awards attached to shortlisted submissions. The awards recognize artistic excellence and originality in the submitted works.

• Best Portfolio Award: SGD$2,000 cash prize, approximately $1,570.
• Best Published Photobook Award: SGD$2,000 cash prize, approximately $1,570.
• Best Dummy Photobook Award: SGD$2,000 cash prize, approximately $1,570.
• Shortlisted SIPF Open Call Artists: shortlisted submissions will be presented in the SIPF Open Call Showcase during the 10th biennale edition of SIPF in Singapore, from mid-October to end-November 2026.
• Award recipients: recipients of the three SIPF Open Call Awards will be invited to the 10th SIPF Award Ceremony in mid-October 2026 to receive the award presented by the Guest-of-Honour.
• Shortlisted artists: profiles and works will be highlighted across SIPF’s marketing channels, including digital and print collaterals.
• Open Call Artists: may take part in festival programming such as Artist Tours and Talks. They may also propose or be approached by SIPF to conduct public workshops.
• Additional festival access: shortlisted artists receive discounted fees for SIPF Portfolio Reviews and Masterclasses, along with complimentary admission to all ticketed festival exhibitions.

The Open Call Showcase makes the opportunity especially relevant for photographers seeking photography contests with exhibition opportunities, while the award structure adds a clear cash-prize component for selected works.

Categories or Themes

The SIPF Open Call has no thematic limits. Instead, it is organized around two submission categories, each designed for a different form of photographic presentation.

• Portfolio: for photography and image-based bodies of work. A portfolio should present a consistent message, idea, theme, or topic. Each portfolio must include a minimum of 7 images and a maximum of 20 images.
• Photobook: for both published photobooks and dummy photobooks. Applicants must ensure that all submitted photobooks, including dummy books, are fully realized in physical form and available for submission by the required deadlines. Incomplete or non-production-ready submissions will not be accepted.

There is also a section surveying photography from Singapore for the milestone 10th edition. This section includes invited artists and artists selected through the Open Call. Eligible applicants should indicate their interest when applying and must be Singapore citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, currently based in Singapore, or artists with a sustained artistic practice in Singapore. Submitted works for this section must have been produced between 2000 and 2025.

Dates and Entry Fees

The SIPF Open Call follows a concise 2026 submission calendar, with an early bird period before the final deadline.

Entry Fees:

• Portfolio category:
  • Early bird fee: $35
  • Regular fee: $45
• Photobook category: $30

How to Enter

Entries are submitted through the Picter application platform. Applicants select the relevant category, prepare the required project materials, and complete the online submission before the deadline. Portfolio submissions must include 7 to 20 images. Photobook applicants must have their published or dummy photobooks fully realized in physical form and available for submission by the stipulated deadlines. By starting a submission, applicants also agree to be contacted by the host regarding the opportunity.

About the Jury

Submissions will be seen and reviewed by SIPF’s Jury Panel of international professionals working in contemporary arts, photography, and publishing. The Best Portfolio Award is selected by the Portfolio Jury Panel, while the Best Published Photobook Award and Best Dummy Photobook Award are selected by the Photobook Jury Panel.

The Open Call Showcase itself will be curated by SIPF’s Festival Curators, who are listed as to be announced later. The available information does not provide individual jury member names.

Why Enter Singapore International Photography Festival (SIPF) 2026?

SIPF offers more than a listing or online selection. Shortlisted work becomes part of a festival setting in Singapore, presented alongside curated festival highlights and connected to audiences, media, and visual arts professionals. For artists working with bodies of work, books, or research-led photographic projects, that context matters: the submission is reviewed as a project, not simply as a single image.

Its non-thematic structure also gives the open call broad relevance. Photographers and artists can submit work across documentary photography, conceptual approaches, experimental image-making, or photobook practice without having to fit a fixed festival theme. For Deartline readers comparing the best photography competitions to enter, SIPF 2026 combines international visibility, a juried selection process, festival presentation, and awards linked to both portfolio and photobook formats.

Rules and Copyright

This section about the rules and image rights of the Singapore International Photography Festival (SIPF) 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

Anyone is eligible to enter the 10th SIPF Open Call. Submitted projects must be original creations and must not violate third-party rights or copyright. Projects must not contain profanity, demeaning representations of sex or violence, or direct attacks on individuals or organizations. Entries considered offensive may be disqualified at the sole discretion of the organizers.

Portfolio submissions must contain between 7 and 20 images. Photobook submissions, including dummy books, must be fully realized in physical form and available for submission by the required deadlines. Incomplete or non-production-ready photobook submissions will not be accepted.

Copyright and Image Usage

Shortlisted participants grant SIPF, free of charge, the right to use submitted images in any manner and media, including publication, adaptation, distribution, copying, display, or translation in printed or electronic media. SIPF agrees to mention the artist’s full name and artwork when works are used in festival collaterals, promotional assets, or related materials. Participants may also be asked to take part in publicity activities.

For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.