If a single frame can hold an idea, a feeling, and a story at once, this call is built for it. The All About Photo Awards 2026: The Mind’s Eye is now open, inviting photographers to submit work that leans into vision, interpretation, and the “rigorous organization” of what the camera sees. The competition runs through January 27, 2026, and awards $5,000 in cash across five top prizes, plus publication and broad online visibility for a wider group of winners.
This edition is structured as a juried international award with one primary deadline and an early-fee window. Entry starts at $30 for up to three images during the early period, then $35 for up to three images for the regular deadline, with a $5 fee per additional image and a maximum of 57 images per entrant. Files are submitted online through an All About Photo account, and entries are assessed through a blind judging process focused on creativity and photographic quality.
For photographers scanning Deartline for best photo challenges online, the All About Photo Awards 2026 stands out for its straightforward prize structure, a clearly defined schedule, and the way it pairs cash awards with publication in a dedicated winners gallery and a special magazine edition. It is a practical option for anyone building a visible body of work and looking for a reputable, deadline-driven platform in early 2026.
Contents
Prizes
The All About Photo Awards 2026: The Mind’s Eye offers five ranked cash awards, with additional publication and promotion benefits for winners and a larger selection of ranked finalists.
1st Place receives:
- $2,500
- “All About Photo Photographer of the Year 2026” title
- Exclusive interview
- Permanent portfolio exhibition on All About Photo
- Placement in the online winners gallery
- Highlights across newsletters and social channels
- Printing in AAP Magazine’s special awards edition
- International press coverage
2nd Place receives:
- $1,000
- Online portfolio feature
- Winners gallery inclusion
- Newsletter and social highlights
- Printing in the special awards edition
- International press coverage
3rd Place receives:
- $750
- Same publication and promotion package including the winners gallery
- Newsletter and social highlights
- Printing in the special awards edition
- International press coverage
4th Place receives:
- $500
- Winners gallery inclusion
- Newsletter and social highlights
- Printing in the special awards edition
- International press coverage
5th Place receives:
- $250
- Winners gallery inclusion
- Newsletter and social highlights
- Printing in the special awards edition
- International press coverage
Ranked winners 6 through 50 have their winning photograph(s) displayed in the online winners gallery, featured in the printed special awards edition, included in an invitation to display portfolios on All About Photo, promoted via international press coverage, and supported with dedicated social posts.
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
The All About Photo Awards 2026: The Mind’s Eye does not present separate categories. Instead, entries are evaluated within a single umbrella theme, “The Mind’s Eye”, which leaves room for many approaches, from intimate portrait work to observational street projects, conceptual series, and documentary-minded storytelling. In practice, this operates like an open theme photography contest where the selection comes down to visual intelligence and execution rather than fitting a strict genre brief.
Dates and Entry Fees
The schedule is anchored around a single closing deadline, with early pricing available through a specific date.
- Competition opens: December 13, 2025
- Early-fee window valid through: January 8, 2026 (inclusive)
- Final submission deadline: January 27, 2026
- Winners notified by: May 4, 2026
- Winners published online after: May 4, 2026
Entry fees:
- $30 for up to 3 images (early-fee window)
- $35 for up to 3 images (regular deadline)
- Additional images cost $5 each.
Each entrant can submit up to 57 images.
How to Enter
Entries are submitted online through the All About Photo website. Participants must create a free profile, upload images to their portfolio, and apply to this specific call for entries by following the on-screen submission steps.
About the Jury
The All About Photo Awards 2026: The Mind’s Eye is judged by Steve McCurry as the sole juror. The competition’s process is described as blind judging, meaning submitted images are reviewed without identifying information attached to the photographer.
McCurry is widely known for a long career spanning documentary and cultural storytelling, with extensive publication and exhibition history. In this edition, entries are scored through a multi-round process, beginning with a first-round score per image and moving to a second round for top-scoring photographs.
Why Enter All About Photo Awards 2026: The Mind’s Eye?
This All About Photo Awards 2026: The Mind’s Eye is built for photographers who want a clean, outcome-focused opportunity in early 2026: cash awards for the top five, plus ranked recognition and publication opportunities that extend to a much larger group. The rules also spell out a structured evaluation method, including blind judging and defined criteria, which helps entrants understand what is being assessed.
It can also be useful for photographers who want their work presented in multiple formats. Winners and ranked selections are placed in an online winners gallery and printed in a dedicated awards magazine edition, alongside platform promotion and press coverage tied to the awards. For anyone browsing Deartline for similar photo challenges online, the All About Photo Awards 2026: The Mind’s Eye is a relevant benchmark because it combines a single-theme format with a clear ranking system, and it sits comfortably alongside other open theme photo awards that prioritize impact and craft over fitting a narrow category.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the All About Photo Awards 2026: The Mind’s Eye 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
Eligibility is limited to individuals who have reached the age of majority in their place of residence at the time of entry. The competition runs from December 13, 2025, to January 27, 2026, in Pacific Time.
Submissions must be uploaded through the All About Photo website. Entrants are required to pay the applicable fee and complete the submission form. The contest does not accept submissions by email, mail, or physical media.
Image file requirements include no watermarks and JPEG/JPG format. Technical limits include 72 dpi, grayscale or RGB, flattened layers, a maximum file size of 2 MB, and a longest dimension not exceeding 1200 pixels (minimum 200 pixels).
Judging is described as blind. Images are scored in rounds, with creativity and photographic quality listed as core criteria. The contest notes that winners must respond within a specified period after notification to claim prizes, and taxes on prizes are the responsibility of winners.
Copyright and Image Usage
Photographers retain copyright to their images. By entering, participants grant a non-exclusive, worldwide license for uses connected to the promotion of the competition, including judging, online display, publication in competition-related print or digital materials, and press reproduction connected to the event.
The rules also indicate that winners’ names may be published, and that the organizer may use winning photographs and winners’ likenesses for publicity relating to the competition or future promotions, where legally permitted. The contest states it will notify the owner before publication or inclusion for marketing and promotional purposes of the event.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
